Imports of frozen poultry have greatly declined in the final months of 2008, Hoang Kim Giao, Head of the Livestock Breeding Department, said.

Customers buy chicken at a CoopMart supermarket in HCMC. The import tax on poultry meat has increased reducing imports of poultry. (Photo: SGGP)

In the first eight months of 2008, the country imported 103,401 tons of poultry meat. This fell to 5,363 tons in the four last months.

Legs, wings and offal accounted for 80 percent of poultry meat imports.

Imports have decreased due to higher import duties, Mr Giao said.

The Ministry of Finance increased import tax on poultry products from 15 percent to 40 percent on October 12 to protect the domestic industry from large imports of poultry from countries such as the US and Brazil.