Circular No. 12/2015/TT-BNNPTNT guides the inspection of food safety for imported plant-based goods

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for Food Safety Inspection of Imported Plant-Origin Goods

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Pursuant to the Food Safety Law No. 55/2010/QH12 adopted by the National Assembly on June 17, 2010;

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 38/2012/NĐ-CP dated April 25, 2012 detailing certain provisions of the Food Safety Law;is an organization with legal personality designated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to conduct one or more testing and conformity assessment activities with technical standards and corresponding standards for food, food additives, food processing aids, food supplements, packaging materials, food containers.

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

On the basis of Pursuant to Circular Joint No. 13/2014/TTLT-BYT-BNNPTNT-BCT dated April 9, 2014 guiding the division of responsibilities and coordination in state management of food safety;

At the proposal of the Director of the Directorate of Quality Assurance of Forestry and Aquatic Products and the Director of the Plant Protection Department,

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development issues this Circular guiding food safety inspection of imported plant-origin goods as follows:

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

Article 1. This Circular prescribes the inspection methods, procedures for registration and inspection of food safety (FS) for imported plant-origin goods intended for human consumption (hereinafter referred to as goods) under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; responsibilities and authorities of relevant parties.

Article 2. Goods subject to this Circular are plant-origin foods defined in Appendix 2 of Circular Joint No. 13/2014/TTLT-BYT-BNNPTNT-BCT dated April 9, 2014 guiding the division of responsibilities and coordination in state management of food safety.

Article 3. This Circular does not regulate contents and provisions related to plant quarantine activities.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals, both domestic and foreign, involved in production and business activities of imported plant-origin goods intended for human consumption under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Article 3. Goods imported that are not subject to FS inspection

Clause 1. Personal items carried by individuals within tax-free allowances;

Clause 2. Diplomatic and consular pouches;

Clause 3. Transit and transshipment goods;

Clause 4. Goods stored in bonded warehouses;

Clause 5. Test samples;

Clause 6. Display samples at exhibitions.

Article 4. Definitions

Article 20. In this Circular, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. Imported consignment: Is a quantity of goods of the same type, from the same origin, and registered for import inspection once;

Clause 2. Importer organization, individual: Is the legitimate owner (directly or through authorization) managing imported goods;

Clause 3. Violation of FS regulations: Goods found to be inconsistent with declared types or origins, or showing signs of damage, mold, or contamination with substances posing risks to FS; goods found to have residues of chemicals or microbial contamination exceeding permissible limits.

Clause 4. Serious violation of FS regulations: Goods found to violate FS regulations with a high risk of adversely affecting consumer health.

Clause 5. Sampling frequency: Is the percentage of consignments sampled for testing out of the total number of consignments of the same type and country of origin imported into Vietnam.

Clause 6. Goods of the same type: Are products of the same plant species and having the same characteristics (fresh or processed).

Article 5. Basis for Inspection

1. Vietnamese regulations, standards, technical regulations on FS, and international FS regulations.

2. In cases where Vietnam has signed bilateral Agreements or Arrangements on FS with exporting countries, such Agreements or Arrangements shall be followed.

Article 6. Inspection Indicators

The food safety indicators that must be tested shall be decided by the inspection agency based on the manufacturer's or importer's compliance history with regulations; the actual situation regarding food safety risks from the place of production and the exporting country; and the actual situation of the consignment and accompanying documentation.

Article 7. Inspection Agencies

1. Inspection agencies at border gates or consolidation points: Units under the Plant Protection Department or units designated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development based on the Plant Protection Department’s recommendations.

2. Inspection agencies monitoring goods circulating in the market according to their assigned levels: Units under the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development tasked with such responsibilities.

3. Food safety inspection agencies in the exporting country: The Quality Management Department for Forestry, Agriculture, and Fisheries shall take the lead, coordinating with the Plant Protection Department and relevant agencies.

Article 8. Fees, Charges, and Implementation Budgets for Food Safety Inspections

1. Inspection agencies shall collect fees and charges in accordance with current regulations of the Ministry of Finance.

2. The budget for inspections conducted in the exporting country shall be provided by the state budget. The Quality Management Department for Forestry, Agriculture, and Fisheries shall be responsible for leading and coordinating with the Plant Protection Department to prepare the budget for inspections in the exporting country, submitting it for approval by the competent authority.

