Circular No. 37/2006/TT-BNN guides the conditions, procedures, and formalities for issuing, revoking, and reissuing veterinary practice certificates; and inspecting veterinary hygiene conditions for veterinary practice establishments.

CIRCULAR

Guidelines on conditions, procedures, and formalities for issuing, revoking, and reissuing veterinary practice certificates; inspection of veterinary hygiene conditions

for veterinary practice establishments

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development guides the conditions, procedures, and formalities for issuing, revoking, and reissuing veterinary practice certificates; inspection of veterinary hygiene conditions for veterinary practice establishments as follows:

----------------------------------

Pursuant to the Veterinary Law dated April 29, 2004;

Pursuant to Decree No. 33/2005/NĐ-CP dated March 15, 2005 of the Government detailing implementation of certain provisions of the Veterinary Law;

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development guides the conditions, procedures, and formalities for issuing, revoking, and reissuing veterinary practice certificates; inspection of veterinary hygiene conditions for veterinary practice establishments as follows:

Section 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

This Circular applies to units under the Ministry of Education and Training; departments of education and training, education and training divisions; preschool education institutions, general education institutions, regular education institutions, teacher training colleges, college of education, universities, universities, academies, other educational institutions, and related organizations and individuals (hereinafter referred to collectively as agencies and units).

1.1. This Circular applies to all scopes of practice specified in Article 52 of the Veterinary Law.

1.2. Vietnamese organizations and individuals, foreign organizations and individuals conducting activities related to veterinary practice within the territory of Vietnam must comply with the guidelines set forth in this Circular.

2. Explanation of terms

The terms used in this Circular are understood as follows:

2.1. Veterinary practice certificate refers to the document issued by competent state management agencies in the field of veterinary affairs to individuals who meet the conditions for veterinary practice as stipulated by law.

2.2. Services related to veterinary affairs refer to activities serving animal husbandry, growth, reproduction aimed at protecting and developing animals, ensuring food safety for consumers of animal products.

Section 2

CONDITIONS, PROCEDURES, AND FORMALITIES FOR ISSUING, EXTENDING

VETERINARY PRACTICE CERTIFICATES

3. Conditions for issuance of veterinary practice certificates

3.1. Educational qualifications:

In addition to the educational qualifications prescribed in Clause 1, Article 64 of Decree No. 33/2005/NĐ-CP dated March 15, 2005 of the Government detailing implementation of certain provisions of the Veterinary Law (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 33/2005/NĐ-CP), the educational qualifications prescribed in Points a and d, Clause 1, Article 64 of Decree No. 33/2005/NĐ-CP are detailed as follows:

a) For individuals practicing clinical diagnosis, prescribing, treating, and caring for animal health in mountainous, remote, and far-flung areas, a certificate of completion from a training course in veterinary science conducted by the Provincial Animal Health Service Office (hereinafter referred to as the Provincial Animal Health Service Office) or by foreign projects will be required.

b) For owners of retail stores selling veterinary drugs, biological preparations, microorganisms, chemicals used in veterinary practice (hereinafter collectively referred to as veterinary drugs), a bachelor's degree in animal husbandry or a certificate of intermediate-level veterinary science or animal husbandry veterinary science from authorized training institutions will be required.

3.2. Health conditions:

The health conditions for individuals practicing veterinary affairs shall be implemented according to the provisions of Clause 2, Article 64 of Decree No. 33/2005/NĐ-CP.

4. Procedures for issuing veterinary practice certificates

4.1. Competent state management agencies in the field of veterinary affairs, as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 65 of Decree No. 33/2005/NĐ-CP, shall issue veterinary practice certificates to individuals and organizations within ten days after receiving valid applications for veterinary practice certificates, following the procedure below:

a) Verify the conditions regarding educational qualifications, professional ethics, health, veterinary hygiene conditions of the establishment, equipment, tools, and instruments as prescribed for the scope of registered practice, and only issue veterinary practice certificates to individuals meeting all conditions stipulated by law on veterinary affairs;

b) For individuals practicing vaccination, castration, clinical diagnosis, prescribing, treating, and caring for mobile animals without a fixed establishment, their application for a veterinary practice certificate must include a list of necessary tools and materials for practice and pay the fee for issuing a veterinary practice certificate as prescribed in Decision No. 08/2005/QĐ-BTC dated January 20, 2005 of the Ministry of Finance on the collection, payment, management, and use of fees and charges in veterinary work;

c) In cases where individuals and organizations apply for veterinary practice certificates for laboratory testing, disease diagnosis, animal surgery; testing, trial, evaluation, production of veterinary drugs but have not yet established an establishment meeting the veterinary hygiene conditions as prescribed but need a certificate to complete business registration procedures, the competent authority issuing veterinary practice certificates shall verify the conditions regarding educational qualifications, health, and issue certificates to individuals meeting the conditions stipulated in Article 64 of Decree No. 33/2005/NĐ-CP.

