40% of meat supply in Hanoi sourced from uncontrolled slaughter: authorities

Ta Van Tuong, deputy director of the department, announced the figures at a conference hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in Hanoi on Wednesday, which focused on strengthening livestock slaughter controls and preventing African swine fever (ASF).

Tuong stated that only 60 percent of Hanoi’s self-supplied animal meat—including pork, chicken, buffalo, and beef—is subject to regulated slaughter control, while the remainder comes from unauthorized slaughter facilities.

Although the country has 440 centralized slaughter facilities, there are nearly 25,000 small-scale establishments, of which 73 percent operate without business registration, according to the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine.

Tuong emphasized that illicitly slaughtered meat is sold broadly at lower prices in traditional markets, small shops, eateries, and on online platforms.

The department collaborated with local police to dismantle an illegal slaughterhouse in Thuong Tin Commune, where diseased pigs were processed and their meat sold to markets, restaurants, and vendors across Hanoi.

Tuong proposed amending the Law on Veterinary to require quarantine measures for meat transported within provinces and cities—not just for interprovincial shipments—to enhance traceability and food safety.

Agreeing with the proposal, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien said the ministry is studying solutions to curb illicit slaughter operations and will recommend them to the prime minister.

He called on local authorities nationwide to intensify efforts, particularly as the ministry and other agencies are deploying measures to tackle ASF outbreaks across numerous northern and north-central provinces, including Hanoi.

Currently, there are 256 outbreaks across 26 provinces and cities that have not yet completed the 21-day quarantine period.