Circular No. 08/2015/TT-BNNPTNT provides for the inspection and supervision of veterinary hygiene and food safety in the production and business of honey for export.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on veterinary hygiene inspection and food safety supervision for honey production and export trade

food for the production and business of exported honey

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Pursuant to the Veterinary Law dated April 29, 2004;

Pursuant to Decree No. 199/2013/NĐ-CP dated November 26, 2013 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

Pursuant to Decree No. 33/2005/NĐ-CP dated March 15, 2005 of the Government detailing implementation of certain articles of the Veterinary Law; Decree No. 119/2008/NĐ-CP dated November 28, 2008 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 33/2005/NĐ-CP;

At the proposal of the Director of the Animal Health Department,

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development issues this Circular on veterinary hygiene inspection and food safety supervision for honey production and export trade.

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability.

1. This Circular stipulates veterinary hygiene and food safety (FS) supervision for honey production and export trade; the supervisory system, responsibilities of supervising agencies and establishments participating in honey production and export trade activities.

2. This Circular applies to establishments in the honey production and export trade chain, including beekeeping establishments; honey collection, processing, trading establishments serving exports.

Article 2. Definitions.

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

1. Honey includes both honey and royal jelly.

2. Honey production involves one, several, or all activities of beekeeping, honey harvesting; honey collection, processing, trading.

3. Beekeeping establishment is a place where beekeeping and raw honey harvesting processes take place.

4. Honey processing is the industrial or manual treatment of raw honey to produce food ingredients or products.

5. Honey trading involves one, several, or all activities of honey collection, storage services, transportation services, or honey sales.

6. Supervising agency refers to specialized veterinary agencies tasked with implementing veterinary hygiene and FS supervision plans in beekeeping; honey collection, processing, and trading.

Chapter II
VETERINARY HYGIENE INSPECTION AND FOOD SAFETY SUPERVISION

Article 3. Establishment and approval of supervision plans.

1. Basis for establishing annual supervision plans for honey:

a) Export volume of honey in the year; honey harvesting, processing seasons, and projected honey production for the following year;

b) Results of veterinary hygiene and FS supervision for honey production and trade in the previous year, quality and FS warning information from competent authorities regarding exported honey to identify high-risk FS indicators.

c) Number of honey production and trading establishments and inspection, evaluation, classification results of veterinary hygiene and FS conditions corresponding to the subjects mentioned in Article 2 of this Circular.

2. The Department of Animal Health leads in drafting the annual supervision plan for submission to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval, funding, and implementation of the annual honey supervision plan.

3. Annual plan submissions to importing countries, supervision implementation, sample quantities, analysis handling, and annual result reports to importing countries shall be carried out by relevant agencies and units.

4. Content of the supervision plan:

a) Inspection and assessment of veterinary hygiene conditions and sampling at beekeeping establishments; honey collection, processing, and trading establishments;

b) Sampling at beekeeping establishments; honey collection, processing, and trading establishments;

c) Analysis of residual substance indicators in honey samples taken from beekeeping establishments; honey collection, processing, and trading establishments;

d) Compilation of supervision plan reports according to management requirements and those of importing countries.

Article 4. Supervisory bodies.

1. The system for inspecting and supervising veterinary hygiene and food safety in beekeeping; honey collection, processing, and trading includes:

a) The Animal Health Department;

b) Regional Animal Health Agencies;

c) Central Veterinary Hygiene Inspection Centers I and II;

d) Provincial Animal Health Sub-departments in provinces where beekeeping takes place.

2. Supervisory bodies shall perform tasks within their duties and powers to ensure a closed-loop monitoring system from production to transportation, initial processing, processing, trading, and export.

Article 5. Subjects of inspection and supervision for honey production and processing activities.

Beekeeping facilities; honey collection, processing, and trading facilities shall be subject to inspection, supervision, and compliance with requirements set forth by supervisory bodies.

Article 6. Timeframe for inspection, supervision, and sample analysis.

1. Annually, during February to April and August to October, the Animal Health Department shall organize inspections, evaluations, classification of veterinary hygiene conditions, food safety, and sampling of honey to monitor harmful residues at beekeeping facilities; honey collection, processing, and trading facilities.

In cases of necessity, inspections of facilities and honey sampling may be conducted unexpectedly.

2. Inspections and evaluations of veterinary hygiene conditions, food safety for beekeeping facilities; honey collection, processing, and trading facilities shall be carried out in accordance with Article 7 of this Circular.

3. Random or targeted sampling shall be conducted to monitor and assess compliance with national technical standards, food safety regulations for honey, and import country requirements (as guided in Appendix 1 attached to this Circular); the structure and quantity of samples taken for residue analysis according to the annual plan.

4. Selection of honey sampling regions.

a) Honey sampling regions at beekeeping facilities shall be based on the harvesting season and honey harvesting areas;

b) Honey sampling regions at honey collection, processing, and trading facilities shall be based on the inspection and supervision time points and concentrated in provinces where honey collection and processing facilities are located.

5. Requirements for sample collectors.

a) Sample collectors must be trained and instructed in sampling techniques and assigned tasks by competent authorities;

b) They must be equipped with adequate tools and equipment for sampling and sample preservation.

