OFFICIAL TELEGRAM FROM THE PRIME MINISTER
Regarding the strengthening of the implementation of measures to prevent illegal hunting, manage swiftlet farming, and promote the export of bird's nest products — Hanoi, June 2023.

Swifts have been officially recognized as livestock under the Law on Livestock 2018. In recent times, the swiftlet farming industry has developed strongly; currently, 42 out of 63 provinces and centrally-run cities have swiftlet farms, with over 24,000 swiftlet houses, producing 120–150 thousand tons per year, valued at over 500 million USD, creating many jobs and a significant source of income for people. Vietnam is one of four countries (along with Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand) approved by China to export edible bird's nest products through official channels.

However, the management of swiftlet farming currently still has some shortcomings: the development of swiftlet farming facilities is mainly spontaneous; the situation of hunting swiftlets in an exterminative manner occurs in many localities, reducing the swiftlet population; the initial processing and production of bird's nest products are still fragmented and small-scale, not fully meeting the food safety requirements of importing countries.

To overcome the above shortcomings and promote the official export of bird's nest products, the Prime Minister requires Ministries, sectors, and localities to focus on synchronously implementing solutions:

For the People's Committees of provinces and cities:

  • Organize propaganda and mobilize people not to hunt or consume swiftlets; strictly handle acts of hunting, trapping, transporting, and consuming swiftlets illegally.
  • Decide bird's nest farming areas in accordance with the legal regulations on livestock farming.
  • Organize guidance and inspection of the declaration of swiftlet farms, register the code numbers of swiftlet farms for management and traceability purposes.
  • Ensure food safety during the production, harvesting, transportation, and processing of bird's nest products locally.

For the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development:

  • Complete mechanisms and policies for the management of raising, processing, and exporting bird's nest products, and reduce unnecessary administrative procedures.
  • Issue guidance and standards to facilitate production along the value chain, ensuring disease safety, food safety, and traceability.
  • Build a database to manage livestock facilities and an online information system for monitoring and traceability.
  • Coordinate to promote official export of bird's nest products to China and other markets.

The Ministries of Industry and Trade, Natural Resources and Environment, Public Security, along with other relevant ministries and sectors, coordinate to implement synchronized solutions for managing swiftlet farming, protecting natural swiftlet colonies, and promoting the export of bird's nest products to the international market.

Source: Prime Minister's Telegram, June 2023.