Container trucks go through Kim Thanh International Road Border Gate No. II in Lao Cai Province. Experts suggest Vietnamese and Chinese authorities temporarily allow the use of “vaccine passports” for drivers who transport agricultural products and goods to the other side of both sides' borderlines. — VNA/VNS Photo Quoc Khanh

Policymakers and experts gathered in a meeting on Monday to seek solutions to difficulties in transporting farm produce and goods to border gates and between provinces amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Tran Thanh Nam said his ministry had worked with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the health ministry to create a mechanism where the latter would issues certificates for farm produce to be transported faster.

Nam said ministries and agencies needed to conduct procedures in good time to help farmers and businesses know how and where they can get said certificates for their farm produce.

The deputy minister said businesses only needed the health sector to issue a certificate of eligibility for agro products circulation. Once traders show the certificates, traffic police would let them go to ensure farm produce is shipped quickly.

Nam also asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work with Chinese partners to temporarily allow the use of “vaccine passports” for drivers specialised in driving agricultural products and goods between the two countries to reduce costs for businesses.

Also at the meeting, a representative of the Ministry of Health said his ministry had issued instructions on disease prevention and control for businesses when transporting farm produce or goods from areas affected by the pandemic. The ministry has also used rapid testing for those involved in transporting farm produce and goods from affected areas.

The health ministry will work with other ministries to request People's Committees in northern provinces to assist businesses in boosting the transport of farm produce and goods as quickly as possible.

Hoang Anh Tuan, deputy director of the Domestic Market Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, asked traders to follow measures on pandemic prevention and control to ensure circulation of goods.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has issued documents to instruct businesses to work together to ensure supply and demand with the use of modern trade channels and e-commerce to promote the consumption of farm produce.

Nguyen Quoc Toan, Director of Agricultural Products Processing and Development Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said difficulties in transporting farm products between provinces were due to checkpoints for controlling the pandemic. He said despite having a safety compliance certificate for COVID-19, all drivers and goods were inspected again, causing transport congestion and harming businesses.

Toan said he wanted ministries to review and conduct suitable measures on transport management to ensure pandemic prevention and business operations. — VNS