Article 7. Inspection, evaluation, and classification of veterinary hygiene conditions, food safety for beekeeping facilities and honey processing export facilities.

1. Inspections, evaluations, and classifications of beekeeping facilities; initial processing and honey processing export facilities shall be carried out in accordance with Circular No. 45/2014/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 3, 2014, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding the inspection of agricultural inputs production and trading facilities and the certification of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products production and trading facilities meeting food safety conditions.

2. Inspection, evaluation, and classification records of veterinary hygiene conditions, food safety for beekeeping facilities, according to the model in Appendix 2 attached to this Circular;

3. Inspection, evaluation, and classification records of veterinary hygiene conditions, food safety for initial processing and honey processing facilities, according to the model in Appendix 3 attached to this Circular.

4. Based on the results of inspections, evaluations, and classifications of veterinary hygiene conditions, food safety, the Animal Health Department shall consider issuing or revoking certificates of veterinary hygiene and food safety for honey processing and trading facilities for export.

Article 8. Provisions on inspection, sampling, and analysis.

1. The Central Veterinary Sanitation Inspection Center I shall take the lead in coordinating with regional veterinary agencies and the Central Veterinary Sanitation Inspection Center II to conduct inspections, sampling, and analysis for beekeeping facilities; honey collection, processing, and trading facilities.

2. Honey must be analyzed for harmful residue indicators such as antibiotics, heavy metals, plant protection chemicals, and other residues according to the approved annual plan.

Within twenty working days from the date of receiving samples, the laboratory must notify the supervisory agency of the analysis results for consolidation.

3. The analysis results shall be retained at the analyzing agency and sent to relevant agencies.

Article 9. Provisions on quarantine of honey export consignments.

1. Only production and trading facilities participating in the veterinary hygiene and food safety monitoring program and obtaining a certificate of compliance with veterinary hygiene conditions may export honey.

2. Quarantine of honey export consignments shall be carried out according to the requirements of the importing country.

3. In case a consignment is found to contain residues exceeding permissible limits, the animal export quarantine agency shall immediately inform the production and trading facility and implement measures as prescribed.

Chapter III
USE OF VETERINARY DRUGS AND FEED IN BEEKEEPING

Article 10. Use of veterinary drugs in beekeeping.

1. Only use veterinary drugs permitted for circulation in Vietnam to prevent and treat diseases in bees as prescribed.

2. When using drugs to prevent and treat bee diseases, strict adherence to the instructions on the drug label and guidance from the manufacturer or veterinary staff is required. Beekeeping facilities must maintain records of disease outbreaks, treatments, and drug usage.

3. For organizations and individuals engaged in beekeeping for export, in addition to complying with laws on the use of veterinary drugs and feed in beekeeping, they must also comply with the requirements of the importing country.

Article 11. Use of feed for beekeeping.

Only feed permitted for circulation in Vietnam and bearing complete labeling information as prescribed may be used. It is strictly prohibited to mix antibiotics, hormones, and other toxic chemicals into bee feed.

Chapter IV
HANDLING VIOLATIONS

Article 12. Handling of honey not meeting requirements during inspection and supervision.

During honey sample analysis, if mandatory veterinary hygiene and food safety indicators exceed permissible limits, the designated violation handling agency shall carry out:

1. Immediately notifying the facility whose honey was found to violate veterinary hygiene and food safety standards; the notification must include the following information:

a) Name of the facility with the non-compliant product;

b) Reason for the violation;

c) Consignment number and quantity of non-compliant products;

d) Sampling date and test results.

c) Requesting the facility not to use the non-compliant raw honey in processing or temporarily halt the export of the non-compliant honey consignment.

2. Organizing re-sampling and re-testing for the violated indicators.

3. Requiring the facility to promptly trace the origin, determine the cause of the violation, establish and implement appropriate corrective measures, and report the implementation results to the supervisory agency.

4. Supervisory agencies shall organize audits of the facility's tracing and corrective action results; if necessary, tracing back from the beekeeping facility to honey collection, processing, and trading facilities where violations were discovered (if any) to recall and handle unsafe products.

5. Implementing enhanced surveillance measures and targeted sampling of the facility with non-compliant samples until surveillance results show compliance with regulations.

a) Placing the facility on a warning list and applying enhanced surveillance and control measures for at least 30% of five consecutive consignments;

b) If continued violations are detected, placing the facility on a special control list and inspecting 100% of consignments before market release or export.

c) If enhanced surveillance results show that the facility continues to produce non-compliant samples, the supervisory agency shall prepare a report to notify the specialized inspection enforcement agency for review and inspection (if necessary) and handling according to current regulations; simultaneously sending to the Animal Health Service for review and implementing enhanced checks on veterinary hygiene and food safety conditions or suspending honey exports from the facility.

d) If there is no recurrence, the facility will be removed from the warning list.

6. Handling of honey not meeting hygiene and food safety standards:

a) For honey altered in physical and chemical properties: Change its purpose of use, use it as industrial alcohol distillation raw material or process it into products not intended for human consumption.

b) For honey violating banned antibiotic levels and heavy metal limits: Depending on the severity, change its purpose of use or destroy it.

