Since early July, the Da Nang Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has implemented the quarantine of goods at Da Nang Port’s border gate. This activity aims to concretise Government-issued Decree No. 89/2018/ND-CP on the prevention and control of infectious diseases concerning border health quarantine, contributing to identifying, detecting, and preventing diseases, especially dangerous ones that can spread globally.

Medical quarantine for tourists entering the city at the Da Nang International Airport. Photo: Phan Chung

According to Dr Nguyen Ngoc Tung, Head of the International Medical Quarantine Department at Da Nang CDC, the role of border health quarantine has become increasingly important and is an integral part of the national infectious disease surveillance and prevention system, especially in the context of continuous outbreaks of dangerous infectious diseases in recent years. The subjects of health quarantine are very diverse, including people, means of transport, and import-export goods, requiring close inter-sectoral coordination.

According to Dr Tung, Da Nang is located in the central key economic region and serves as a gateway to the sea for many countries. This is a favourable condition for the strong development of the economy, culture, tourism, etc. As a result, the number of vehicles, passengers, and goods that import, export, transit, and cross the border daily is very large. However, currently, import-export goods have not yet undergone health quarantine, posing many risks of disease transmission and spread. Therefore, implementing health quarantine for goods, especially for imported goods, is crucial to ensure health security at the border,

Starting from July, Da Nang CDC will implement goods quarantine at Da Nang Port. Specifically, the health quarantine of goods will follow the six-step process outlined in Government’s Decree No. 89/2018/ND-CP, which includes health declaration for goods; collecting information before goods are transported across the border; processing information related to goods; inspecting documents related to goods; conducting physical inspections of goods; and handling health measures for goods.

"Transport vehicle owners and cargo owners must complete all health declaration procedures for goods before the goods are expected to be imported, exported, or transited at the Da Nang Port. This allows the health quarantine agency to have a basis for carrying out inspection and monitoring activities of risk factors and timely handling before performing import, export, or transit procedures for the goods," Dr Tung added.

As shared by Dr Pham Truc Lam, Acting Deputy Director of Da Nang CDC, the health quarantine activities for goods that import, export, and transit across the border are carried out under the coordination with various agencies such as the Da Nang Port, the Da Nang Maritime Administration, the Da Nang Port Border Guard, and the Da Nang Port’s Customs Branch. Currently, the available resources, such as facilities and equipment of Da Nang CDC, can meet the needs for implementing goods quarantine.

"To best prepare for the implementation of health quarantine for goods, ensuring effectiveness in disease prevention and control, Da Nang CDC will implement goods quarantine according to a roadmap. First, we will deploy the plan at the Da Nang Port. After the pilot implementation, our unit will review, draw experience, and continue to study and monitor the situation of goods transportation through the Da Nang International Airport" Dr Lam said.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG - Translating by TRUC VY