Regulations on inspection of veterinary hygiene under the Law on Veterinary Medicine in Vietnam

Regulations on inspection of veterinary hygiene under the Law on Veterinary Medicine in Vietnam (Internet image)

1. What is inspection of veterinary hygiene?

Inspection of veterinary hygiene means the inspection and application of technical measures to discover, control and prevent the subjects of veterinary hygiene inspection.

(Clause 17, Article 3 of the Law on Veterinary Medicine 2015)

2. General provisions on veterinary hygiene inspection in Vietnam

Pursuant to Article 68 of the Law on Veterinary Medicine 2015, general provisions on veterinary hygiene inspection include:

- Veterinary hygiene inspection shall be carried out during the raising, transport, slaughter of terrestrial animals, preparation, processing, preservation and trading of animals and products thereof.

- Veterinary authorities shall carry out the inspection and supervision of veterinary hygiene standards for subjects on the List of subjects of veterinary hygiene inspection ; analysis of risks, access to origin of animals and products thereof.

- Contents of veterinary hygiene inspection:

+ Inspection, assessment of the compliance with veterinary hygiene standards for subjects of veterinary hygiene inspection;

+ Implementation of technical measures to discover subjects of veterinary hygiene inspection;

+ Conclusion and handling according to the law provisions.

3. Veterinary hygiene standards in Vietnam

3.1. Veterinary hygiene standards for establishments that carry out slaughter of terrestrial animals ; establishments that carry out preparation/processing animal products in Vietnam

According to Article 69 of the Law on Veterinary Medicine 2015, veterinary hygiene standards for establishments that carry out slaughter of terrestrial animals ; establishments that carry out preparation/processing animal products are as follows:

- Regarding concentrated slaughterhouses :

+ The location conforms with the planning of local government:

+ Specialized areas are separated from each other to avoid cross-contamination;

+ Equipment, tools and water used for slaughtering animals satisfy veterinary hygiene standards;

+ There is a sewage treatment system conformable to the law provisions on environmental protection to ensure epidemic safety;

+ People who directly slaughter animals comply with the regulations on health and hygiene procedures during the slaughtering activity.

- Regarding small slaughterhouses:

+ Location of such slaughterhouses shall be separate from toxic and polluting sources ;

+ Equipment and tools shall be suitable for slaughtering, not toxic or polluting to animal products;

+ There shall be sufficient water to ensure veterinary hygiene for the slaughter of animals;

+ Measures for collecting and treating waste water and waste matters that are conformable to the law provisions on environmental protection and the requirements for epidemic safety;

+ People who directly slaughter animals shall comply with the regulations on health and hygiene procedures during the slaughtering activity.

- Establishments that carry out the preparation/processing of animals/animal products for business:

+ The establishments shall have appropriate location and area and shall have a safe distance from toxic/polluting sources and other harmful factors;

+ Specialized areas shall be designed separate from each other to avoid cross-contamination;

+ Equipment and tools shall satisfy the veterinary hygiene standards;

+ There shall be sufficient water to ensure technical standards for the preparation/processing of animal products;

+ Sewage treatment systems safety conformable to the law provisions on environmental protection shall be equipped to ensure epidemic;

+ The preparation/processing procedures shall protect products from cross-contamination or contact with polluting or toxic elements;

+ People who directly perform the preparation/processing of animal products shall comply with the regulations on health and hygiene procedures during the preparation/processing activities.

- Small establishments that carry out the preparation/processing of animals/animal products:

+ There shall be an appropriate distance from harmful elements to prevent animal products from being polluted;

+ Equipment and tools shall satisfy the veterinary hygiene standards;

+ There shall be sufficient water to ensure technical standards for the preparation/processing of animal products;

+ Measures for collecting and treating waste water and waste matters conformable to the law provisions on environmental protection and the requirements for epidemic safety shall be taken;

+ People who directly perform the preparation/processing of animal products shall comply with the regulations on health and hygiene procedures during the preparation/processing activities.

