Vietnam imported just over US$1 billion worth of meat and meat products in the first months of this year, an increase of 20.3 percent over the same period last year. These products are mostly cheap off cuts that are not popular elsewhere, according to Vietnamnet.
The publication goes on to question the quality of imported meats.
“…If quality is not strictly controlled, it will pose a great risk to consumers, especially in the collective kitchen area for students, workers… who are the main users of imported frozen foods,” the publication says.
“Not to mention, cheap imported goods also create unfair competitive pressure on domestic livestock products, with a very high risk of spreading disease,” it concludes.
Whereas the author does not provide supporting evidence on either point, cheap imported meats have become an increasing concern among local meat producers with similar articles appearing in state media every other week.
This narrative is largely growing in prominence on the back of a number of free trade agreements Vietnam has signed on to that are bringing down import tariffs on meat products. This has further been exacerbated by challenges in the local meat industry, particularly repeated outbreaks of African Swine Fever.
See also: How African Swine Fever is Reshaping Vietnam’s Pork Market