Changes to Regulations on the Composition of Documentation for Registering Animal and Aquatic Animal Product Exports Not Intended for Food

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Do aquatic animals and aquatic animal products need quarantine before export?

Based on Article 53 of the 2015 Veterinary Law, the provisions are as follows:

General regulations on the quarantine of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products

1. Aquatic animals, aquatic animal products listed in the category of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products subject to quarantine before transport out of the provincial level must be quarantined once at the point of departure in the following cases:

a) Aquatic animals, aquatic animal products originate from areas declared epidemic by the competent state agency;

b) Aquatic animals used for breeding originate from collection and trading establishments;

c) Aquatic animals used for breeding originate from aquaculture establishments not recognized as disease-free or not monitored for disease according to regulations;

d) Animals and animal products not specified in points a, b, and c of this clause when required by the shipper.

2. Aquatic animals, aquatic animal products listed in the category of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products subject to quarantine before export as required by the importing country, of the shipper, and before importing, temporarily importing for re-export, temporarily exporting for re-import, transshipment, bonded warehouse, transiting through Vietnamese territory must be quarantined.

3. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall promulgate:

a) The list of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products subject to quarantine, exempt from quarantine;

b) The list of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products subject to risk analysis before importation into Vietnam;

c) The list of subjects for quarantine of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products;

d) Specific regulations on the quarantine content, records for quarantine of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products transported out of the provincial level, exported, imported, temporarily imported for re-export, temporarily exported for re-import, trans-shipment, bonded warehouse, transiting through Vietnamese territory.

Thus, aquatic animals and aquatic animal products listed in the category of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products subject to quarantine before export must be quarantined.

Changes in regulations on the dossier composition of aquatic animal and aquatic animal products export quarantine registration not used as food?

How to conduct quarantine of aquatic animals, aquatic animal products not used as food for export?

According to Article 11 of Circular 26/2016/TT-BNNPTNT (supplemented by Clause 5, Article 1 and amended by Clause 16, Article 1 of Circular 36/2018/TT-BNNPTNT), the provisions are as follows:

Quarantine of aquatic animals, aquatic animal products not used as food for export

1. Quarantine registration

Before exporting aquatic animals and aquatic animal products subject to quarantine, the shipper shall send 01 set of documents as stipulated in Clause 5, Article 4 of this Circular to the Regional Animal Health Sub-Department or Regional Animal Quarantine Sub-Department under the Department of Animal Health or a specialized animal health management agency at the provincial level authorized by the Department of Animal Health (hereinafter referred to as the animal quarantine agency at the port of entry). The dossier may be sent by post, email, fax followed by the original dossier, or sent directly.

2. Receipt and processing of dossiers

The receiving agency shall immediately check the validity of the dossier. If it is not valid, the shipper shall be requested to complete the dossier as prescribed.

3. The animal quarantine agency at the port of entry shall carry out quarantine as follows:

a) Check the quantity, type, and packaging of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products;

b) Conduct clinical inspection for aquatic animals; conduct sensory analysis, storage conditions, and the actual state of goods for aquatic animal products;

c) Take samples for inspection and testing as required by the importing country or the shipper (if any), except for disease indicators already recognized as disease-free for the aquaculture facility of origin of the aquatic animals;

d) Issue a quarantine certificate as stipulated in point c, Clause 2, Article 42 of the Veterinary Law.

4. If the shipper or the importing country does not require quarantine: The shipper must quarantine before transporting out of the provincial level according to the provisions of Articles 6, 7, 8, and 9 of this Circular.

5. Control of animals, animal products at the port of exit, the animal quarantine agency at the port of entry shall carry out as follows:

a) Check the export quarantine certificate;

b) Check clinical symptoms for aquatic animals, the actual state of goods, packaging conditions, storage for aquatic animal products;

c) Confirm or re-issue the export quarantine certificate as requested by the shipper.

6. The shipper is responsible for quarantine for exported goods and does not need to submit the quarantine certificate to the customs authorities for exported goods to clear customs.”

Currently, the quarantine of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products for export not used as food will be conducted following the above regulations.

What are the components of the dossier for registration of quarantine for export of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products not used as food?

Based on Clause 5, Article 4, Circular 26/2016/TT-BNNPTNT, the provisions are as follows:

Dossier for registration and declaration of quarantine

…

5. Dossier for registration of quarantine for export of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products not used as food:

a) Application form 03 TS in Appendix V issued together with this Circular;

b) Veterinary hygiene requirements of the importing country or the shipper (if any);

c) A copy of the export permit for aquatic animal products from the General Department of Fisheries, certified by the enterprise (for species of aquatic animals subject to export licensing as stipulated in Circular 04/2015/TT-BNNPTNT dated February 12, 2015, of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development).

Currently, when registering for quarantine of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products not used as food for export, it is mandatory to prepare the dossier as mentioned above.

However, in the future, there will be changes to the components of the dossier for the quarantine of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products not used as food for export. Specifically, according to Clause 2, Article 1 of Circular 06/2022/TT-BNNPTNT, the provisions are as follows:

Amending and supplementing some articles of Circular 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

…

2. Amending and supplementing point c, clause 5, Article 4 as follows:

“c) A photocopy of the export permit for aquatic animal products issued by the General Department of Fisheries, certified by the enterprise (for species of aquatic animals subject to export conditions as specified in Appendix IX, Appendix X issued together with Decree 26/2019/ND-CP dated March 08, 2019, of the Government of Vietnam detailing the implementation of some articles and measures of the Fisheries Law).”

Thus, in the future, instead of submitting a copy of the export permit for aquatic animal products, enterprises only need to submit a photocopy of the export permit according to the aforementioned regulations.

Circular 06/2022/TT-BNNPTNT will come into effect on September 11, 2022.