Viet Nam, Argentina address obstacles in animal quarantine

At the meeting, the two sides focused on discussing several important issues related to the import and export of livestock products between Viet Nam and Argentina, particularly updating the export animal health certificate templates for animal products from Argentina.

According to a report from the Department of Animal Health and Production, among the seven animal quarantine certificate templates proposed for amendment and supplementation by Argentina, Viet Nam has approved four. The remaining three are still under review, including those for milk and dairy products used in animal feed, as well as meat and heat-processed mixed meat products.

Regarding the updating of information on Argentina’s meat processing and production facilities, Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri affirmed that Viet Nam has so far assessed and approved nearly 300 Argentine production and trading establishments as eligible. Argentina is among the countries with a large number of enterprises engaged in the production and trade of terrestrial animal and seafood products.

“The Department of Animal Health and Production will continue reviewing dossiers to update and supplement businesses that fully meet the requirements in accordance with regulations,” the Deputy Minister said.

The Ambassador of Argentina to Viet Nam, Marcos Antonio Bednarski, highly appreciated the spirit of cooperation and open exchange between the agencies of the two countries. He expressed confidence that such meetings would help both sides remove technical barriers related to animal quarantine and facilitate trade flows. He agreed on the updates from the department and Deputy Minister. 

Director General of the Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health, Duong Tat Thang said that the volume of export registration dossiers for meat products to Viet Nam is currently very large. The agency will accelerate the appraisal process for Argentine enterprises while ensuring full compliance with regulations and disease safety requirements.

Ambassador Marcos also proposed that the two sides promote the signing of a cooperation plan in the field of prevention and control of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) between Argentina’s National Service for Agrifood Health and Quality (SENASA) and Viet Nam’s Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri highly appreciated Argentina’s initiative and affirmed that Viet Nam has already developed a preparedness plan to respond to this disease. The Ministry’s leadership also proposed that Argentina establish a vaccine production facility for the Southeast Asian region in Viet Nam.

Through the cooperation framework, the two sides will exchange expertise and train officials through training programs, expert exchanges, and both online and in-person courses on disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, testing, gene sequencing, risk analysis, vaccination, animal transport control, and the establishment of disease-free zones.

In addition, Viet Nam and Argentina will be able to exchange experience in establishing, maintaining, and recognizing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) free zones and establishments; monitoring mechanisms to sustain disease-free conditions; as well as requirements for risk control throughout the entire chain of production, transport, slaughter, processing, and export of animal products.

Turning to the matter of cooperation to tackle foot and mouth disease (FMD), which is a contagious disease, affecting cattle, pigs and sheep, among other animals. In the cooperation plan in prevention and control disease, Argentina stands ready to work with other countries in the hemisphere or the world to effectively control the disease.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri assessed that Argentina is an important partner of Viet Nam in agriculture and livestock. The specialized agencies of both countries will continue to coordinate closely and strengthen technical exchanges to remove obstacles and promote bilateral trade in a transparent and safe manner.

The two sides also agreed to enhance technical coordination, improve transparency in sanitary and phytosanitary procedures, and facilitate smoother trade flows for livestock and animal-origin products. This cooperation is expected to help address existing technical barriers while promoting safe, sustainable, and mutually beneficial agricultural trade between the two countries.