3. The budget for monitoring food products circulating in the market shall be provided by the state budget within the framework of the supervision program stipulated in Circular No. 05/2010/TT-BNNPTNT dated January 22, 2010, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, guiding the inspection and supervision of agricultural product hygiene and food safety before entering the market, or from other legitimate sources.

4. The budget for implementing food safety inspections on imported plant-based goods for contents not subject to fees or charges shall be planned and budgeted by the inspection agency, submitted for approval by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Finance, and allocated from the economic public service fund to implement the inspection.

Chapter II

METHODS OF FOOD SAFETY INSPECTION

Article 9. Routine Inspection Methods

1. Step 1: Registration by the Exporting Country

a) The competent authority for food safety in the exporting country for plant-based food products (hereinafter referred to as the Competent Authority of the Exporting Country) shall submit registration files in accordance with Article 13 of this Circular to the Quality Management Department for Forestry, Agriculture, and Fisheries for review and recognition of a system that meets the conditions and ensures food safety as prescribed by Vietnam, and to include the exporting country in the list of countries registered to export plant-based food products to Vietnam.

b) The procedures for registration, review, and recognition to meet Vietnam’s food safety requirements and inclusion in the list of countries registered to export plant-based food products to Vietnam are stipulated in Chapter III of this Circular.

c) Step 1 shall not apply to imported processed packaged foods that have been granted a certificate of acceptance for conformity declaration or a confirmation of compliance declaration with food safety regulations, temporarily imported goods for re-export, or imported goods used as raw materials for processing and manufacturing for export.

2. Step 2: Inspection of Imported Consignments

a) At border gates or consolidation points, file inspection, external examination, and sampling for testing shall be carried out up to 10% of the imported consignments depending on the risk level of the goods. In this case, organizations and individuals may proceed with customs clearance formalities after passing the file and external examination by the inspection agency and receiving a Food Safety Inspection Certificate in the format specified in Appendix 5 of this Circular.

b) During a six-month inspection period, if similar types of goods from the same exporting country violate food safety regulations three times or more, stricter inspection methods (as stipulated in Article 10 of this Circular) will be applied to those goods when imported from the exporting country with violations. The application of stricter inspection methods will commence from the third violation detected for the same type of goods from the same exporting country.

c) The procedures and formalities for inspecting imported consignments are stipulated in Chapter IV of this Circular.

3. Step 3: Post-Clearance Inspection of Goods

Imported goods subject to post-clearance inspection shall comply with the provisions of Article 19 of this Circular.

Article 10. Strict inspection methods

1. At the border gate or consolidation site, the import consignment shall be inspected for documentation and external appearance; sampling and testing of goods subject to strict inspection methods shall be carried out at a frequency up to 30%.

2. In cases where the import consignment is currently subject to strict inspection methods but does not require sampling and testing, the organization or individual may proceed with customs clearance procedures after the inspection authority has completed the documentation and external appearance inspections and found them satisfactory.

3. In cases where the import consignment is currently subject to strict inspection methods and requires sampling and testing, it shall be handled as follows:

a) For consignments from organizations or individuals that have not previously imported similar goods from the same country of origin which violated food safety regulations: Permission to proceed with customs clearance procedures shall be granted after the documentation and external appearance inspections have been found satisfactory.

b) For consignments from organizations or individuals that have previously imported similar goods from the same country of origin which violated food safety regulations: Permission to proceed with customs clearance procedures shall only be granted after the sampling and testing results have been found satisfactory.

4. Based on the results of strict inspections over a period of six months, the subsequent application of inspection methods shall be determined as follows:

a) Suspension of importation of goods: If five or more consignments of the same type from the same country of origin, currently subject to strict inspection methods, are found to violate food safety regulations;

b) Continued application of strict inspection methods for another six months: If one to four consignments of the same type from the same country of origin, currently subject to strict inspection methods, continue to be found to violate food safety regulations;

c) Termination of strict inspection methods: If at least five consignments of the same type from the same country of origin, currently subject to strict inspection methods, are sampled and tested and found not to violate food safety regulations.

5. In cases where there is an international warning about a serious risk of food safety issues, specific management methods for imported goods will be implemented based on international measures currently applied to the types of goods under warning.

6. The procedures and formalities for registering and inspecting food safety for import consignments are stipulated in Chapter IV of this Circular.

7. Imported goods subject to post-clearance inspection shall be inspected according to the provisions of Article 19 of this Circular.

Article 11. Reduced Inspection Method

Applied in accordance with Clause 2, Article 39 of the Food Safety Law and Article 15 of Decree No. 38/2012/NĐ-CP. The inspection method and sampling for testing of consignments subject to inspection shall be carried out in accordance with international agreements to which Vietnam is a party regarding mutual recognition of food safety certification activities.

Article 12. Clearance of Goods

Imported goods into Vietnam can only be cleared upon presentation of a Certificate of Food Safety Inspection issued by the Inspection Authority in accordance with the form prescribed in Appendix 5 of this Circular.

Chapter III

REGISTRATION BY THE EXPORTING COUNTRY AND INSPECTION IN THE EXPORTING COUNTRY

Article 13. Exporting Country's Registration Documents

The competent authority of the exporting country shall submit the original registration documents in English or Vietnamese directly or through postal service to the Directorate of Quality Assurance of Forestry and Aquatic Products, including:

1. Information on the management system and capacity of the competent authority of the exporting country for food safety control according to the form prescribed in Appendix 1 of this Circular;

2. List of plant protection products, growth regulators, and preservatives used in production and business of goods according to the form prescribed in Appendix 2 of this Circular;

3. Annual food safety monitoring program of the exporting country for goods during domestic production and business and export according to the form prescribed in Appendix 7 of this Circular.

Article 14. Examination of Registration Files

The Directorate of Quality Assurance of Forestry and Aquatic Products shall take the lead and coordinate with the Plant Protection Department to review the registration documents stipulated in Article 13 of this Circular and notify the competent authority of the exporting country of the review results as follows:

1. In case the review results of the registration documents fully comply with Vietnam’s food safety regulations, the Directorate of Quality Assurance of Forestry and Aquatic Products shall report to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for recognition and update the list of countries registered to export plant-based food products to Vietnam on the Directorate's website (www.nafiqad.gov.vn);

2. In case the review results of the registration documents do not fully comply with Vietnam’s food safety regulations, the Directorate of Quality Assurance of Forestry and Aquatic Products shall notify the competent authority of the exporting country in writing to request additional information to complete the registration documents as required.

Article 15. Inspection at Exporting Countries

1. When necessary, the Directorate of Quality Assurance of Forestry and Aquatic Products shall take the lead and coordinate with the Plant Protection Department to develop an inspection plan; notify and coordinate with the competent authority of the exporting country to conduct inspections of the food safety control system and conditions ensuring food safety of export production facilities;

2. Within thirty working days from the end of the inspection in the exporting country, the Directorate of Quality Assurance of Forestry and Aquatic Products shall take the lead and coordinate with the Plant Protection Department to finalize the draft inspection result report and send it to the competent authority of the exporting country for comments within thirty days before officially announcing the inspection result report. The report shall clearly state the specific reasons for non-permission to export goods to Vietnam if the inspection results do not fully meet the requirements.

Chapter IV

REGISTRATION AND FOOD SAFETY INSPECTION IMPORTED CONSIGNMENTS

Article 16.  Registration for Inspection of Imported Consignments

Organizations and individuals shall register for food safety inspection directly with the inspection authority at the border gate. The registration documents include:

1. Original Food Safety Inspection Registration Form (according to the form prescribed in Appendix 3);

2. For imported goods containing genetically modified components:

Listed in the Catalogue of Genetically Modified Plants issued with the Confirmation Certificate pursuant to Circular No. 02/2014/TT-BNNPTNT dated January 24, 2014 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development stipulating the procedures and formalities for issuing and revoking the Confirmation Certificate for genetically modified plants meeting the conditions for use as food and animal feed.

3. For goods that have been irradiated:

A copy of the Free Circulation Certificate (CFS) issued by the competent authority of the exporting country in accordance with Circular No. 63/2010/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 1, 2010, guiding the issuance of Free Circulation Certificates for products and goods exported and imported under the management responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

Article 17. Content of Inspection

1. Document inspection: The inspection agency shall examine the registration dossier (origin, compliance history with food safety regulations of organizations, individuals, production facilities; regulations on genetically modified foods, irradiated foods, and other related regulations);

2. Physical inspection (not applicable to temporary import-reexport consignments): The inspection agency shall inspect the packaging and labeling conditions when the goods arrive at the border gate; check for consistency with declaration contents and signs of potential food safety risks.

3. Sample collection for testing (not applicable to temporary import-reexport consignments):

a) The inspection agency shall collect samples for testing according to the methods prescribed in Articles 9, 10, and 11 of this Circular at the registered location;

b) Sample collection for testing must ensure representativeness of the imported products and be conducted randomly among the inspected import consignments.

4. Record the document inspection, physical inspection, and sample collection results in the format prescribed in Appendix 4 of this Circular.

Article 18. Issuance of Food Safety Inspection Certificate

1. Issue the Food Safety Inspection Certificate for imported consignments within a period not exceeding 01 (one) working day as follows:

a) In the case stipulated in point a, Clause 2, Article 9, Clause 2, and point a, Clause 3, Article 10 of this Circular: From the date all registration dossiers are received.

b) In the case stipulated in point b, Clause 3, Article 10 of this Circular: From the date the analysis results from the designated laboratory meet the requirements.

2. Notify non-compliant consignments (in the format prescribed in Appendix 6 of this Circular) within a period not exceeding 01 (one) working day after receiving the non-compliance inspection results.

3. The time from sampling, sending samples, testing, and providing test results shall not exceed 10 working days.

Article 19. Content of Inspection for Imported Goods Circulating in the Market

1. Inspect storage conditions, packaging, and labels (if any) of goods circulating in the market in accordance with the division of responsibilities prescribed in Clause 2, Article 7 of this Circular;

2. Inspect information and origin of imported consignments;

3. Collect samples of goods for analysis of food safety indicators by the designated laboratory when there are signs of violation or suspicion of food safety issues, or upon request of authorized state agencies.

4. Trace the origin, recall, and handle non-compliant consignments in accordance with Circular No. 74/2011/TT-BNNPTNT dated October 30, 2011, regulating traceability, recall, and handling of agricultural and forestry products that do not meet food safety standards under the management of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

Chapter V

MEASURES FOR HANDLING VIOLATIONS OF FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS FOOD SAFETY

Article 20. Regarding imported consignments

1. Order re-export or destruction for consignments seriously violating food safety regulations.

2. Change the purpose of use for consignments found to violate food safety regulations but can be used for other purposes without posing a risk to human health;

3. Notify the competent authority on food safety of the exporting country to request cooperation in investigating the cause and implementing appropriate corrective measures;

4. Notify and coordinate with relevant domestic authorities to require organizations and individuals importing to recall, handle, and supervise the handling process of consignments seriously violating food safety regulations;

5. Announce on mass media cases of serious violations of food safety regulations that must be traced back, recalled, and guide consumers on preventive measures.

Article 21. Regarding the exporting country

1. Suspend importation of goods from the exporting country in the following cases:

a) As stipulated in point a, Clause 4, Article 10 of this Circular;

b) Inspection results under Article 15 show that the exporting country's food safety control system does not fully meet the requirements as prescribed;

c) The exporting country does not cooperate and does not facilitate the competent authority of Vietnam in conducting inspections as prescribed in Article 15 of this Circular.

2. Only resume exportation to Vietnam when inspection results under Article 15 show that the competent authority of the exporting country has implemented food safety control measures fully meeting the requirements as prescribed.

3. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall decide to suspend imports or allow resumption of exports of plant-origin goods into Vietnam based on the proposal of the Plant Protection Department Director and the Quality Control Department for Forestry, Aquaculture and Fisheries Director as follows:

a) The decision to suspend imports takes effect sixty days from the date of issuance and is the final deadline for completing the food safety inspection procedures for imported consignments.

b) The decision to allow re-importation shall take effect from the date of issuance and shall be the start date for implementing the food safety inspection procedures for imported consignments.

c) Within three working days from the date of issuance, the decision to suspend imports or allow resumption of imports into Vietnam shall be notified to the competent authority on food safety of the exporting country and updated on the website of the Quality Control Department for Forestry, Aquaculture and Fisheries (www.nafiqad.gov.vn).

Chapter VI

RESPONSIBILITIES AND LIMITATIONS

Article 22. Responsibilities of inspection agencies

1. Inspection agencies at border gates and consolidation points:

a) Conduct inspections and issue Food Safety Inspection Certificates or Notifications of Non-Conformity for Imported Goods according to Chapter IV of this Circular;

b) Provide accurate, objective, and truthful notifications; strictly follow inspection procedures and sampling for product testing as prescribed;

c) Coordinate with Customs authorities to inspect imported goods, handle, and supervise the handling process of cases violating food safety regulations as prescribed by law;

d) Within one working day from the discovery of imported consignments violating food safety regulations, report to the Plant Protection Department for compilation and reporting to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (through the Quality Control Department for Forestry, Aquaculture and Fisheries);

e) Collect fees and charges as prescribed.

2. Inspection agencies supervising goods circulating in the market according to their assigned levels:

a) Conduct food safety supervision inspections for imported goods circulating in their jurisdiction as prescribed in Article 19 of this Circular;

b) Timely notify the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of cases where imported goods circulating in their jurisdiction violate food safety regulations;

c) Implement traceability, recall, and handling of imported consignments failing to ensure food safety according to Circular No. 74/2011/TT-BNNPTNT dated October 30, 2011 upon receiving notification of serious violations of food safety regulations;

3. Food safety inspection agencies in the exporting country:

a) Develop and implement food safety inspection plans in the exporting country after the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issues the decision to establish an inspection team;

b) Coordinate with the competent authority of the exporting country to implement inspection contents;

c) Report inspection results to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development within fifteen days from the end of the inspection period in the exporting country;

d) Notify inspection results to the competent authority of the exporting country as prescribed in Article 15 of this Circular.

Article 23. Powers of the Inspection Authority

1. Request organizations and individuals to provide relevant documents and files for inspection purposes;

2. Conduct inspections and take samples of imported goods according to the methods and procedures stipulated in this Circular;

3. Decide on measures to handle and supervise the handling of batches of goods that do not meet import requirements.

Article 24. Responsibilities of Import Organizations and Individuals

1. Register for food safety inspection in accordance with Article 16 of this Circular;

2. Create conditions for inspection authority staff to perform their inspection tasks, sample testing, and supervision of goods in accordance with regulations;

3. Provide complete files and specimens related to serving inspection work and tracing the origin;

4. Comply with decisions on handling and be subject to supervision by the Inspection Authority;

5. Implement tracing the origin, recalling, and handling batches of imported goods that do not ensure food safety in accordance with Circular No. 74/2011/TT-BNNPTNT dated October 30, 2011 upon receiving notification of serious violations of food safety regulations;

6. Pay inspection and testing fees as prescribed by the Ministry of Finance and settle actual expenses incurred in handling batches of goods that do not meet food safety requirements;

7. Bear full responsibility for storing imported goods during the waiting period for inspection conclusions as stipulated at point b, Clause 3, Article 10 of this Circular or until the decision on handling by the competent authority is made.

Article 25. Rights of Import Organizations and Individuals

1. Request the inspection authority to reconsider the inspection results;

2. Have the right to lodge complaints and denunciations and have such complaints and denunciations resolved in accordance with laws on complaints and denunciations.

Chapter VII

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 26. Department of Quality Assurance of Agricultural Products and Aquatic Products

1. Receive export registration files from the competent authority of the exporting country; exchange information and notify inspection plans (if necessary) with the competent authority of the exporting country and submit to the Ministry for issuance of a decision to establish an inspection team to inspect in the exporting country;

2. Take the lead and coordinate with the Plant Protection Department:

a) Propose the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to publish the list of countries recognized by mutual recognition by Vietnam; publish the list of countries applying to export plant-based food products to Vietnam; decide on suspending imports or allowing resumption of imports of plant-based goods from those countries. Notify the competent authority of the exporting country about batches of goods that do not ensure food safety and request cooperation in investigating causes and implementing appropriate corrective measures;

b) Conduct inspections of food safety control systems and food safety assurance conditions of production facilities in the exporting country;

c) Organize the implementation of tracing the origin, recalling, and handling batches of imported goods that seriously violate food safety regulations;

3. Annually or at any time (when required), report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on the situation of food safety inspections for imported goods;

4. Annually develop plans, budgets, and final accounts (funded by the state budget) for conducting food safety inspections for exporting countries and imported goods according to assigned contents that are not charged fees or taxes; consolidate these into the annual budget and final accounts of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in accordance with the State Budget Law and current guiding documents.

Article 27. The Plant Protection Department

1. Take the lead and coordinate with relevant competent agencies to determine cases where imported goods seriously violate food safety regulations.

2. Direct and supervise inspection agencies at border gates or concentration points:

a) Carry out inspections of imported goods according to the inspection methods prescribed in this Circular;

b) Issue Food Safety Inspection Certificates, or notify cases where imported consignments do not meet food safety requirements as stipulated in Article 18 of this Circular;

c) Coordinate with competent agencies to handle consignments that do not ensure food safety and monitor the implementation process.

3. Guide units assigned by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to perform tasks related to inspecting and supervising food safety for imported goods circulating in the market;

4. Timely report in writing to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (through the Quality Management Department of Forestry and Aquatic Products) in the following cases:

a) Upon discovering an imported consignment violating food safety regulations, cooperate to organize tracing, recalling, and handling of the consignment seriously violating food safety regulations, and inform the exporting country's authority.

b) Propose a temporary suspension of imports of goods into Vietnam in accordance with point a, Clause 4, Article 10 of this Circular.

5. Annually, or at any time (upon request), report on the situation of inspecting food safety for imported goods to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (through the Quality Management Department of Forestry and Aquatic Products);

6. Coordinate with the Quality Management Department of Forestry and Aquatic Products to implement activities stipulated in Clause 2, Article 26 of this Circular;

7. Annually, develop plans, budgets, and final accounts (funded by the state budget) for conducting food safety inspections for imported goods according to the division of labor for non-feeable contents; consolidate into the annual budget and final account of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in accordance with the State Budget Law and current guiding documents.

Article 28. Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of provinces and centrally governed cities

1. Direct subordinate units according to their assignments to carry out food safety inspections and supervision for imported goods circulating within their jurisdiction;

2. Promptly notify the Quality Management Department of Forestry and Aquatic Products and the Plant Protection Department of cases where imported goods circulating within their jurisdiction violate food safety regulations;

3. Coordinate with competent agencies to organize tracing, recalling, and handling of consignments that do not ensure food safety and monitor the implementation process;

4. Annually, or at any time (upon request), submit reports on the results of food safety inspections and supervision for imported goods circulating within their jurisdiction to the Plant Protection Department for consolidation and reporting to the Ministry;

5. Annually, develop plans and budgets for implementing food safety inspections and supervision for imported goods according to the division of labor and submit them for approval by the competent authority and allocation of funds.

Chapter VIII

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 29. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from May 5, 2015.

2. This Circular replaces Circular No. 13/2011/TT-BNNPTNT dated March 16, 2011, guiding the inspection of food safety for imported plant-based goods., Circular No. 05/2013/TT-BNNPTNT dated January 21, 2013, amending and supplementing some articles of Circular No. 13/2011/TT-BNNPTNT dated March 16, 2011, guiding the inspection of food safety for imported plant-based goods and Consolidated Document No. 03/VBHN-BNNPTNT dated December 19, 2013, circular guiding the inspection of food safety for imported plant-based goods.

3. Countries that have been reviewed and recognized to export plant-based goods to Vietnam according to Circular No. 13/2011/TT-BNNPTNT dated March 16, 2011, and Circular No. 05/2013/TT-BNNPTNT dated January 21, 2013, amending and supplementing some articles of Circular No. 13/2011/TT-BNNPTNT dated March 16, 2011, will continue to be recognized when this Circular takes effect.

4. In the course of implementation, if there are difficulties, units shall report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (through the Quality Management Department of Forestry and Aquatic Products, the Plant Protection Department) for review, amendment, and supplementation./.