Directive No. 16/2006/CT-TTg on urgent measures to prevent and control foot-and-mouth disease in livestock

DIRECTIVE

On Urgent Measures to Prevent and Control Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Livestock

At present, foot-and-mouth disease is spreading rapidly among herds of cattle, pigs, and goats in many localities throughout the country; in addition to some previously existing virus types, new virus types have also emerged. The disease has affected the productivity of livestock herds, causing losses for livestock farmers and the economy. The situation is very complex, with a high risk of rapid spread over a wide area, making prevention and control efforts difficult and costly. The reasons for this situation include the fact that old disease foci have not been completely eradicated and properly handled, many localities have not effectively organized mandatory vaccination for livestock herds as prescribed; disease surveillance and detection have not been strict and timely; when outbreaks occur, decisive measures to isolate and control the disease foci have not been implemented; and the transportation of livestock and livestock products has not been strictly controlled in terms of veterinary regulations.

To quickly eradicate disease foci and prevent further spread of the disease, the Prime Minister issues the following Directive:

1. People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall follow the guidance and directives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development:

a) Direct specialized veterinary agencies, all levels and sectors, and livestock farmers to closely monitor the disease situation in their areas, especially old disease foci; organize mandatory vaccination of livestock around the disease area and high-risk areas; clean and disinfect animal shelters and the environment; strictly control veterinary regulations regarding the transportation of livestock out of the disease area;

b) When an outbreak occurs in their locality, they must declare the disease according to current laws on veterinary matters. Focus on directing decisively and mobilizing all resources of the locality to implement preventive and control measures as guided by specialized agencies and stipulated by veterinary laws; consider the prevention and control of foot-and-mouth disease in livestock as one of the key and urgent tasks of the Party committees and local governments at all levels;

c) Direct veterinary agencies and other agencies such as customs, market management, border guard forces, and public security to strictly control the transportation and sale of livestock and livestock products susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease, particularly in epidemic areas and provinces bordering neighboring countries by land. Strictly handle according to the law cases of smuggling animals and animal products across borders and violations related to the transportation, sale, and slaughter of diseased or suspected diseased livestock;

d) Proactively use funds from the local disaster and disease prevention budget to prevent and control foot-and-mouth disease and support livestock farmers whose animals have been destroyed or compulsorily slaughtered.

2. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development:

a) Guide and direct specialized veterinary agencies to implement specific effective preventive and control measures to prevent the disease from spreading widely;

b) Direct People's Committees of localities to implement the National Program to Contain and Eradicate Foot-and-Mouth Disease for the period 2006-2010, which has been approved;

c) Coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment to report to the Prime Minister on adjustments to certain contents of the National Program to Contain and Eradicate Foot-and-Mouth Disease for the period 2006-2010 to suit the current disease situation.

3. The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall allocate sufficient funds to implement the National Program to Contain and Eradicate Foot-and-Mouth Disease for the period 2006-2010, ensuring adequate funding for disease prevention and control in 2006.

4. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to guide information agencies to provide appropriate and accurate information about the disease situation; disseminate information to raise public awareness of the dangers of the disease and encourage active participation in preventive and control measures.

5. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall closely monitor the disease situation, effectively implement this Directive, and report the results to the Prime Minister./.