Joint Circular No. 12/2008/TTLT-BTC-BYT guiding the management and use of funds for implementing the National Target Program on Food Safety and Hygiene for the period 2006-2010.

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines for Managing and Using Funds to Implement the National Target Program on Food Safety and Quality from 2006 to 2010

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Pursuant to Decree No. 60/2003/NĐ-CP dated June 6, 2003 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of the Law on State Budget;

Pursuant to Decision No. 149/2007/QD-TTg dated September 10, 2007 of the Prime Minister approving the National Target Program on Food Safety and Quality for the period 2006-2010;

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health issue guidelines for managing and using funds to implement the National Target Program on Food Safety and Quality for the period 2006-2010 (hereinafter referred to as the Food Safety Program) as follows:

This technical regulation sets out technical requirements, testing methods, sampling procedures; management requirements; responsibilities of organizations and individuals producing, trading, and importing cigarettes.

1. The National Target Program on Food Safety and Quality includes six projects specified in Section III, Article 1 of Decision No. 149/2007/QD-TTg dated September 10, 2007 of the Prime Minister.

2. The Circular applies to agencies and units that use funds for the Food Safety Program.

3. This Circular applies to expenditures from state budget funds for operating purposes to implement the Food Safety Program. For projects using development investment capital (construction of food contamination monitoring centers and food poisoning centers; upgrading, constructing, and equipping testing laboratories,...), implementation shall be carried out according to current regulations of the State on management and settlement of investment capital and operating capital with investment characteristics from state budget funds.

For projects using non-reimbursable aid funds, the expenditure levels shall be applied according to the funding agreement provisions or according to the expenditure levels agreed upon by the aid provider's representative, the Ministry of Finance, and the project management agency; in cases where the aid provider or its representative and the Ministry of Finance have not reached an agreement on expenditure levels, this Circular's expenditure levels shall apply.

The funds for implementing the Food Safety Program (including domestic counterpart funds for ODA projects already stipulated in agreements between the Government of Vietnam and governments of other countries or international organizations) shall be allocated from the state budget in the annual budget estimates of relevant ministries, sectors, and localities according to the current state budget decentralization.

5. In addition to the contents and expenditure levels prescribed in this Circular, depending on financial capacity and specific conditions, localities may integrate with national target program funds within their jurisdiction, proactively allocate local budgets and lawful financial resources to implement local policies and improve the effectiveness of the Program.

II. CONTENT AND GENERAL EXPENDITURE LEVELS FOR PROJECTS

1. Expenditure for writing, compiling, and translating specialized technical materials for each project. Specific expenditure levels are as follows:

a) Writing and compiling materials: 50,000 VND per page of 350 words.

b) Translation and proofreading of materials:

- From Vietnamese to foreign languages: 50,000 VND per page of 350 words.

- From foreign languages to Vietnamese: 45,000 VND per page of 350 words.

- From Vietnamese to ethnic minority languages in Vietnam and vice versa: 70,000 VND per page of 350 words.

2. Expenditure for mid-term and final review meetings, training sessions to implement tasks and work programs, and professional exchange seminars. Contents and expenditure levels are regulated in Circular No. 23/2007/TT-BTC dated March 21, 2007 of the Ministry of Finance regarding travel expenses and expenditure regulations for organizing conferences for state agencies and public service units. 3. Expenditure for certificate training courses and advanced professional training for staff involved in food safety and quality management, inspection, and testing. Contents and expenditure levels are regulated in Circular No. 79/2005/TT-BTC dated September 15, 2005 of the Ministry of Finance guiding the management and use of training and professional development funds for civil servants.

4. Expenditure for cooperation and experience exchange abroad related to food safety and quality work, decided by the competent authority. Contents and expenditure levels are regulated in Circular No. 91/2005/TT-BTC dated October 18, 2005 of the Ministry of Finance regarding travel expense regulations for civil servants and officials traveling abroad for short-term assignments funded by the state budget.

