Circular No. 04/2025/TT-BTNMT Issuing National Technical Regulations on Livestock Wastewater

CIRCULAR
Issuing national technical regulations on livestock effluent

Pursuant to the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations dated June 29, 2006;

Pursuant to the Environmental Protection Law dated November 17, 2020;

Pursuant to Decree No. 08/2022/NĐ-CP dated January 10, 2022 of the Government detailing implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Environmental Protection and Decree No. 05/2025/NĐ-CP dated January 6, 2025 of the Government amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 08/2022/NĐ-CP dated January 10, 2022 of the Government detailing certain provisions of the Law on Environmental Protection;

Pursuant to Decree No. 127/2007/NĐ-CP dated August 1, 2007 of the Government detailing implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations and Decree No. 78/2018/NĐ-CP dated May 16, 2018 of the Government amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 127/2007/NĐ-CP dated August 1, 2007 of the Government detailing implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations;

Pursuant to Decree No. 68/2022/NĐ-CP dated September 22, 2022 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

At the proposal of the Director of the Environmental Pollution Control Department and the Head of the Science and Technology Department;

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment issues this Circular on national technical regulations on livestock effluent.

Article 1. Attached to this Circular is the National Technical Regulation on Livestock Effluent (QCVN 62:2025/BTNMT).

Article 2. Effective Date

2. During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties, agencies, organizations, and individuals are requested to promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Science and Technology (Telecommunications Agency) for guidance or consideration and resolution./.

2. Circular No. 04/2016/TT-BTNMT dated April 29, 2016 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment issuing national technical regulations on environmental standards shall cease to be effective from the date specified in Article 3 and the implementation timeline set forth in Article 4 of this Circular.

3. From the date this Circular takes effect, in cases where discharge zones have not been determined, Column B as prescribed in Table 1 of QCVN 62:2025/BTNMT shall apply.

Article 3. Transitional Provisions

1. Existing livestock farms that have commenced operation, investment projects for livestock that have received decisions approving the results of environmental impact assessment reports or have been accepted by competent state authorities with complete and valid applications for environmental impact assessment report review, environmental permit issuance, or environmental registration before the effective date of this Circular shall continue to apply QCVN 62-MT:2016/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on Livestock Effluent and local regulations (including local environmental technical standards on effluent) until December 31, 2031.

2. In cases where competent state authorities issue regulations related to changes in the function of receiving water bodies, entities subject to paragraph 1 of this Article shall implement according to the timelines set by such authorities when issuing these regulations.

Article 4. Implementation timeline

1. From the date this Circular takes effect, new investment projects for livestock (including new investments, expansion projects, and capacity enhancement projects) submitting applications for environmental impact assessment report review, environmental permit issuance, or environmental registration after the effective date of this Circular must comply with the provisions of QCVN 62:2025/BTNMT.

2. As of January 1, 2032, entities subject to paragraph 1 of Article 3 of this Circular must meet the requirements set forth in QCVN 62:2025/BTNMT.

3. It is encouraged that entities subject to paragraph 1 of Article 3 of this Circular adopt the provisions of QCVN 62:2025/BTNMT from the date this Circular takes effect.

State-owned enterprises that have been assigned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to conduct offshore wind power project surveys before the effective date of this Circular shall continue to implement according to the assigned documents; any new matters arising after the effective date of this Circular shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of this Circular.

1. Ministries, agencies at the level of ministries, People's Committees at all levels, Provincial Departments of Natural Resources and Environment, and relevant organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

2. During the implementation of this Circular, if any difficulties arise, relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals should promptly reflect them in writing to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for consideration and resolution./.

