Vietnam: Guidance on actions against fishery foods containing banned chemicals

Specifically, according to Circular No. 28/2019/TT-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, testing laboratories shall announce test results by using the form of test report provided in Appendix 3 enclosed with the Joint Circular No. 20/2013/TTLT-BYT-BCT-BNNPTNT dated August 01, 2013 and take actions against fishery foods according to 3 circumstances as follows:

- In case the test value for banned chemicals/antibiotics for the fishery food shipment/batch is smaller than (<) the CCβ value, “no detection” phrase shall be specified in the test report, and that shipment/batch may be sold on the market.

- In case the test value for banned chemicals/antibiotics for the fishery food shipment/batch is higher than or equal to (≥) the CCβ value but smaller than (<) the MRPL, the phrase “higher than or equal to the CCβ value but smaller than the MRPL” shall be specified in the test report, the entity producing and/or trading fishery foods is allowed to sell that shipment/batch on the market and must keep all documents about that shipment/batch.

In particular, if the test reports containing the phrase “higher than or equal to the CCβ value but smaller than the MRPL” are given to 04 batches with the same type of fishery foods and testing indicator within a period of 06 consecutive months, the entire food safety control system must be intermediately reviewed to find out appropriate remedial measures against non-compliant contents (if any).

- In case the test value for banned chemicals/antibiotics for the fishery food shipment/batch is higher than or equal (≥) the MRPL, the phrase “exceeding the MRPL” shall be specified in the test report, the origin of foods must be traced and any unqualified fisher food shipments/batches must be recalled and handled according to Article 54 and Article 55 of the Law on food safety of Vietnam.

View relevant provisions at Circular No. 28/2019/TT-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, effective from February 13, 2020.

Thu Ba

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