Vietnam: Determining agencies have the competence in inspecting the traceability systems

According to Article 5 of the Circular No. 74/2011/TT-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, agencies have the competence in inspecting observing regulations on traceability, recall and handling of unsafe agricultural and forest food include:

1. Agencies inspecting establishments in observing regulations on traceability, recall and handling of unsafe agricultural and forest food include:

- At the central level: Directorates and Specialized Departments under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's assignment and management decentralization.

- At the local level: Specialized agencies assigned by provincial-level Agriculture and Rural Development Departments under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's management decentralization.

2. Agencies inspecting the traceability, recall and handling of agricultural and forest food warned to be unsafe include:

- The National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department, which shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related agencies in, inspecting the traceability, recall and handling of agricultural and forest food warned to be unsafe by importing countries, the inspection agencies mentioned at Point a, Clause 1 of this Article or other information sources.

- Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Sub-Departments or units assigned by provincial-level Agriculture and Rural Development Departments, which shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related agencies in, inspecting the traceability, recall and handling of agricultural and forest food warned to be unsafe by the inspection agencies mentioned at Point b, Clause 1 of this Article or other local information sources.

These agencies shall conduct the inspection of traceability systems following the principle: Agricultural and forest food traceability systems shall be inspected concurrently during the inspection and evaluation of agricultural and forest food producers and traders under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's current regulations.

View details at Circular No. 74/2011/TT-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, effective from December 15, 2011.

Thuy Tram

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