Implementing food safety and combating IUU exploitation for fishing vessels and fishing ports in Vietnam

Implementing food safety and combating IUU exploitation for fishing vessels and fishing ports in Vietnam (Internet image) 

On April 9, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam issued Official Dispatch 2555/BNN-CCPT on the implementation of food safety and combating IUU exploitation for fishing vessels and fishing ports in Vietnam.

To enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement in state management, especially in the initial production stage of seafood production for domestic consumption and export, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requests:

(1) Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development in coastal provinces/cities to direct competent authorities under the Department to:

- Take full responsibility in strict compliance with Circular 38/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 25, 2018 (amended by Circular 32/2022/TT-BNNPTNT) and Circular 17/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated October 31, 2018.

- Urgently inspect and review with early solutions for handling fishing vessels that have not been appraised or granted certificates of eligibility for food safety or certificates that have expired according to the regulations stated in Circular 38/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 25, 2018. Fully and strictly implement the appraisal of food safety certificates and periodic maintenance of food safety conditions for the mentioned fishing vessels and fishing ports.

- Inspect, supervise, and guide the implementation of food safety commitments for fishing vessels under 15 meters in length according to the hierarchical management in Circular 17/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated August 31, 2018 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

- Strictly control the departure of fishing vessels from ports according to Form 04 (Record of inspection of departing fishing vessels) regulated in Circular 01/2022/TT-BNNPTNT dated January 18, 2022, amending some circulars in the seafood sector, ensuring that fishing vessels have food safety certificates or food safety commitments.

- Direct fishing ports to ensure that the issuance of certificates for the origin of seafood materials (SC) guarantees that 100% of the products originate from fishing vessels that do not violate IUU regulations, including fishing vessels with food safety certificates or food safety commitments as required.

- Conduct communication and professional training to enhance the capabilities and responsibilities of public officials and staff in charge of food safety at the local level.

(2) Seafood processing and exporting companies to:

- Commit to "Say no to IUU"; only purchase seafood raw materials from fishing vessels with sufficient certificates of eligibility for food safety/food safety commitments to ensure compliance with food safety laws and combat IUU exploitation.

- Strictly implement Circular 17/2021/TT-BNNPTNT on traceability of origin and retrieval, handling of products that do not meet food safety standards, including the provisions: "(1) Establish a system for tracing the origin of food based on the principle of one step forward - one step backward to ensure the ability to identify and trace a product unit at defined stages of the production and business process of food. (2) When there is a request for tracing the origin of food, the establishment must provide information that has been retained regarding the supplying establishment receiving the batch and the receiving establishment delivering the batch during the production and business process."

- Keep complete records of the establishments supplying raw materials, including documents proving that the seafood was harvested in compliance with IUU regulations and food safety standards as prescribed, including Circular 17/2021/TT-BNNPTNT mentioned above.

- Review the internal quality management and control procedures of the enterprise regarding food safety (HACCP) and combating IUU exploitation, ensuring the proper implementation of the procedures.

(3) Deparment of Standards, Processing, and Market Development to:

- Inspect compliance with the legal regulations and procedures of enterprises to ensure compliance with current regulations. If necessary, send documents to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, local Sub-Department, or Fishing Port Management Board of provinces/cities to verify and clarify the provision of documents and materials for traceability of origin, ensuring food safety, and combating IUU exploitation according to the functions and duties of management.

- Strictly implement Circular 17/2021/TT-BNNPTNT on traceability of origin and retrieval, handling of products that do not meet food safety standards, and other Vietnamese laws on food safety in the export market.

- In the process of assessing food safety conditions and certifying export batches, if violations are detected, prepare a record for transfer to the competent authority for handling according to regulations.

(4) Department of Fisheries to:

- Direct, guide, and inspect localities in the implementation of fishing vessel and fishing port management (including compliance with food safety regulations), the issuance of certificates for the origin of seafood materials (SC), and the issuance of certificates for the origin of fishing (CC) according to regulations.

More details can be found in Official Dispatch 2555/BNN-CCPT, issued on April 9, 2024.

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE