Ha Noi, Viet Nam.  COVID-19 has brought people's attention to zoonotic diseases—transmitted between animals and humans—and the risks of bush meat consumption to global health security. However, wildlife trade is still a common source of livelihood in many countries in Southeast Asia.

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Viet Nam (MARD), in close collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), kicks off the Safety Across Asia for the Global Environment (SAFE) project today in the project’s inception and planning workshop. This project aims to reduce zoonotic disease risks at high-risk wildlife facilities with the generous support from the European Union.

During the opening remarks, Vuong Tien Manh - deputy director CITESMA under MARD, stated that this project will boost the government's effort toward reducing the risks of wildlife trade and bush meat consumption. "Over the past few years, the Government of Viet Nam has been strengthening surveillance systems, promoting responsible wildlife trade practices while preserving livelihoods, enhancing biosecurity in farms and markets, and improving awareness of zoonotic diseases. This project will strengthen our work and help us improving captive wildlife management according to the draft national plan" he says.

Collective efforts to protect health and livelihoods

The SAFE project is a joint initiative implemented in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Sabah state (Malaysia), Thailand and Viet Nam. FAO Viet Nam Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) Senior Technical Coordinator, Pawin Padungtod, explained that FAO is implementing the SAFE project in Viet Nam, supporting the government in identifying high-risk facilities, including socio-economic impact and risk mitigation, enabling the development of improved national policies and regional cooperation towards better pandemic prevention and preparedness. The project will also support the development of regional biosafety standards and joint strategies within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), ultimately strengthening cooperation, and sharing best practices between Viet Nam and other ASEAN countries.

Through the One Health approach, efforts are also being made to enhance collaboration between the public health, animal health and environmental sectors. "The SAFE project was conceived with a clear focus on reducing the risks of future pandemics by targeting both health and crime risks associated with wildlife facilities," says Jenna Dawson-Faber, UNODC SAFE project coordinator. "It requires collective action among stakeholders to achieve this purpose. And I am grateful that Viet Nam and other project countries are continuing to engage with all relevant partners to ensure the project results will benefit the country, ASEAN and global communities," she ended.

The SAFE project is implemented by the UNODC Global Programme on Crimes that Affect the Environment, in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and benefits from the financial support of the European Union.

FAO Viet Nam media contact person/s:
Diep Vungoc, FAO Viet Nam Information Resources Assistant, [email protected]

FAO RAP Media Contact Person/s:
Allan Dow, FAO Regional Communications Officer, [email protected]
Rindu Putri, FAO ECTAD Regional Communications Specialist, [email protected]