Pursuant to …;

Issuing the Regulation on the Organization and Operation of

Vietnam Food Standards Committee

_________________________

THE MINISTER MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Pursuant to Decree No. 54/2003/NĐ-CP dated May 19, 2003 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Decree No. 28/2004/NĐ-CP dated January 16, 2004 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 54/2003/NĐ-CP dated May 19, 2003;

Pursuant to Decision No. 140/2004/QĐ-TTg dated August 5, 2004 of the Prime Minister stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the General Bureau for Standardization, Measurement, and Quality Control;

Pursuant to Decision No. 570/QĐ-TĐC dated August 11, 1994 of the Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment (now the Ministry of Science and Technology) on the establishment of the Vietnam Food Standardization Committee;

Considering the proposals of the Directors of the General Bureau for Standardization, Measurement, and Quality Control and the Department of Organization and Cadres, 

DECISION:

Article 1. This Decision promulgates the Regulations on the Organization and Operation of the Vietnam Food Standards Committee attached hereto.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette and revokes Decision No. 286/TĐC-QĐ dated December 5, 1994 on the issuance of the Regulations on the organization and operation of the Vietnam Food Standardization Committee under the General Bureau for Standardization, Measurement, and Quality Control.

Article 3. The Heads of the Office, the Director of the Department of Organization and Cadres, the Director of the General Bureau for Standardization, Measurement, and Quality Control, and the Heads of related units shall be responsible for implementing this Decision./.

REGULATIONS

ON THE ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF

VIETNAM FOOD STANDARDS COMMITTEE YEAR

(Issued pursuant to Decision No. 25/2004/QĐ-BKHCN dated September 6, 2004 of the Minister of Science and Technology)

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. The Vietnam Food Standards Committee (referred to as the Vietnam Codex Committee) is a national inter-ministerial organization chaired by the Ministry of Science and Technology, with the function of advising relevant state management agencies on standardization work related to food; participating in international and regional activities concerning food standards; and proposing quality management and food safety policies in Vietnam.

The English name is Vietnam Codex Alimentarius Commission (referred to as VCAC).

Article 2. The General Bureau for Standardization, Measurement, and Quality Control under the Ministry of Science and Technology is the permanent body of the Vietnam Codex Committee, responsible for coordinating the Committee's activities through the Vietnam Codex Committee Office.

PART II

FUNCTIONS AND TASKS

Article 3. The Vietnam Codex Committee has the following functions and tasks:

1. Studying and proposing directions for the development of standardization activities, policies, and management measures in the field of food to meet the requirements of national economic development and international economic integration;

2. Studying and proposing to competent authorities the construction and issuance of laws, sub-laws, and programs related to food quality and hygiene safety;

3. Studying and recommending long-term and annual plans for the construction of Vietnamese Technical Standards (VNTS) in the field of food;

4. Studying materials from the International Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) to provide relevant information in the fields of food and public health for management agencies, as well as organizations building VNTS and other regulatory documents, contributing to the drafting and acceptance of CAC standards;

5. Proposing the establishment of Vietnamese technical standard committees corresponding to those of the International Codex Alimentarius Commission;

6. Cooperating with the World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other related international and regional organizations;

7. Participating in CAC conferences;

8. Participating in resolving other issues related thereto or authorized by competent authorities.

CHAPTER III

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Article 4. The Vietnam Codex Committee has the following organizational structure:

1. The Vietnam Codex Committee includes:

Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson in charge, Vice-Chairpersons, Secretary-General, and members.

Technical standard committees.

Office.

2. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons are leaders of relevant ministries. The Secretary-General and members of the Vietnam Codex Committee are key leaders of management agencies, research institutions, associations, and food production and business enterprises, appointed by the Minister of Science and Technology based on the recommendations of the Director of the General Bureau for Standardization, Measurement, and Quality Control, according to the dispatch letters of relevant ministries, sectors, and organizations.

In cases where members change jobs or cannot continue their participation in the Committee, the Chairperson of the Committee will coordinate with the General Bureau for Standardization, Measurement, and Quality Control to propose replacements to the Minister of Science and Technology for decision.

3. Food technical standard committees are established and directly managed by the Quality Standards Center in accordance with regulations to fulfill assigned tasks.

4. The Director of the General Bureau for Standardization, Measurement, and Quality Control stipulates specific functions and tasks of the Vietnam Codex Committee Office; and appoints and dismisses the Director of the Vietnam Codex Committee Office. 

CHAPTER IV

PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

Article 5. Activities of the Committee.

1. The Codex Vietnam Committee operates based on the principle of consultation and agreement at meetings under the chairmanship of the Chairman. The Secretary General and the Director of the Office are responsible for organizing the activities of the Committee according to the direction of the Chairman;

2. The Codex Vietnam Committee convenes regularly twice a year. Depending on work requirements, the Chairman may decide to organize extraordinary meetings of the Codex Vietnam Committee;

3. Members of the Committee are informed and provided with necessary documents related to the Committee's program of activities and those of international Codex technical committees. In cases where meetings cannot be held, the Codex Vietnam Committee Office may send documents to seek opinions from Committee members, who are required to respond to questions within the specified time;

The agenda, content, and related documents for Committee meetings are sent to Committee members 15 days prior to the meeting date.

Article 6. Activities of the Committee Office.

1. Functions:

The Codex Vietnam Committee Office fulfills the role of a permanent support body for the Codex Vietnam Committee and the Standards Measurement Quality Control General Department; it serves as the liaison point for the Codex Vietnam Committee with relevant Ministries and sectors involved in food management, production, and trade, as well as with the CAC and other international organizations;

2. Tasks:

a. Developing and implementing the annual activity plan of the Codex Vietnam Committee;

b. Preparing the content, agenda, work plans, and participating in other specialized activities such as scientific seminars, contributing to legal regulations and standards on food, organizing comments on international Codex standard drafts; organizing Codex Vietnam Committee meetings and other meetings when required;

c. Coordinating with the Quality Standards Center under the Standards Measurement Quality Control General Department to monitor and urge the activities of the Codex Vietnam Committee’s technical standard committees;

d. Organizing Vietnamese delegations to attend international Codex Conferences;

e. Receiving, collecting, classifying, systematizing, distributing, and archiving documents from the CAC, other international organizations, and domestic entities related to food for relevant agencies;

f. Informing, promoting, and introducing CAC standards and recommendations;

g. Monitoring and updating draft contents of Codex international standards and documents. Regularly updating the activities of the international Codex Committee and informing members of the Codex Vietnam Committee, heads of technical committees, and relevant Ministries;

h. Planning, managing, and effectively utilizing the annual budget for the Codex Vietnam Committee's activities.

3. Organization of the Office:

a. The Codex Vietnam Committee Office is a unit directly under the Standards Measurement Quality Control General Department.

b. The Codex Vietnam Committee Office has legal personality, its own seal for transactions, and can open accounts at the State Bank and National Treasury.

c. The Codex Vietnam Committee Office consists of a Director, Deputy Directors, a secretary, some staff members, and employees. The staffing of the Office is balanced within the total staffing allocated to the Standards Measurement Quality Control General Department.

d. The Codex Committee Office may have representatives in provinces depending on development needs.

Article 7. Activities of the Codex Vietnam Committee’s Technical Standard Committees.

The Codex Vietnam Committee’s Technical Standard Committees operate in accordance with the Regulations on the Organization and Operation of Technical Standard Committees issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Article 8. Term of Operation

The term of operation of the Codex Vietnam Committee is two years and may be extended for an additional two years.

Article 9.  Operating Budget

1. The operational budget of the Codex Vietnam Committee is provided by the Ministry of Science and Technology from the state budget and allocated to the Standards Measurement Quality Control General Department's departmental mission budget; concurrently, it includes contributions from domestic and foreign businesses, international organizations, and other services.

2. The Standards Measurement Quality Control General Department provides funding and manages expenditures according to current regulations for the Codex Office's activities.

Article 10The Chairman of the Codex Vietnam Committee is authorized to issue regulations based on current state provisions and international Codex Committee regulations regarding:

1. Relations between the Codex Vietnam Committee and Ministries, sectors, domestic agencies, and the international Codex Committee.

2. Procedures for preparing and attending international Codex Conferences.

3. Procedures for conducting Codex Vietnam Committee activities.

CHAPTER V

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 11. The Chairman of the Codex Vietnam Committee, the Director of the Standards Measurement Quality Control General Department, and the Head of the Cadre Organization Department shall implement this Regulation.

Article 12. Any amendments or supplements to this Regulation shall be proposed by the Director of the Standards Measurement Quality Control General Department in coordination with the Head of the Cadre Organization Department to the Minister of Science and Technology for consideration and decision./.