Vietnam: Regulations on responsibilities in monitoring aquatic animal diseases

According to Circular No. 04/2016/TT-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, the responsibilities of farm owners and competent authorities in monitoring aquatic animal diseases are specified as follows:

1. The responsibilities of farm owners:

- Carry out clinical surveillance to detect diseases.

- If the farm owner registers for inspection according to Clause 2 Article 55 of the Veterinary Law 2015 of Vietnam, they must develop and implement a surveillance plan proactively with the contents of the plan for monitoring aquatic animal diseases.

- Provide favorable conditions and support the specialized veterinary and aquaculture management authorities in sample collection according to the surveillance plan.

2. Responsibilities of village veterinary staff:

Commune veterinary staff are responsible for carrying out assigned tasks in the surveillance plan.

3. Responsibilities of the veterinary station:

- Provide guidance to commune veterinary staff and coordinate with relevant units to implement the surveillance plan, including the collection of samples from aquatic animals and environmental samples.

- For environmental indicators and diseases whose causes have not been identified, the veterinary station will collect samples, preserve them, and send them to the testing laboratory of the Veterinary Department.

- Provide guidance to the facilities on implementing preventive and control measures for diseases.

- Report the surveillance results to the Veterinary Department.

4. Responsibilities of the Veterinary Department:

- Implement the provisions stated in Clause 5 Article 16 of the Veterinary Law 2015.

- Take the lead and coordinate with relevant units in developing and submitting the local surveillance plan for the approval and allocation of funds by the competent local authority. Organize the implementation of the approved surveillance plan.

- Direct the veterinary station and village veterinary staff to coordinate with relevant units in implementing the surveillance plan.

- Coordinate with the Fisheries Department and other relevant units in collecting information on the results of environmental indicators testing at farming facilities.

- For indicators that the laboratory lacks the capacity to test, the Veterinary Department sends samples to the testing laboratory under the Veterinary Department or the recognized testing laboratory.

- After receiving the analysis and testing results, the Veterinary Department informs the results along with specific instructions for disease prevention measures to the veterinary station for guiding farm owners in implementation.

- Report the surveillance results to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the regional Veterinary Agency, and the Veterinary Department for analysis and guidance in the work of preventing and controlling aquatic animal diseases.

5. Responsibilities of the Veterinary Department:

- Take the lead and coordinate with relevant units in developing and submitting the nationwide surveillance plan for the prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval and budget allocation. Organize the implementation of the approved plan.

- Provide guidance, instructions, inspections, and supervision to ensure the implementation of the surveillance plan by local authorities.

- Develop and guide the use of the national database for monitoring aquatic animal diseases.

- Organize training and workshops to enhance the capacity of central and local officials in disease prevention, control, and surveillance.

- Regularly review and supplement basic equipment for the central agencies responsible for disease surveillance.

View more details at Circular No. 04/2016/TT-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, effective from July 01, 2016.

Ty Na

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