Cases where fertilizers do not have to be subject to testing before being recognized for circulation in Vietnam

What is fertilizer testing?

Based on the provisions of the Law on Crop Production 2018, fertilizer testing means the monitoring and evaluation of indicators to determine the mode of use, the environmental impact, the agronomic efficiency and the economic efficiency of each fertilizer product.

Cases where fertilizers do not have to be subject to testing before being recognized for circulation in Vietnam (Internet image)

Cases where fertilizers do not have to be subject to testing before being recognized for circulation in Vietnam

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 39 of the Law on Crop Production 2018, fertilizers must be subject to testing before being recognized for circulation; fertilizers may be subject to both wide and narrow testing; the wide testing may be conducted only after completion of the narrow testing.

Fertilizer testing carried out according to national standards shall be conducted by accredited testing organizations.

Amount of fertilizer allowed to be produced or imported for testing shall be determined based on the dosage of administration for each plant and the actual testing area according to national standards regarding fertilizer testing.

However, fertilizers shall not be subject to testing, including:

(1) Organic fertilizers used for fertilizing roots that are formulated by natural organic ingredients and meet quality indicators defined in national technical regulations;

(2) Single fertilizers used for fertilizing roots that are formulated only by nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) or potassium (K) and meet quality indicators defined in national technical regulations;

(3) Inorganic compound fertilizers used for fertilizing roots that are formulated only by such nutrient elements as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) joining together by chemical bonds, and meet quality indicators defined in national technical regulations;

(4) Fertilizers recognized by competent regulatory authorities as technical advances.

Conditions for recognition of fertilizer testing organizations

Pursuant to the provisions of Clause 1, Article 40 of the Law on Crop Production 2018, fertilizer testing organization must conform to the following requirements:

- Persons directly in charge of testing must hold a university or higher degree in one of the following specialties: crop production, plant protection, agro-chemical, pedology, soil science, agronomy, chemistry, biology and must have certificates of completion of training in fertilizer testing under the instructions given by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

- Having the adequate number of testing personnel, except persons directly in charge of testing, who must hold a university or higher degree in one of the specialties specified in point a of clause 1 of Article 40 of the Law on Crop Production 2018 and must complete training in fertilizer testing under the instructions given by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

- Having adequate facilities and equipment conforming to national standards regarding fertilizer testing.

Requirements concerning recognition of fertilizers in circulation and classification of fertilizers in Vietnam

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 36 of the Law on Crop Production 2018, fertilizers are conditional commodities and must obtain the decision on recognition of fertilizers in circulation in Vietnam, except for organic fertilizers manufactured for non-commercial uses or imported fertilizers prescribed in clause 2 of Article 44 of the Law on Crop Production 2018; fertilizers manufactured for export under contracts with foreign organizations and individuals.

The validity period of the decision on recognition of fertilizers in circulation in Vietnam shall be 05 years and may be extended.

Domestic organizations and individuals, or overseas organizations and individuals setting up their representative offices, or branches of companies operating in the fertilizer industry, within the territory of Vietnam, may register recognition of fertilizers in their own names.

Each organization or individual may apply for registration of recognition of only one fertilizer name for each ingredient formula and nutritional contents.

Mai Thanh Loi

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