3.2. Veterinary hygiene standards in transport of animals and products thereof in Vietnam

Article 70 of the Law on Veterinary Medicine 2015 stipulates the veterinary hygiene requirements in transporting animals and animal products as follows:

- Regarding vehicles for transport of animals:

+ Prevent wastewater and waste matters from being discharged into the environment during the transportation;

+ Easy for cleansing, decontamination and disinfection;

+ Closed vehicles shall have appropriate oxygenators or ventilating systems.

- Regarding vehicles and containers of animal products:

+ Ensuring technical safety to ensure that quality of animal products is not badly affected during the transportation ;

+ The inside of animal product containers shall be made of stainless and easy to cleanse and disinfect;

+ Animal product containers shall be closed to prevent products from being contaminated by outside environment and vice versa;

+ Satisfying the requirements of preservation in terms of temperature for specific type of animal products during the transportation.

- Measures for collecting and treating waste water and waste matters that are conformable to the law provisions on environmental protection shall be taken during the transportation to ensure epidemic safety.

3.3. Veterinary hygiene standards applicable to animal markets and animal collecting establishments in Vietnam

Veterinary hygiene standards applicable to animal markets and animal collecting establishments specified in Article 71 of the Law on Veterinary Medicine 2015 are as follows:

- Regarding animal markets:

+ Location shall conform with the planning of local government:

+ Animals shall be kept in separate areas;

+ Equipment, tools and water shall satisfy the veterinary hygiene standards;

+ Measures for collecting and treating waste water and waste matters safety that are conformable to the law provisions on environmental protection shall be taken to ensure epidemic;

+ Cleansing, decontamination and disinfection shall be carried out according to the regulations.

- Regarding small animal markets:

+ Located separately from other branches;

+ Convenient for cleansing, decontamination, disinfection and collection and treatment of waste water, waste matters.

- Animal collecting establishments:

+ Their locations shall be distant from residential areas, raising establishments and public works;

+ Animals shall be kept in separate areas;

+ Equipment, tools and water shall satisfy the veterinary hygiene standards;

+ Measures for collecting and treating waste water and waste matters that are conformable to the law provisions on environmental protection and the requirements for epidemic safety shall be taken.

3.4. Veterinary hygiene standards applicable to establishment trading in animal products in Vietnam

According to Article 72 of the Law on Veterinary Medicine 2015, veterinary hygiene standards applicable to establishment trading in animal products are as follows:

- Establishments trading animal products:

+ Things used for display, sale and containing of animal products shall be made of stainless materials so as not to badly affect the quality of products and shall be easy for cleansing, decontamination and disinfection;

+ Appropriate preservation measures shall be taken to prevent animal products from losing food safety and degeneration;

+ Location and things used for trading of animal products shall be carefully cleansed before, while and after the sale of animal products and shall be periodically decontaminated and disinfected;

+ Warehouses, equipment for preservation of animal products shall comply with the regulations according to corresponding technical standards;

+ Measures for collecting and handling waste water and waste matters safety that are conformable to the law provisions on environmental protection shall be taken during the trading of animal products to ensure epidemic.

- Establishment trading animal products for use as food shall satisfy the veterinary hygiene standards specified in clause 1 of Article 72 of the Law on Veterinary Medicine 2015 and shall comply with the legislations on food safety.

3.5. Veterinary hygiene standards applicable to establishments performing testing, diagnosis and surgery for animals in Vietnam

According to Article 73 of the Law on Veterinary Medicine 2015, veterinary hygiene standards applicable to establishments performing testing, diagnosis and surgery for animals are as follows:

- Establishments providing testing and diagnosis of animals:

+ Their locations shall be distant from residential areas and public works;

+ There shall be sufficient appropriate facilities, equipment, tools and chemicals;

+ Animals shall be kept in separate places;

+ Measures for collecting and treating waste water and waste matters that are conformable to the law provisions on environmental protection and the requirements for epidemic safety shall be taken.

- Animal surgery establishments:

+ Area, facilities, equipment, tools and chemicals shall be sufficient;

+ There shall be places to keep animal before and after the surgery;

+ Measures for collecting and treating waste water and waste matters that are conformable to the law provisions on environmental protection and the requirements for epidemic safety shall be taken.

Ngoc Nhi

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