5. Expenditure for purchasing equipment, tools, and devices for professional activities of each project, ensuring compatibility with the technical expertise level of the unit.

6. Expenditure for repairing, maintaining, and servicing equipment, tools, and devices used for professional activities of each project.

7. Expenditure for surveys and investigations according to the professional content of each project approved by the competent authority. Contents and expenditure levels are regulated in

Circular No. 120/2007/TT-BTC dated October 15, 2007 of the Ministry of Finance guiding the management, use, and settlement of funds for conducting surveys from state budget operating funds. 8. Expenditure for inspection, supervision, and control of compliance with laws on food safety and quality, suitable for the activities of each project, including:

a) Developing plans and contents for inspections, supervision, and control: contents and expenditure levels are regulated inCircular No. 06/2007/TT-BTC dated January 26, 2007 of the Ministry of Finance

guiding the preparation of budgets, management, and use of funds to ensure inspection work on policy, strategy, planning implementation. b) Purchasing samples for analysis, transportation, and preservation Directorate for analysis

c) Hiring analysis of samples b) Original or certified copy of the health certificate of seafarers as prescribed by the Ministry of Health; : expenditure levels.

according to the prices set by authorized state agencies. For samples requiring analysis not yet regulated by state agencies regarding testing and analysis costs, implementation shall be based on agreements with testing and analysis units, consistent with current expenditure levels.In cases where units conduct their own testing and analysis, the expenditure includes: - Expenditure for purchasing chemicals, culture media, standards, strains, reagents, etc., for testing and analysis work.

- Support for staff directly involved in testing and analysis: expenditure level is 10,000 VND per sample analyzed under five criteria; 20,000 VND per sample analyzed over five criteria, but not exceeding 300,000 VND per person per month.

d) Hiring local labor for sample collection, food poisoning investigation, and violation detection of food safety and quality regulations: maximum expenditure is 50,000 VND per person per session.

đ) Supporting staff directly involved in regular or spot inspections, sampling, and analysis, in addition to current travel allowances: maximum expenditure is 50,000 VND per person per day.

Specifically for teams

đ) Support for officers directly involved in inspections, audits, regular or surprise controls, sampling and analysis, in addition to the current working expense allowance: a maximum expenditure of 50,000 VND/person/day.

For specific groups, inter-agency and inter-departmental inspection, supervision: cthe leading agency or unit responsible for the mission will bear the cost of travel expenses (train and bus fares, accommodation allowances, rental fees for lodging at the destination, and baggage and document transportation charges) for all members of the team from the Program's budget. To avoid duplicate expenditures, the leading agency or unit must clearly inform the agencies or units sending personnel to participate in the mission about the non-payment of the aforementioned expenses in the summons letter.

e) Compile and write reports on the results of inspection, supervision.Maximum expenditure rate: 3,000,000 VND per report for central level, 2,000,000 VND per report for provincial level, and 1,000,000 VND per report for district level, depending on the scale of inspection, supervision, control.

9. Expenditure for the destruction of food products, raw materials for food production, processing, and supplies for food production, business operations that violate food safety laws (for ownerless goods) discovered during inspections, supervision, and control according to the decision of the competent state authority, including:

a) Purchase and transport fuel, chemicals, and supplies for destruction (if applicable): based on local market prices.

b) Renting storage facilities (applicable for hazardous pathogen supplies and chemicals).

c) Renting machinery, equipment, and transportation means for destruction services.

d) Hiring local labor for destruction work (if applicable): maximum expenditure rate 50,000 VND per person per session. đ) Support

for staff directly directing the destruction , in addition to the current travel allowance system: maximum expenditure rate 50,000 VND per person per day.In cases where other agencies or units are hired to carry out destruction work: the expenditure rate

shall be implemented according to the agreed contract with the agency or unit carrying out the destruction work, consistent with the current expenditure rates. 10. Expenditure for hiring domestic and foreign experts: based on the necessity to implement research activities, assessment capabilities, and available funding, the head of the managing agency or unit decides on hiring experts. The expenditure rate is carried out according to the "Contract for Assignment of Work and Products" actually agreed upon with the contractor based on the requirements regarding workload, content, and time of implementation.

. Expenditure for rewards for collectives and individuals who have achieved outstanding results in ensuring food safety, detecting violations of food safety laws according to the decision of the competent authority. Content and expenditure rate according to the provisions of Circular No. 73/2006/TT-BTC dated August 15, 2006 of the Ministry of Finance

11guiding the establishment, management, and use of the Fund for Competitions and Rewards according to Decree No. 121/2005/NĐ-CP dated September 30, 2005 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain articles of the Law on Competitions and Rewards and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Law on Competitions and Rewards. Directorate 12. Other expenditures.

III. CONTENT AND SPECIAL EXPENDITURE RATES FOR EACH PROJECT

In addition to the common contents and expenditure rates stipulated in Section II of this Circular, each project may incur special expenditures as follows:

1. Project to enhance capacity in food safety quality management in Vietnam:

a) Expenditure for scientific research activities applying advanced science, technology, and techniques (including pilot production) serving food safety management according to the approved research outline: content and expenditure rate according to the current regulations on expenditure for scientific and technological tasks.

b) Expenditure for developing and perfecting national technical standards and norms for food safety: content and expenditure rate according to the current regulations on expenditure for scientific and technological tasks.

c) Expenditure for building advanced models of food safety according to the decision approved by the Minister of Health, including:

- Developing the model outline and related activities:

expenditure rate according to current regulations. - Hiring consultants to advise food production and processing establishments on applying food safety quality management systems according to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Hygiene Practices (GHP), and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP); evaluating and certifying establishments meeting food safety conditions among ten high-risk food groups:

expenditure rate according to Clause 10, Section II of this Circular. - Supporting analysis and evaluation of certain food safety indicators: expenditure rate for related contents according to Clause 8, Section II of this Circular.

- Hiring technical staff to direct and supervise the model: expenditure rate for one person per month based on the salary of their training level or the current salary of the hired person; contract duration based on the economic cycle of each type of production.

d) Expenditure for supporting the activities of multi-sectoral Food Safety Steering Committees at various levels, including: printing materials, purchasing specialized literature, office supplies, travel expenses, gasoline, or renting transportation vehicles.

đ) Expenditure for remuneration of Food Safety volunteers at communes and wards: not more than two volunteers for key communes and wards; one volunteer for other communes and wards (the list of key communes and wards is determined annually by the Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities, ensuring consistency with the allocated budget): expenditure rate 50,000 VND per person per month.

2. Project for information, education, and communication to ensure food safety quality:

a) Expenditure for educational, promotional, and dissemination activities of knowledge and laws on food safety through mass media, including newspapers, radio stations, television stations.

Building, producing, duplicating, and distributing communication publications and materials; documents for communication activities

c) C: expenditure rate according to the regulations, quotas, and unit prices of similar industries.c) Expenditure for organizing exchange sessions, training courses, and specialized lectures on food safety: content and expenditure rateaccording to current regulations

on the expenditure system for organizing conferences. d) Expenditure for integrating food safety assurance activities with economic and social development programs of ministries, sectors, and localities; mass movements, sports activities, cultural, artistic activities, and other social activities of agencies and units. đ) Expenditure for organizing press conferences to provide information and promote food safety situations and warnings about food contamination risks approved by the competent authority: content and expenditure rate for the conference organization expense regulations apply.

d) Expenditure on integrating food safety activities with economic and social development programs of Ministries, sectors, localities; mass movements, sports activities, cultural and artistic activities, and other social activities of agencies and units.

