Speaking at a regular department press briefing, Nguyen Phuong Dong, its deputy director, said 713 pig farms have registered to participate in the programme, but only 99 put rings with an electronic stamp on their pigs’ legs to aid in individual identification of the animals.

Even the number that agreed to join the programme had not met the expectations of its managers, he said.

According to Viet Nam News, the reason for this is that the main source of supply for the city is farms and household breeders in neighbouring provinces, who need time to change their farming and trading habits.

But to ensure the safety of consumers, the department is working with those provinces to organise training programmes for the farmers, he said.

The city provides small-scale breeders with a 50 per cent subsidy of the cost of the electronic rings for the first month, he said.

Almost all wholesalers at the city’s Binh Dien and Hoc Mon wholesale markets are taking part in the programme.

They meet 70-80 per cent of the city’s pork demand.

Consumers can currently check the origin of pork they buy at nearly 385 modern outlets (supermarkets, convenience stores and food shops) and 140 booths at 23 retail markets.

The project management board is now working with poultry producers and distributors in the city and neighbouring localities to implement a similar programme in June.