The Department of Animal Health and Production have impounded a truck which was carrying over 100,000 unlicensed chicken and quail eggs from Vietnam for sale in Phnom Penh.

Hun Sarath, deputy director of the department, took to social media on December 2 to announce that an intervention team had seized the truck – which was carrying 50,000 chicken and 70,000 quail eggs on National Road 1 in Chbar Ampov district’s Veal Sbov commune in Phnom Penh. It is believed the eggs were intended for sale in the capital.

The truck entered the Kingdom from Vietnam via the Svay A Ngong gate in Kampong Trabek district, Prey Veng province.

“Our team is storing the truck and its contents at the department while a case is prepared for further legal action,” added Sarath.

Cambodia Livestock Raisers Association (CLRA) director Srun Pov said on December 3 that the Kingdom’s domestic production of chickens and eggs is more than enough to meet local demand.

“We produce more than enough here in Cambodia. If they are imported from abroad, in however small numbers, it may affect out domestic industry,” he added.

Pov explained that even though the number of imported eggs was small, if they are distributed and sold, they could pose a danger to consumers, as well as domestic raisers of livestock. He warned that the unauthorised import of live animals could also have a great impact.

Between August and November the year, the animal health department seized five trucks carrying 112,000 chicken eggs, 66,900 duck eggs and 100,000 quail eggs. Almost all of the trucks had come from Vietnam via Prey Veng, Takeo and Tbong Khmum provinces.