It also asks that the means of transporting livestock be standardized, meeting sanitary conditions with certificates granted by veterinary agencies, according to the committee’s Decision 51. Livestock and poultry products must be put in hermetic packs and come from authorized slaughterhouses and have legal seals.

The decision bans the trading of livestock and poultry on roads, pavements and in public areas and demands sellers wear required uniforms and follow many other hygiene stipulations.

However, the Department for Checking the Legality of Normative Acts under the Ministry of Justice argues that many stipulations of Decision 51 do not have sufficient grounds for preventing trading activities.

It suggests an overhaul of the decision to make it legal and constitutional and ensure the rights and interests of citizens involved in slaughtering, transporting, processing and trading livestock and poultry.

Regarding the feasibility of Decision 51, the director of the Hanoi Municipal Department of Industry and Trade, Luu Tien Long, said the decision is a necessary roadmap to change people’s thinking and habits. Mr Long stressed that stipulations similar to those in the current decision have been in force since 2007 but violations still exist.

“It’s necessary to accelerate the construction of industrial abattoirs,” Mr Long said. “The city will assist enterprises with land and capital so that they can reduce their production costs. It is also researching the establishment of van transport services at major slaughter centres,” he affirmed.

Nguyen Huy Tuong, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi Municipal People’s Committee, said the city’s Transport Department has been assigned to propose standards for transporting livestock and poultry before February 20 and Hanoi will crack down on violations throughout the city from March this year.