Vietnam: Requirements for monitoring food hygiene and safety in harvests of bivalve mollusk

According to Circular No. 33/2015/TT-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, requirements for organizations and individuals taking part in the program for monitoring food hygiene and safety in harvests of bivalve mollusk are as follows:

1. Persons carrying out sampling and controlling harvesting and officers from inspection and controlling agencies that take part in Monitoring Program must be provided with training in professional competence of food hygiene and safety in harvesting of bivalve mollusks organized by National Agro - Forestry - Fisheries Quality Assurance Department to ensure adequate qualifications for assigned tasks.

2. Testing Facilities taking part in Monitoring Program must satisfy following requirements:

- Be appointed by competent agencies as prescribed in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Circular No. 16/2011/TT-BNNPTNT dated April 01, 2011 regulating assessment, appointment and management of laboratories pertaining to sector of agriculture and rural development and Joint Circular No. 20/2013/TTLT-BYT-BCT-BNNPTNT dated August 01, 2013 by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development regulating conditions, order and procedures on appointment of food testing facilities to perform state administration;

- Satisfy requirements for reference test methods in proportion to test criteria (if any) as prescribed in Appendix 1 enclosed with Circular No. 33/2015/TT-BNNPTNT.

3. Bivalve mollusks cleaning and rearing facilities must satisfy requirements for food hygiene and safety as specified in Appendix II enclosed with Circular No. 33/2015/TT-BNNPTNT.

Besides, Circular No. 33/2015/TT-BNNPTNT also determines Inspection and Controlling Agencies, including:

- Inspection Agencies being National Agro - Forestry - Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (including affiliated units) shall be responsible for organizing the implementation of Monitoring Program.

- Controlling Agencies include Branch of Agro - Forestry - Fisheries Quality Assurance or agencies assigned by the Service of Agriculture and Rural Development to manage seafood quality shall be responsible for implementing the sampling of bivalve mollusks and control on the harvesting of bivalve mollusks in localities.

View more details at Circular No. 33/2015/TT-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, effective from December 10, 2015.

Le Hai

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