đ) Expenditure on organizing press conferences to inform and publicize information about food safety situations and warnings about food contamination risks approved by competent authorities: content and level d) Expenditure for integrating food safety assurance activities with economic and social development programs of ministries, sectors, and localities; mass movements, sports activities, cultural, artistic activities, and other social activities of agencies and units. đ) Expenditure for organizing press conferences to provide information and promote food safety situations and warnings about food contamination risks approved by the competent authority: content and expenditure rate for the conference organization expense regulations apply.

e) Supporting communication activities on food safety at communes and wards:

- Support for communication materials.

- Commune radio broadcasting (editing, broadcasting): Editing: 50,000 VND/page of 350 words; broadcasting: 10,000 VND/time. - Refreshing, repairing posters and slogans: according to local market prices.

g) Supporting activities of mobile propaganda teams on food safety during community-wide awareness campaigns, including:

- Costs for developing scripts, songs, and promotional content: up to a maximum of 500,000 VND/per program.

- Costs for fuel, vehicle rental, photo documentation, and other activities.

- Support for individuals directly participating in mobile propaganda teams: a daily allowance of 25,000 VND/person/day.

h) Costs for establishing electronic information on food safety on computer networks: content and expenditure levels as prescribed in Circular No. 137/2007/TT-BTC dated November 28, 2007, issued by the Ministry of Finance, guiding the level of expenditure for establishing electronic information.

i) Costs for organizing knowledge contests and practical activities on food safety, including:

- Preparing test questions and answers: up to a maximum of 500,000 VND/per contest.

- Training and examination fees for judges and the examination committee, and for announcing results: up to a maximum of 200,000 VND/person/day.

- Training allowances for members of the organizing committee: up to a maximum of 150,000 VND/person/day.

+ Team prizes: from 200,000 VND to 2,000,000 VND/prize.

- Expenditure for prizes:

+ Individual prizes: from 100,000 VND to 1,000,000 VND/prize.

Depending on the scale of the contest (central, provincial, grassroots level), the head of the organizing agency or unit shall decide on specific prize expenditure within the aforementioned framework within the allocated budget estimate.

- Summarizing and reporting contest results: central level costs 500,000 VND/report, provincial level costs 300,000 VND/report, district level costs 200,000 VND/report, commune level costs 100,000 VND/report.

3. Project to enhance capacity for quality testing of food safety; building a system for monitoring food poisoning and foodborne diseases, and analyzing food contamination risks:

a) Costs for developing technical procedures for quality testing of food safety: content and expenditure levels as prescribed in current regulations on expenditure regimes for scientific and technological tasks.

b) Costs for reviewing and developing standard testing methods; conducting proficiency tests, inter-laboratory quality control tests, including:

- Reviewing technical standards: maximum cost of 3,000,000 VND/technical standard.

- Testing the suitability of quality testing technical procedures in laboratories: maximum cost of 5,000,000 VND/test/procedure.

c) Costs for calibrating testing equipment: expenditure levels according to the price set by the competent state authority, or according to the agreed contract with the calibration service provider, but not exceeding 10,000,000 VND/calibration/session/laboratory.

d) Supporting the establishment of a quality management system for food safety testing laboratories according to Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards and International Standardization Organization (ISO/IEC 17025) for preventive health facilities, including:

- Standardizing testing methods GLP/ISO: 300,000 VND/method.

- Supporting staff in standardizing documents, internal supervision, and inter-laboratory supervision: expenditure of 50,000 VND/person/day, but not exceeding 300,000 VND/person/month.

Costs for building models to prevent food poisoning and foodborne diseases in high-risk areas as approved by the Minister of Health:

đ) content and expenditure levels for each activity under the model as prescribed by current state regulations.e) Costs for building an application database using information technology to prevent food poisoning and foodborne diseases.

4. Project to ensure food safety in production, processing, storage, and preparation of agricultural products:

a) Costs for developing and improving national standards and technical regulations on food safety in the fields of production, processing, storage, and preparation of agricultural products: content and expenditure levels as prescribed in current regulations on expenditure regimes for scientific and technological tasks.

