Vietnam sets melamine standards for feed
Animal feed can contain a maximum of 2.5mg of melamine per kg under a decision issued by the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
The decision was made following discussions by a team of feed consultants, including representatives from the husbandry and aquaculture departments under MARD and the Ministry of Health.
Melamine is added to foods to artificially boost protein levels but is harmful to humans and can cause kidney damage. In principle, Vietnam did not allow the use of any food products contaminated with melamine, including cattle feed, said head of the husbandry department Hoang Kim Giao.
“But the allowed level of 2.5mg of melamine in 1kg of animal feed is equal to zero and MARD made the decision after consulting regulations on melamine standards from many countries around the world,” he said.
The permitted level was set with reference to melamine standards in other countries such as the US, Canada and the European Union. Under the decision, all feed with higher levels of melamine will be banned from import, production, trade and use in husbandry and aquaculture.
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