DEPUTY MINISTER
DEPUTY MINISTER

Le Cong Thanh

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM

Independence - Freedom - Happiness

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QCVN 62:2025/BTNMT

AMENDMENT 1:2025 QCVN 07:2023/BXD
ON LIVESTOCK EFFLUENT

NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON THE EFFLUENT OF LIVESTOCK

HANOI - 2025

QCVN 62:2025/BTNMT

Foreword

QCVN 62:2025/BTNMT was compiled by the Environmental Pollution Control Department, reviewed by the Science and Technology Department, examined by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and issued by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment pursuant to Circular No. 04/2025/TT-BTNMT dated February 28, 2025.

QCVN 62:2025/BTNMT replaces QCVN 62-MT:2016/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on Livestock Effluent.

12 ANNOUNCEMENT/No. 499 + 500/Date March 16, 2025

AMENDMENT 1:2025 QCVN 07:2023/BXD
ON LIVESTOCK EFFLUENT
NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON THE EFFLUENT OF LIVESTOCK

Chapter 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1. Scope of Application

This regulation sets permissible limit values for pollution parameters in livestock effluent when discharged into receiving water bodies.

1.2. Applicability

This regulation applies to state agencies, organizations, and individuals (hereinafter referred to as organizations and individuals) involved in discharging livestock effluent into receiving water bodies.

1.3. Explanation of Terms

In this regulation, the following terms are understood as follows:

1.3.1. Livestock farm is a place for raising and breeding animals as prescribed by laws on livestock. Livestock farms include large-scale farms and smallholder farms.

1.3.2. Livestock effluent is wastewater generated from livestock activities as prescribed by laws on livestock.

1.3.3. Columns A, B, and C (discharge zones) in Table 1 of this regulation are defined as follows:

1.3.3.1. Column A specifies permissible limit values for pollution parameters in effluent when discharged into receiving water bodies intended for domestic purposes or for managing and improving water quality as Level A in Tables 2 and 3 of QCVN 08:2023/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on Surface Water Quality or as prescribed by provincial People's Committees.

1.3.3.2. Column B specifies permissible limit values for pollution parameters in effluent when discharged into receiving water bodies intended for managing and improving water quality as Level B in Tables 2 and 3 of QCVN 08:2023/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on Surface Water Quality or as prescribed by provincial People's Committees.

1.3.3.3. Column C specifies permissible limit values for pollution parameters in effluent when discharged into receiving water bodies not covered by the provisions of Sections 1.3.3.1 and 1.3.3.2 of this regulation.

Chapter 2. TECHNICAL PROVISIONS

2.1. The permissible limit values for pollution parameters in livestock wastewater of investment projects and farm-based livestock breeding facilities.

QCVN 62:2025/BTNMT

Based on the provisions of Section 1.3.3 of this Standard, the permissible limit values for pollution parameters in livestock wastewater of investment projects and farm-based livestock breeding facilities discharged into receiving water bodies are specified in Table 1.

Table 1. Permissible limit values for pollution parameters in livestock wastewater of investment projects and farm-based livestock breeding facilities.

2.2. Provisions on treatment and management measures for livestock wastewater for investment projects and household livestock breeding facilities.

2.2.1. Based on the provisions of Section 1.3.3 of this Standard, the permissible limit values for pollution parameters in livestock wastewater of investment projects and household livestock breeding facilities discharged into receiving water bodies must comply with the requirements set out in Table 1 of this Standard, except in cases provided for in Section 2.2.2 of this Standard.

2.2.2. Investment projects and household livestock breeding facilities discharging wastewater into receiving water bodies corresponding to Column B or Column C of Table 1 of this Standard shall select one of the following livestock wastewater treatment or management measures:

2.2.2.1. Treating wastewater to meet the permissible limit values for pollution parameters in livestock wastewater corresponding to Column B or Column C of Table 1 of this Standard.

2.2.2.2. Collecting wastewater and transporting it to biogas tanks or composting ponds or settling tanks with a total effective volume not less than 1.5 cubic meters per unit of livestock. Biogas tanks, composting ponds, and settling tanks must ensure waterproofing and leakage prevention to prevent wastewater from seeping into the soil environment.

