Nov Sivutha | Publication date 09 August 2022 | 20:05 ICT

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon has instructed the Kampong Thom, Siem Reap and Preah Vihear provincial administrations to suspend charging for the import and export of live animals and products derived from cattle, buffalo, pigs and similar quadrupeds.

He said the charging of such fees was contrary to the laws and regulations related to the provision of services and the collection of non-tax revenue in sub-national administrations, while also affecting the business environment for the private sector.

A letter from Sakhon instructed the three provincial administrations to stop allowing the practice.

It called for the revoking of authorisation from relevant provincial administrations for individuals or legal entities to collect fees.

The letter also encouraged those involved in animal services to apply at a One Window Service Office and pay fees as set out in the relevant legal documents.

Tea Kim Soth, director of the Siem Reap provincial agriculture department, told The Post on August 8 that while the provincial administration had collected such fees under the previous governor, the practice had since stopped.

“Under incumbent governor Tea Seiha, there is no policy to charge fees,” Tea Kim Soth said.

In Kampong Thom, agriculture department director Pen Vanrith said animal exporters had been required under previous governors to pay service fees to boost revenue for the province.

“We have abolished the practice since the Ministry of Economy and Finance and agriculture ministry informed us to stop,” he said.

Nuon Valak, deputy director and spokeswoman of the Preah Vihear Provincial Administration, told The Post each fees had been charged in accordance with regulations from the ministry and relevant national institutions.

Now that the agriculture ministry orders a stop to the practice, the administration will follow the guidelines.

She said the exporting of livestock in Preah Vihear province had never been undertaken by large firms but mostly by small operators. The provincial administration, she noted, had never charged fees on the transporting of chickens, only on pigs and cows.

Agriculture minister Sakhon told The Post on August 8 that if the three provinces did not follow the guidelines, they would be punished according to the law.

“This decision was made after the agriculture ministry received an inter-ministerial assessment following complaints from the public.

“These three provinces acted contrary to the law in force,” he said.

Srun Pov, president of the Cambodia Livestock Raisers Association, said he welcomed the timely and considered action by the minister.

“The three provinces, unlike others across the Kingdom, acted contrary to the guidelines of the ministry and the government.

“We welcome the correct action in stopping these three provinces from charging for the import and export of animals and animal products,” Pov said.

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