What bodies shall receive application for issuance of Certificates of registration of certification of conformance of organic products to national standards of Vietnam on organic agriculture?

What bodies shall receive application for issuance of Certificates of registration of certification of conformance of organic products to national standards of Vietnam on organic agriculture?

Pursuant to Article 3 of the Circular 16/2019/TT-BNNPTNT stipulating bodies receiving application for issuance, re-issuance, supplementary issuance and revision of Certificates of registration of certification of conformance of organic products to national standards of Vietnam on organic agriculture in Vietnam as follows:

1. Bodies receiving applications shall undertake verification and assessment for issuance, re-issuance, supplementary issuance and revision of Certificates of registration of certification of conformance of organic products to national standards of Vietnam on organic agriculture (hereinafter referred to as practicing registration certificate).

2. If an organic product certification body (hereinafter referred to as certification body) wishes to obtain registration of its organic product certification services in one (01) sector, it must apply to a specialized body affiliated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, specifically including:

a) Directorate of Fisheries shall take charge of receiving applications in the fisheries sector.

b) Vietnam Administration of Forestry shall take charge of receiving applications in the forestry sector.

c) Department of Crop Production shall take charge of receiving applications in the crop production sector.

d) Department of Livestock Production shall take charge of receiving applications in the livestock production sector.

3. If a certification body wishes to obtain registration for certification services for organic products in at least two (02) sectors, it must apply to a body having specialized authority over the sector that it registers. The receiving body shall undertake or cooperate with relevant entities in issuance of the practicing registration certificate.

4. Certification body applying for re-issuance, supplementary issuance or revision of practicing registration certificates shall submit its application required in clause 2 and 3 of this Article.

5. The body granting practicing registration certificates shall publicly inform institutional applicants eligible to receive practicing registration certificates on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and of the issuing body within the maximum duration of five (05) working days from the issuance date.

As regulations above, you shall submit the application to Department of Crop Production affiliated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Vietnam.

Can a registration number be issued for multiple certification of organic products body in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 4 of the Circular 16/2019/TT-BNNPTNT stipulating registration number of certification body in Vietnam as follows:

1. The registration number of a certification body is a registration code specified in the Form No. 01 in the Appendix to the Decree No. 109/2018/ND-CP.

2. Each registration number shall be given a certification body, being kept unchanged in case of reissuance, supplementary issuance and revision of the practicing registration certificate.

3. Department of Science, Technology and Environment shall be a body authorized to issue and manage registration numbers.

As regulations above, each registration number shall be given to only 1 certification body, being kept unchanged in case of reissuance, supplementary issuance and revision of the practicing registration certificate.

Is it mandatory for collectors of organic products in Vietnam to hold any certificates?

Pursuant to Article 7 of the Circular 16/2019/TT-BNNPTNT stipulating regulations on collection of organic product samples in Vietnam as follows:

1. Collectors must hold sampling practice certificates or certificates of participation in training course in collection of samples relevant to the type of sample to be collected.

2. Sampling process shall be subject to national standards of Vietnam appropriate to the type of sample and regulations promulgated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

As regulations above, collectors of organic products in Vietnam must hold  sampling practice certificates or certificates of participation in training course in collection of samples relevant to the type of sample to be collected.

Best regards!