QCVN 62:2025/BTNMT

Chapter 3. METHODS FOR DETERMINATION

3.1. The methods and techniques for sampling livestock wastewater and determining pollution parameters in livestock wastewater are carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Appendix to this Standard.

In case a pollution parameter allows the use of multiple testing (analysis) methods and requires an arbitration method to resolve disputes, complaints, or lawsuits, the first testing method listed in Column 3 of the Appendix to this Standard shall be used.

3.2. Approving other testing methods (not referenced in Column 3 of the Appendix to this Standard), including: newly issued TCVN; national standard testing methods of one of the countries belonging to the Group of Seven Industrialized Nations (G7), European Committee for Standardization (CEN/EN), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards, member states of the European Union, South Korea, or International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards, or standard water and wastewater testing methods (SMEWW).

Chapter 4. MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS

4.1. Pollution parameters and permissible limit values for pollution parameters in livestock wastewater of investment projects and livestock breeding facilities when discharged into receiving water bodies must be stated in the Decision approving the results of environmental impact assessment reports, Environmental Permit, or environmental registration documents. Environmental registration documents must contain sufficient information about one of the treatment or management measures for livestock wastewater as stipulated in Section 2.2 of this Standard.

4.2. Discharging livestock wastewater into receiving water bodies is considered compliant and consistent with this Standard when the monitoring and analysis results of pollution parameters do not exceed the permissible limit values specified in Table 1 of this Standard, except in cases provided for in Section 2.2.2.2 of this Standard.

4.3. The method of assessing compliance and consistency with this Standard is implemented through pre-discharge monitoring and analysis of livestock wastewater samples.

4.4. Monitoring of pollution parameters specified in Table 1 of this Standard to provide information and data to state management agencies must be conducted by organizations that have been certified to operate environmental monitoring services according to the law. The use of automatic and continuous wastewater monitoring results is carried out in accordance with the law.

4.5. In cases where investment projects and household livestock breeding facilities choose biogas tanks or composting ponds or settling tanks as wastewater treatment measures, they must comply with the requirements stipulated in Section 2.2.2.2 of this Standard.

QCVN 62:2025/BTNMT

4.6. The assessment results of compliance and consistency with this Standard serve as the basis for state management agencies to consider and handle matters according to the law.

4.7. Livestock wastewater connected to urban or concentrated residential area wastewater collection and treatment systems must comply with the requirements of the system's investors, managers, and operators or local authorities.

4.8. Livestock wastewater connected to wastewater collection and treatment systems of industrial, business, and service concentrated zones or industrial clusters must comply with the requirements of the infrastructure investors and operators of such zones or clusters.

4.9. Wastewater generated from animal husbandry activities at slaughterhouses when mixed with slaughterhouse wastewater is managed as industrial wastewater as prescribed in QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on Industrial Wastewater.

4.10. Domestic wastewater mixed with livestock wastewater is managed as livestock wastewater according to this Standard.

4.11. Livestock wastewater mixed with industrial wastewater must be managed as industrial wastewater as prescribed in QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on Industrial Wastewater.

5. RESPONSIBILITIES OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS

The project investor and livestock breeding facility manager is responsible for ensuring that the values of pollution parameters do not exceed the permissible limit values specified in Table 1 of this Standard or ensuring the implementation of treatment and management measures for livestock wastewater as stipulated in Section 2.2.2.2 of this Standard if biogas tanks or composting ponds or settling tanks are selected as wastewater treatment measures.

6. IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION

6.1. Provincial People's Committees are responsible for reviewing and adjusting local environmental technical standards already promulgated regarding livestock wastewater to comply with legal regulations, local socio-economic development conditions, and this Standard.

6.2. The state management agency for environmental protection shall be responsible for guiding and inspecting the implementation of this Standard.

6.3. In cases where the referenced documents or provisions in this Standard are amended, supplemented, or replaced, the new documents or provisions shall apply.

QCVN 62:2025/BTNMT

Appendix
Methods and techniques for sampling livestock wastewater and
determining pollution parameters in livestock wastewater