Article 13. Handling Exported Honey That Does Not Meet Importing Country's Requirements.

1. In cases where exported consignments are found to contain residues exceeding permissible limits or are not of the declared origin, the consignor or the honey production facility must notify the Department of Animal Health to coordinate with relevant agencies and the importing country to handle the consignment.

2. The Department of Animal Health shall coordinate with honey production and trading facilities to trace the origin and apply handling measures as stipulated in Clauses 3, 4, 5, and 6 of Article 12 of this Circular.

3. The consignor shall bear all costs for handling the consignment.

Chapter V
IMPLEMENTATION

Article 14. Responsibilities of the Department of Animal Health.

1. Organize the implementation of inspection and supervision according to approved plans.

2. Guide provincial animal health offices related to beekeeping to monitor and supervise the production and use of veterinary drugs in beekeeping.

3. Disseminate and promote regulations on bee feed production; the use of veterinary drugs in bee disease prevention and treatment; hygiene and food safety conditions in honey collection, processing, trading, and violation handling organization.

4. Monitor activities of other agencies within the inspection and supervision system; honey production and trading facilities for export.

5. Organize annual inspections and supervision; issue certificates of hygiene conditions for honey processing and trading facilities meeting hygiene standards for export.

6. Compile information, analyze and adjust activities to meet set requirements.

7. Compile annual plans; report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on inspection and supervision results, sample analysis conducted, adjustments, and handling of violations in honey production, trading, and export; and inform relevant authorities of the importing country when required.

8. Establish and update records and files, including codes of bee farms and honey production facilities for export.

Article 15. Responsibilities of Regional Animal Health Offices.

1. Carry out inspection and supervision tasks regarding honey production, trading, and export from honey production and trading facilities under their jurisdiction.

2. Conduct quarantine and issue export quarantine certificates for honey according to the importing country's requirements.

3. Verify the traceability of origin and corrective actions taken by violative facilities during honey production, trading, and export.

4. Report activity results to the Department of Animal Health and inform other related parties.

Article 16. Responsibilities of Local Animal Health Offices Where Honey Is Produced.

1. Monitor and supervise the trading and use of veterinary drugs in beekeeping within their jurisdiction.

2. Coordinate with supervisory agencies under the Department of Animal Health in inspecting and supervising honey production and trading facilities within their area.

Article 17. Responsibilities of Central Veterinary Sanitation Inspection Centers I and II.

1. Central Veterinary Sanitation Inspection Center I: Develop monitoring plans, implement annual monitoring, sampling, and analysis according to plans notified to importing countries; compile and report data to the Department of Animal Health after sampling rounds; establish files for honey production and trading facilities for export and maintain a database of related information.

2. Central Veterinary Sanitation Inspection Center II: Participate in inspection rounds of bee farms and honey production and trading facilities according to assignments from the Department of Animal Health.

Article 18. Responsibilities of honey collection, processing, and trading establishments for export.

1. Implementing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) programs or Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems or ISO 22.000:2005 standards in honey processing; guiding and inspecting beekeeping establishments to follow beekeeping procedures that ensure veterinary hygiene and food safety or good animal husbandry practices for safe beekeeping (VietGAHP) to meet veterinary hygiene requirements and ensure food safety for exported honey and consumers.

2. Adhering to inspection, supervision, and guidance regulations set by supervisory agencies to ensure food safety for honey.

3. Organizing sample collection, analysis, and storage for residue testing according to the establishment's plan.

4. Maintaining records to monitor the origin of each batch, establishing traceability systems to ensure product identification and traceability at specific stages of beekeeping, honey processing, and distribution.

5. Organizing training sessions to enhance knowledge for beekeepers and honey processors.

6. Strictly complying with enforcement decisions made by competent authorities when honey does not meet food safety standards.

7. Reporting the operation results of the establishment, violations, violation handling, and related information to supervisory agencies.

8. Preparing a list of beekeepers supplying raw honey to honey processing establishments as per Appendix 4 attached hereto. The list of beekeepers shall be submitted to the Animal Health Department, Central Veterinary Inspection Center I no later than January 15th each year.

9. Cooperating with supervisory agencies to implement traceability for cases of violations.

Article 19. Responsibilities of beekeeping establishments.

1. Implementing beekeeping procedures that ensure veterinary hygiene and food safety. Encouraging the application of good animal husbandry practices for safe beekeeping in Vietnam (VietGAHP).

2. Only using veterinary drugs listed in the permitted drug directory in Vietnam. Honey can only be harvested and used as food when adhering to the prescribed withdrawal period by the manufacturer.

3. Regularly reporting disease outbreaks and honey production situations to relevant agencies for handling.

4. Maintaining records for each bee colony to serve traceability purposes.

Chapter VI
IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 20. Effective Date.

This Circular takes effect from April 15, 2015, and replaces Circular No. 23/2009/TT-BNN issued on April 29, 2009, by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding veterinary hygiene inspections and supervision for honey production and trading.

Article 21. Responsibility for Implementation.

The Director of the Animal Health Department, heads of units under the Ministry, and related organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular./.