Decision No. 01/2012/QD-TTg On certain support policies for the application of Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP) in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries

Pursuant to …;

On certain support policies for the application of Good Agricultural Practices in agricultural, forestry, and fisheries production processes

This Decision stipulates certain support policies for the production and processing of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products that apply Good Agricultural Practices.

______________________

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to the Food Safety Law dated June 17, 2010;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,

DECISION:

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

Organizations, individuals, and household producers engaged in the production and processing of safe agricultural, forestry, and fishery products listed in the support product catalog established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and provincial People's Committees shall be subject to this Decision.

Article 2. Applicability

1. Good Agricultural Practices include VietGAP (Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices) issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other GAP standards, organic agriculture standards recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for implementation (referred to collectively as VietGAP).

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Decision, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

2. The application of VietGAP involves implementing VietGAP at one of the following levels:

a) Implementing the main criteria of VietGAP related to food safety and traceability as specified in Technical Regulations and Food Safety Conditions Regulations for production and processing facilities (hereinafter referred to as Technical Regulations);

b) Implementing all criteria of VietGAP related to food safety, traceability, environmental protection, and worker health in production and processing.

3. Safe products are agricultural, forestry, and fishery products evaluated, certified, and announced as being produced and processed in compliance with Technical Regulations or VietGAP.

Article 4. Conditions for organizations and individuals

Organizations, individuals, and household producers engaged in the production and processing of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products must meet the following conditions:

1. Applying VietGAP in production and processing;

2. Having sales contracts or sales plans for products.

Article 5. Certain policies

1. The state budget will invest 100% of the funds for basic surveys, topographic surveys, soil, water, and air sample analysis to identify concentrated production areas for agricultural, forestry, and fishery projects applying VietGAP approved by competent authorities.

2. State budget support

a) Up to 50% of the total investment capital for construction and renovation of roads, irrigation systems, pumping stations, low-voltage power supply systems, waste treatment systems, and water supply and drainage systems in concentrated production areas to meet VietGAP technical requirements. Support funding will be implemented according to the Investment Management and Construction Regulation;

b) Training and instructing management staff, technical staff, agricultural extension workers at various levels; vocational training for rural laborers applying VietGAP in the production and processing of safe products; compiling and printing materials and forms for training and instruction classes;

c) Providing a one-time fee for hiring certification organizations to obtain a Certificate of Safe Product;

d) Applying new technological advancements in using pest-resistant seeds, biological plant protection chemicals, bio-origin plant protection chemicals, integrated pest management (IPM), and integrated crop management (ICM);

đ) Supporting trade promotion activities as prescribed in Decision No. 72/2010/QĐ-TTg dated November 15, 2010, of the Prime Minister on the issuance of regulations for the development, management, and implementation of national trade promotion programs.

3. Organizations and individuals with investment projects for the production and processing of products applying VietGAP, in addition to enjoying the policies stipulated in Clause 1 and Clause 2 of this Article, also enjoy other support and preferential policies under current regulations.

4. Financial mechanism

a) The central government budget will invest and provide support through Projects and Target Programs on VietGAP application and other relevant Projects and Target Programs; agricultural extension funds, scientific research funds.

b) The Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees shall, based on specific local conditions, existing mechanisms and policies, use local budgets, support from central programs and projects, and other lawful sources of capital, decide on specific support levels for the contents prescribed in this Decision.

1. Provincial People's Committees are responsible for:

Article 6. Implementation Organization

a) Issuing detailed support investment content and levels; Catalog of local special products eligible for support outside the Catalog of products issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

b) Directing the approval of concentrated production area planning;

c) Organizing the implementation, guiding, monitoring, and supervising the implementation of this Decision and reporting regularly to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as prescribed.

2. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for:

a) Issuing VietGAP, Technical Regulations, and the Catalog of supported products; recognizing the application of other GAP standards and organic agriculture standards;

b) Leading and coordinating with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance to develop Circulars guiding the implementation of the contents of this Decision;

c) Allocating agricultural extension funds and annual scientific research funds; integrating other relevant Target Programs to support VietGAP application nationwide;

d) Annually organizing mid-term and final evaluations of implementation, and reporting to the Prime Minister.

3. Relevant Ministries and sectors, according to their assigned functions and tasks, shall cooperate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to implement this Decision.

4. Industry associations shall cooperate with relevant agencies to organize mobilization and propaganda for producers and processors to apply VietGAP and for traders to sell safe products.

1. This Decision takes effect from February 25, 2012, and replaces Decision No. 107/2008/QĐ-TTg dated July 30, 2008.

Article 7. Implementation Provisions

2. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of agencies under the Government, Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees, and Heads of relevant agencies are responsible for implementing this Decision./.

The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities, and Heads of related agencies are responsible for implementing this Decision./.