The chemical contamination of meat and meat products have increased year after year, the National Assembly, Vietnam’s legislature, said in its cooking safety report for the ongoing fifth session.

According to the report that the NA Standing Committee has sent to its deputies, several bronchial dilating chemicals such as salbutamol and clenbuterol were still found in meat in excess of the amounts permitted.

Statistics from cities and provinces nationwide showed that 62.9 percent of the samples of meat and meat products met safety standards in the 2007-2008 period, down from 68.2 percent in 2004-2006.

The committee proposed issuing a law on food safety to clarify the roles of different agencies for ensuring food safety and hygiene in the country, as well as penalties for food producers and sellers.

For the short term, the committee asked the assembly to issue a decree concerning food safety or at least devote a special section to it in the annual socio-economic decree.

The government is planning to spend more money for scientific research on this issue, according to the report.

The fifth session of the 12th NA will discuss food safety and hygiene issues on June 10. The discussions will be broadcast live on television and radio.

Reported by An Nguyen