Ninety per cent of egg farms in HCM City are sub-standard, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The ministry said yesterday that the farms contravened a new ministry regulation, Circular No 34, dealing with sanitation.

The circular, which takes effect from September 3, regulates that all registered egg businesses must be isolated from residential zones.a

It also details requirements for egg preservation, waste treatment, labour hygiene and sanitation.

According to Phan Xuan Thao, director of the city office of Animal Health, only five out of 77 egg farms in HCM City meet all the requirements.

In Ha Noi, the Department of Animal Health said it did not even have the correct total of registered egg farms.

According to staff, it would be difficult to meet all the demand of the circular in such a short time without closing most business.

Staff also said that there would not be enough departmental employees to supervise the changes.

They added that the circular aimed to control food hygiene and safety for registered businesses only and that it did not apply to unregistered egg collectors and traders who were the major egg suppliers.

Nguyen Thi Cuc, a regular buyer at Ngoc Ha market in Ha Noi said her family bought about 20 eggs a week.

She said she did not care if the eggs were untreated because they were cheaper.

Another ministry circular No 33 dealing with butchers selling meat within eight hours of slaughtering also faced stiff opposition.

Source: VNAgency