Three feed companies in Dong Nai Province have been shut down after authorities discovered their products containing ractopamine, a banned growth agent and using out-of-date raw materials.
Three feed companies in Dong Nai Province have been shut down after authorities discovered their products containing ractopamine, a banned growth agent and using out-of-date raw materials.
Dinh Duong Vang, Thien Huong Phat, and Nhan Loc Companies were also found using out-of-date raw materials and violating other regulations by inspectors from the province's department of Industry and Trade and market management agency.
Tests showed that Dinh Duong Vang company's vitamin and feed products contained ractopamine which is banned by WHO and in many countries though not in the US.
The substance is used to increase the volume of lean meat in pigs and boost the animals' growth.
When the case first came to light earlier this month, pig farmers in the province called on authorities to file a criminal suit against the companies' top executives for causing them losses and damaging the health of consumers.
Ironically, many of the same farmers were merrily using the agent to cause their livestock to rapidly gain weight. Pigs fed on it can put on 1.5-2kg per day.
Many veterinary drug shops were also secretly selling the banned substance, smuggled in from China, to farmers.
This week the province People's Committee and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will jointly make a report to the Government.
According to the local Veterinary Department, feed producers in the locality will be ordered to stop using, storing, transporting, or consuming the banned chemical.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat said his ministry would carefully monitor the situation and severely punish violations.
Another banned chemical, salbutamol – which helps burn fat in animals – was also found in the feed.
(Source: VNS)