4.2. Individuals and organizations granted veterinary practice certificates under Point 4.1 c, Clause 4, Section 2 of this Circular must commit in writing to report to the competent authority issuing veterinary practice certificates at least fifteen days before the establishment begins operations to be inspected for compliance with veterinary hygiene conditions.

5. Formalities for issuing veterinary practice certificates

5.1. The formalities for issuing veterinary practice certificates shall be carried out according to the provisions of Clauses 1 and 3, Article 65 of Decree No. 33/2005/NĐ-CP.

5.2. Applications for veterinary practice certificates shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Clause 3, Article 54 of the Veterinary Law and Clause 2, Article 65 of Decree No. 33/2005/NĐ-CP. Curriculum vitae and copies of educational qualifications shall be prepared as follows:

a) The curriculum vitae of the applicant for a veterinary practice certificate must be confirmed by the head of the unit where the person works or by the local government where the person resides;

b) Copies of diplomas or certificates of professional qualifications must be notarized. If original diplomas or certificates of professional qualifications are in a foreign language, they must be translated into Vietnamese.

5.3. Individuals and organizations applying for veterinary practice certificates for laboratory testing, disease diagnosis, animal surgery; production, trading, import/export, testing, trial, evaluation of veterinary drugs can only obtain such certificates at one establishment.

6. Duration and formalities for extending veterinary practice certificates

6.1. The validity period of veterinary practice certificates is five years from the date of issuance.

6.2. The extension of veterinary practice certificates shall be carried out according to the provisions of Clause 5, Article 65 of Decree No. 33/2005/NĐ-CP.

6.3. The competent authority issuing the veterinary practice certificate shall be responsible for inspecting the animal health hygiene conditions of the facility before extending the veterinary practice certificate.

Section 3

AUTHORITY, PROCEDURE FOR REVOCATION AND REISSUANCE

VETERINARY PRACTICE CERTIFICATES

7. Authority to revoke the veterinary practice certificate

The authority that issues the certificate has the power to revoke it.

8. Procedure for revoking the veterinary practice certificate

Upon discovering or being informed of violations requiring the revocation of the veterinary practice certificate as stipulated in Article 67 of Decree No. 33/2005/NĐ-CP, the Director of the Department of Animal Health, or the Provincial Animal Health Sub-department Head within their scope of functions, tasks, and powers, shall issue a decision to revoke the veterinary practice certificate and monitor the implementation of such decision.

9. Cases eligible for reissuance of the veterinary practice certificate

9.1. The veterinary practice certificate issued beyond the authority.

9.2. An individual who, after being confirmed by the competent authority, is no longer an object as prescribed in Article 66 and meets the conditions stipulated in Article 64 of Decree No. 33/2005/NĐ-CP.

10. Procedure and formalities for reissuing the veterinary practice certificate

10.1. Individuals or organizations requesting the reissuance of the veterinary practice certificate shall submit the application file to the competent authority as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 65 of Decree No. 33/2005/NĐ-CP.

10.2. The competent authority issuing the veterinary practice certificate shall implement the procedure and formalities for reissuance according to the guidance provided in Clause 4 and Clause 5, Section 2 of this Circular.

Section 4

INSPECTION OF ANIMAL HEALTH HYGIENE CONDITIONS
FOR VETERINARY PRACTICE FACILITIES

11. Authority and procedure for inspecting animal health hygiene conditions for veterinary practice facilities

11.1. Individuals or organizations practicing animal surgery, non-clinical diagnostic testing; producing, trading in export, import, testing, trial, and evaluation of veterinary drugs must ensure the animal health hygiene conditions of the facility as prescribed in Articles 16, 52, 54, and 55 of Decree No. 33/2005/NĐ-CP.

11.2. The competent authority issuing the veterinary practice certificate shall be responsible for inspecting the animal health hygiene conditions of the facility before issuing the veterinary practice certificate or before the facility commences operations as prescribed in Clause 4, Section 2 of this Circular.

11.3. Individuals or organizations subject to inspection of veterinary practice conditions must pay fees and charges as prescribed in Decision No. 08/2005/QĐ-BTC dated January 20, 2005 of the Ministry of Finance on the system of collection, payment, management, and use of fees and charges in animal health work.

11.4. Individuals or organizations must ensure compliance with animal health hygiene conditions for the veterinary practice facility throughout the operation period; if there is a violation, they will be penalized according to the laws on animal health and other relevant laws.

Section 5

IMPLEMENTATION

12. Responsibilities of competent authorities

The Department of Animal Health is responsible for guiding the model of the veterinary practice certificate.

The Department of Animal Health and the Provincial Animal Health Sub-department are responsible for organizing and implementing the issuance of the veterinary practice certificate according to the guidance provided in this Circular.

13. Effective date

This Circular shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette. Previous regulations contrary to this document are hereby abolished.

During implementation, if there are difficulties, organizations and individuals should report them to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for timely adjustment and supplementation./.