Fresh Seafood Products That Can Be Carried by Individuals When Entering Vietnam
Prohibition on Carrying Live Aquatic Products When Entering Vietnam?
Pursuant to Article 20 of Circular 26/2016/TT-BNNPTNT, the regulations are as follows:
Quarantine of Animals and Aquatic Animal Products Imported by Individuals and Through Postal Services
1. When importing animals and aquatic animal products not for commercial purposes, the importer must submit 01 set of quarantine declaration documents to the border animal quarantine agency as stipulated in Clause 6, Article 4 of this Circular.
2. The border animal quarantine agency shall perform the quarantine as follows:a) Check the quarantine documents and the quarantine certificate from the exporting country, compare with the actual type, quantity, and weight of the imports;b) Check the condition of the shipment; the conditions for rearing and keeping aquatic animals; the packaging and preservation of aquatic animal products;c) If any aquatic species are discovered which are not in the regular import list, diseased aquatic animals, or aquatic animal products showing signs of deterioration, they will be destroyed or returned to the exporting country;d) After inspection, if healthy aquatic animals and satisfactory aquatic animal products are found to be contained, packaged, and preserved as required, the border animal quarantine agency shall issue an import quarantine certificate for the importer to complete customs and postal procedures.
*3. It is prohibited to carry live aquatic products.”
Thus, currently, the quarantine of animals and aquatic animal products imported by individuals and through postal services is executed based on the above-stated regulations.
As per these regulations, individuals entering Vietnam are not permitted to carry live aquatic products.
From September 11, 2022: Can live aquatic products be carried when entering Vietnam? (Image from the internet)
Change in Regulations on Quarantine of Animals and Aquatic Animal Products Imported by Individuals and Through Postal Services?
Pursuant to Clause 5, Article 1 of Circular 06/2022/TT-BNNPTNT, the regulations are as follows:
Amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 26/2016/TT-BNNPTNT dated June 30, 2016, of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on the quarantine of animals and aquatic animal products
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5. Amending and supplementing Article 20 as follows:
“Article 20. Quarantine of Animals and Aquatic Animal Products Imported by Individuals and Through Postal Services
1. When importing animals and aquatic animal products not for commercial purposes, the importer shall submit 01 set of quarantine declaration documents to the border animal quarantine agency as stipulated in Clause 6, Article 4 of this Circular through one of the following methods: via the National Single Window Portal, postal services, public postal services, email, fax then submit the original documents or direct submission.
2. Within 01 working day from the date of receiving the valid quarantine declaration documents, the border animal quarantine agency shall perform the quarantine as follows:a) Check the quarantine documents and quarantine certificate from the exporting country, compare with the actual type, quantity, and weight of the imports;b) Check the condition of the goods; conditions for rearing aquatic animals; the packaging and preservation of aquatic animal products;c) If any aquatic animals not in the regular import list, diseased aquatic animals, or aquatic animal products showing signs of deterioration, not meeting veterinary hygiene requirements, they will be destroyed or returned to the exporting country;d) After inspection, if healthy aquatic animals and satisfactory aquatic animal products meeting veterinary hygiene requirements are found, contained, packaged, and preserved as required, the border animal quarantine agency shall issue an import quarantine certificate for the importer to complete customs and postal procedures.”
It will soon include additional regulations on the disposal or return to the exporting country if the animal and aquatic animal products imported by individuals and through postal services do not meet veterinary hygiene requirements.
Moreover, according to the aforementioned regulations, it will no longer be prohibited for individuals to carry live aquatic products when entering Vietnam in the near future.
How are the Quarantine Declaration Documents for Animals and Aquatic Animal Products Imported by Individuals and Through Postal Services Currently Regulated?
Pursuant to Clause 6, Article 4 of Circular 26/2016/TT-BNNPTNT (as supplemented by Clause 3, Article 1 of Circular 36/2018/TT-BNNPTNT) the regulations are as follows:
Quarantine Registration and Declaration Documents
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6. Quarantine declaration documents for animals and aquatic animal products imported for domestic consumption:a) Application form according to form 03 TS Appendix V issued together with this Circular;b) A copy certified by the enterprise or the original quarantine certificate of the exporting country. If submitting a copy or in case the quarantine certificate of the exporting country has not been issued at the time of document submission, the original quarantine certificate of the exporting country must be submitted when the goods are inspected.*c) A copy certified by the transporting enterprise of the Bill of Lading.”
Therefore, currently, when there is a requirement for quarantine of animals and aquatic animal products imported by individuals and through postal services, documents must be prepared according to the regulations mentioned above.
Circular 06/2022/TT-BNNPTNT will be effective from September 11, 2022.
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