Costs for developing and expanding safe agricultural product production zones

b) (vegetable, fruit, tea safe production zones; livestock safe production zones...): as approved by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, including: safe agricultural product production zones: expenditure levels as prescribed by current regulations.

expenditure rate according to current regulations. - Organizing seminars, training sessions, and disseminating knowledge

on safe agricultural product production techniques : content and expenditure levels- Hiring consultants to guide production facilities, farms, and farmers to apply good agricultural practices (GAP), good livestock practices (GAHP), and good manufacturing practices (GMP); evaluating and certifying conditions for safe agricultural product production, GAP, GAHP, GMP certification; guiding processing, storage, and preparation facilities to apply quality management systems according to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), ISO, etc., ensuring food safety: expenditure levels as prescribed in Clause 10, Section II of this Circular. d) Expenditure for integrating food safety assurance activities with economic and social development programs of ministries, sectors, and localities; mass movements, sports activities, cultural, artistic activities, and other social activities of agencies and units. đ) Expenditure for organizing press conferences to provide information and promote food safety situations and warnings about food contamination risks approved by the competent authority: content and expenditure rate for the conference organization expense regulations apply.

- Research and development of methods, standards, procedures, and norms for detecting harmful chemical residues, microorganisms, hormones: expenditure levels as prescribed in current regulations on expenditure regimes for scientific and technological tasks.

d) Expenditure for supporting the activities of multi-sectoral Food Safety Steering Committees at various levels, including: printing materials, purchasing specialized literature, office supplies, travel expenses, gasoline, or renting transportation vehicles.

c) Costs for sampling, analysis, and assessing the status of chemical residues, microorganisms, nitrate in agricultural products, animal products, antibiotics, and prohibited harmful substances in feed, fertilizers that may cause residual contamination in crops and soil: expenditure levels for related contents as prescribed in Clause 8, Section II of this Circular.

d) Costs for information and publicity work on

ensuring food safety in production, processing, storage, and preparation of agricultural products : content and expenditure levels as prescribed in Clause 2, Section III of this Circular.5. Project to ensure disease safety, environmental safety, and food safety for aquaculture products.

5. Projects ensuring disease safety, environmental safety, and food safety for aquaculture products:

a) Expenditure on establishing and perfecting national technical standards and regulations concerning quality, hygiene and safety, and veterinary matters for aquatic products: the content and level of expenditure shall be in accordance with the current regulations governing the expenditure regime for scientific and technological tasks.

b) Expenditure on building safe aquaculture models as approved by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, including:

- Drafting the outline and activities of the model: the level of expenditure for implementation shall be in accordance with current regulations.

on safe agricultural product production techniques on good aquaculture practices, introducing the results of implementing safe aquaculture models: content and level d) Expenditure for integrating food safety assurance activities with economic and social development programs of ministries, sectors, and localities; mass movements, sports activities, cultural, artistic activities, and other social activities of agencies and units. đ) Expenditure for organizing press conferences to provide information and promote food safety situations and warnings about food contamination risks approved by the competent authority: content and expenditure rate for the conference organization expense regulations apply.

- Hiring experts to advise and guide aquaculture facilities in applying good aquaculture practices (GAAqP); collection, preliminary processing, and processing facilities applying Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems towards achieving industry standards; assessing and certifying compliance with conditions for safe aquaculture and application of food safety management systems: the level of expenditure shall be in accordance with Clause 10, Section II of this Circular.

d) Expenditure for supporting the activities of multi-sectoral Food Safety Steering Committees at various levels, including: printing materials, purchasing specialized literature, office supplies, travel expenses, gasoline, or renting transportation vehicles.

c) Expenditure on sampling and analyzing certain biological pollution and harmful chemical residue indicators in aquatic food products: the level of expenditure for related contents shall be in accordance with Clause 8, Section II of this Circular.

d) Expenditure on establishing and operating piloting a system for risk assessment and traceability of aquatic product origins as approved by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, including:

- Establishing a comprehensive legal framework for risk assessment and traceability of aquatic product origins: the level of expenditure for implementation shall be in accordance with current regulations.

