After market management authorities warned of fake or illegally imported ‘Kobe’ beef from selling in Vietnamese restaurants and shops, all businesses have hastily removed all traces of signboards or placards luring customers.
Nguyen Dac Loc, deputy head of the Market Management Division in Hanoi said that businesses and restaurants had used falsified certificates to import ‘Kobe’ beef into Vietnam, and had failed to show valid documents when inspectors came checking. As a result, all ‘Kobe’ beef brought in illegally into Vietnam must be seized and destroyed.
However, after a warning by related authorities, restaurants that earlier openly sold the product have removed all publicity placards from their premises, making it increasingly hard for officials to track down offenders.
Loc said that they had inspected a restaurant on Ly Thuong Kiet Street, supposedly selling ‘Kobe’ beef. However, on questioning the restaurant said that they did not have any ‘Kobe’ beef but instead could offer other beef imported from Australia and the US.
Loc thinks they need support from consumers who could inform the Market Management Division of places or people selling or advertising ‘Kobe’ beef.
Not just restaurants and businesses, but even internet websites advertising or selling ‘Kobe’ beef online have removed this product from their sites. When reporters called in some restaurants that earlier sold ‘Kobe’ beef, they were told that it was no longer available.
Hoang Van Nam, head of the Department of Animal Health said that they have not issued any licenses for import of ‘Kobe’ beef from Japan as the two countries have yet to draft a legal agreement relating to the products safety and hygiene.
The department has earlier worked with Japan’s department of animal health and uncovered that importers falsified certificates to illegally import the product into Vietnam.
However the most concerning issue remains that businesses have sold ordinary beef as ‘Kobe’ beef.
As this kind of beef comprises a high content of omega 3 which can help reduce blood lipids, Vietnamese have rushed to purchase it at exorbitant prices of VND3-4 million a kilogram while in Japan it costs as much as VND6-7 million.
Mr. Nam said that imported beef from the US and Canada was legal but it was unacceptable to sell consumers fake beef under the pretext of it being ‘Kobe’ beef.
In case businesses are selling genuine ‘Kobe’ beef, then it is clear that it has been illegally imported and must be confiscated and destroyed as the product has not been quarantined for food safety checking.
If businesses want to import ‘Kobe’ beef, they should send a proposal to the Department of Animal Health. This organ will work with their Japanese counterparts to implement legal procedures like quarantine of the product to ensure food safety and hygiene.
