Decree No. 69/2010/NĐ-CP: Vietnam’s regulations on assessment of risks of genetically modified organisms

Assessment of risks of genetically modified organisms is specified from Article 5 to Article 9 of Decree No. 69/2010/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government:

- Principles of assessment of risks:

+ Risk assessment of genetically modified organisms must ensure scientificity and transparency and be conducted by methods and techniques nationally or internationally recognized by competent agencies.

+ Risk assessment of genetically modified organisms shall be conducted on a case-by-case basis, depending on genetically modified organisms, their use purposes and their receiving environments.

+ Risks of genetically modified organisms shall be assessed on the basis of comparing disparities between genetically modified organisms and host organisms under the same conditions.

- Contents of assessment of risks:

+ Identifying potential hazards and possible risks of genetically modified organisms to the environment, biodiversity and health of humans and domestic animals.

+ Identifying safety measures to prevent, handle and deal with risks of genetically modified organisms to the environment, biodiversity and health of humans and domestic animals.

- Reporting on assessment of risks:

+ Information on the assessment of risks of genetically modified organisms shall be presented in reports on assessment of risks of genetically modified organisms to the environment, biodiversity and health of humans and domestic animals.

+ Reports on assessment of risks of genetically modified organisms to the environment, biodiversity and health of humans and domestic animals must be appraised by competent state agencies.

+ A report on assessment of risks of genetically modified organisms to the environment, biodiversity and health of humans and domestic animals serves as a basis for the grant of a biosafety certificate: a written certification of genetically modified organisms' eligibility for use as food: and a written certification of genetically modified organisms' eligibility for use as animal feed.

- Responsibility for management of risks:

+ Organizations and individuals engaged in scientific research, technological development; assay, production, trading, import, export, transportation or storage of genetically modified organisms shall take risk management measures to ensure biosafety under law.

+ When risks occur, organizations and individuals shall promptly take measures to deal with such risks and report them to provincial-level People's Committees in localities where risks occur.

+ Organizations and individuals that fail to comply with risk management measures shall, depending on the severity of their violations, be administratively sanctioned, examined for penal liability or pay compensation under law.

+ Line ministries and provincial-level People's Committees shall direct and organize risk management and report it to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment when risks occur.

- Inspection and examination:

+ Line ministries and provincial-level People's Committee shall periodically or extraordinarily inspect and examine the application of risk management measures to genetically modified organisms under their management and promptly handle violations under law.

+ The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall conduct inter-branch or extraordinary examination and inspection of the application of risk management measures to genetically modified organisms.

View more details at Decree No. 69/2010/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government, effective from August 10, 2010.

Nguyen Phu

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