- Procuring equipment and software for information processing.

- Creating electronic information on the computer network: the content and level of expenditure shall be in accordance with Circular No. 137/2007/TT-BTC dated November 28, 2007, issued by the Ministry of Finance guiding the level of expenditure for creating electronic information.

- Piloting the traceability system for aquatic product origins (including: hiring experts to advise and guide analysis and evaluation; hiring technical staff to direct the model,...): the level of expenditure shall be in accordance with Point b, Clause of this Article.

d) Expenditure on propaganda and dissemination of Vietnamese laws and regulations of major markets consuming aquatic products regarding food safety, aquatic disease safety; national technical standards and regulations in breeding, preservation, transportation, and processing of aquatic products; prohibited chemicals and antibiotics: content and level of expenditure shall be in accordance with Clause 2, Section III of this Circular.

6. Project ensuring food safety for street food:

a) Expenditure on building food safety models at markets, streets, tourist areas, festivals, schools, hospitals, industrial zones as approved by the Minister of Health: For power plants invested under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, n is determined according to the operational period of the power plant stipulated in the BOT contract.e) Costs for building an application database using information technology to prevent food poisoning and foodborne diseases.

b) Expenditure on purchasing chemicals for rapid food safety testing.

IV. ESTABLISHING, ALLOCATING, MANAGING AND SETTLING THE BUDGET

1. The establishment and allocation of the budget for implementing the Food Safety Program during the period 2006-2010 shall be carried out in accordance with the regulations on managing and implementing national target programs and relevant current regulations.

Central agencies managing projects must base their budget allocations to relevant ministries, sectors, and localities on the ability to implement assigned tasks; they should delegate authority to localities in the procurement of equipment, means, tools, and materials serving the activities of the Food Safety Program.

In special cases, where localities lack the capacity to procure such equipment, means, tools, and materials, central project management agencies may undertake procurement. Procedures for transferring assets and items shall be carried out in accordance with current regulations.

2. Management, utilization, and settlement of the budget for implementing the Food Safety Program during the period 2006-2010 shall be conducted in accordance with the State Budget Law, current guiding documents of the State Budget Law, and the provisions of this Circular. Agencies and units using the program's budget must maintain accounting books to record, account for, and settle accounts in accordance with the current financial accounting regulations for administrative and public institutions, the State Budget Manual, and the code of the National Target Program. For projects utilizing non-reimbursable aid funds, agencies and units must follow the current state regulations on receiving, managing, and using aid sources.

For procurement equipment, means, tools, materials,... must be carried out in accordance with the legal provisions on tendering and procurement of goods funded by the state budget.

3. The budget for implementing the Food Safety Program allocated and transferred to an agency or unit shall be managed, utilized, and settled by that agency or unit according to the prescribed regulations. If necessary, the involvement of related agencies and units is required to expedite the implementation of project targets under the program; the project management agency transfers the budget to related agencies and units to execute specialized contracts. The head of the project management agency must approve the budget expenditure according to the current national standards and expenditure rates.

The agency or unit executing the contract is responsible for implementing the agreed-upon tasks, directly using the budget according to the current financial expenditure regulations (without having to settle accounts with its own budget but must maintain separate accounting books for tracking); immediately upon completion of the contract, it is responsible for preparing a final settlement report on the allocated budget according to the regulations and submitting it to the project management agency (accompanied by original expense vouchers) for review and consolidation into the overall settlement of the project management agency.

4. Reporting System: Quarterly and annually, ministries, central agencies, and provincial people's committees have the responsibility to report on the implementation status and results of the Program (both budget and professional indicators) in accordance with current regulations.

V. IMPLEMENTATION

This Circular takes effect 15 days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

Any difficulties encountered during implementation should be promptly reported to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health for study and resolution./.