Vietnam: Steps to implement the plan for prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases

According to Article 6 of Circular No. 04/2016/TT-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, the Veterinary Department shall be responsible for leading and coordinating with relevant units to develop, seek approval for, and implement the plan for prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases (referred to as the Plan) according to the following steps:

- Summarize, analyze, evaluate the results, and identify the obstacles, shortcomings, and deficiencies in the implementation of the current year's Plan; propose necessary adjustments and enhancements for the next year's Plan.

- Conduct a detailed assessment of the role, importance, current status, and development trends of aquaculture in the locality; compile and analyze data on the area of major aquatic animal farming in the locality.

- Consolidate, analyze, and evaluate the results of environmental monitoring and warning; the main water sources for the farming areas; the current status of wastewater discharge in the farming areas; the results of surveillance of aquatic animal diseases and the disease situation (described in detail by space, time, and the affected aquatic animals); the risk factors associated with the occurrence and spread of aquatic animal diseases in the locality; the epidemiological indicators and related indicators that need to be tested to determine the risk level and predict the occurrence and spread of aquatic animal diseases in the locality.

- Determine the necessary resources, including human resources, material resources, and finances, to implement preventive and control measures, support farm owners, and monitor the environment and diseases, both when the disease outbreak has not met the conditions for official declaration, and when the disease is officially declared.

- Base on the proposal on technical standards, Vietnamese standards, and guidance documents on disease surveillance, disease investigation, environmental hygiene conditions for aquaculture, the number of production and business establishments, seed production, and the area of aquaculture for proposing sampling targets, frequency, sampling locations, and the number of aquatic animal and environmental samples.

- Develop the Plan, including the provisions specified in Article 7 of this Circular.

- Report to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for submission to the provincial People's Committee for approval of the Plan and budget before November 30th of each year.

- Send the approved Plan to the Regional Veterinary Agency and the Veterinary Department for coordination, guidance, and supervision of the implementation.

- Implement the Plan.

- In case of adjustments to the Plan, the Veterinary Department shall send the approved adjusted Plan to the Regional Veterinary Agency and the Veterinary Department.

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

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE