Directive No. 37/2005/CT-TTg On Certain Measures to Strengthen Management of Chemicals and Antibiotics Used in Food Production and Business

DIRECTIVE
On certain measures to strengthen management of chemicals and antibiotics used in production
issue, and trade of food products

In recent times, the Ministry of Fisheries, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Ministry of Health have cooperated with relevant ministries and agencies and provincial people's committees to implement Governmental Directive No. 07/2002/CT-TTg dated February 25, 2002, concerning the strengthening of management over the use of antibiotics and chemicals in the production and trade of food products. Food safety work has improved significantly, contributing to protecting consumer health, expanding markets, and increasing export turnover of agricultural and aquatic products.

However, requirements for epidemiological hygiene and food safety from consumers and markets are changing rapidly and becoming increasingly stringent. Recently, some batches of exported aquatic products have been suspended for testing antibiotic residues in the Fluoroquinolone group, and in some places, bans on the circulation of Vietnamese aquatic products have been issued, causing economic losses and damaging the reputation of Vietnamese agricultural and aquatic products. To further improve food safety assurance for consumers in accordance with international standards, the Prime Minister issues this directive:

1. Strengthening propaganda, explanation, and guidance to help producers and consumers understand clearly the hygiene standards for food products both domestically and internationally.

2. Strictly prohibit organizations and individuals engaged in the cultivation of agricultural and aquatic products from using chemicals and antibiotics listed in the Prohibited List established by state management agencies for use in food production and trade. It is not allowed to use human drugs or industrial chemicals for animal disease prevention; it is not allowed to use veterinary medicines containing antibiotics or chemicals intended for terrestrial animals to treat aquatic animals, and vice versa; it is not allowed to use or exceed the permitted levels of chemicals on food crops; encourage the use of biotechnologies.

3. Intensify inspection and supervision from the production stage to market circulation and import/export. The Ministries of Fisheries and Agriculture and Rural Development shall take the lead and cooperate with the General Customs Department to strengthen inspections of antibiotic and chemical residues in exported batches that have been warned about.

4. Enhance international cooperation in quarantine of plants and animals, seek investment projects for clean food production, and secure assistance for inspection equipment.

5. Improve the division of responsibilities and coordination among relevant ministries and agencies, and the delegation of authority between central agencies and local authorities.

To implement these tasks, the division of responsibilities among ministries and agencies is as follows:

a) The Ministry of Trade shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Fisheries, Health, Industry, Science and Technology, Natural Resources and Environment to establish, adjust, and publish annually a list of antibiotics and chemicals prohibited from importation, use, or restricted use in food production and trade.

b) The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Fisheries shall regularly inform producers about updates on banned drugs and chemicals in importing countries and the conditions of major importing markets for Vietnamese agricultural and aquatic products. Through the extension service system, guide farmers and fishermen to produce according to technical procedures, self-inspect quality before processing, and enhance pre-export inspections by exporting enterprises to ensure food safety standards, maintaining the reputation and market for Vietnamese agricultural and aquatic products.

c) The Ministry of Health shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to announce hygiene standards for imported food products; coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to strengthen control over agricultural products, food, antibiotics, and chemicals used in food production and trade at border gates, aiming to protect consumer health and the domestic environment.

d) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the Ministries of Trade, Agriculture and Rural Development, Fisheries, and Health, shall promote the signing of agreements on plant and animal quarantine with related countries.

đ) The Ministry of Planning and Investment, together with relevant ministries and agencies, shall focus on seeking financial support from countries and international organizations to enhance food safety inspection capabilities.

e) The Ministry of Home Affairs shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to study and develop organizational models to effectively manage food safety issues, to be submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration in 2006. In the meantime, the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Health, Finance (General Customs Department), and Defense (Border Guard Command) shall coordinate to rearrange quarantine work at border gates to ensure strict control while not causing undue inconvenience to businesses.

g) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministries of Fisheries and Agriculture and Rural Development to promptly gather information, meet, and negotiate with competent authorities of importing countries to resolve issues early, thereby minimizing difficulties and losses in the export of Vietnamese agricultural products.

h) The Ministry of Culture and Information shall guide mass media outlets to widely publicize food hygiene issues among the population.

i) Chairmen of provincial people's committees under the Central Government shall direct all levels of government and local functional agencies to widely publicize this Directive and related laws; direct the planning and implementation of safe food raw material areas; and regularly inspect compliance with legal provisions on food safety assurance and the implementation of this Directive within their jurisdiction.

This Directive replaces Governmental Directive No. 07/2002/CT-TTg dated February 25, 2002, and takes effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette./.