Circular No. 44/2010/TT-BNNPTNT stipulates conditions for intensive catfish farming facilities and areas to ensure food safety hygiene.

CIRCULAR

Article 24Prescribing conditions for intensive catfish farming facilities and areas to ensure food safety

Pursuant to Decree No. 01/2008/NĐ-CP dated January 3, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;
Pursuant to Decree No. 75/2009/NĐ-CP dated September 10, 2009 of the Government amending Article 3 of Decree No. 01/2008/NĐ-CP dated January 3, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;
Pursuant to Decree No. 59/2005/NĐ-CP dated May 4, 2005 of the Government prescribing conditions for production and business of certain aquatic industries;
Pursuant to Decree No. 33/2005/NĐ-CP dated March 15, 2005 of the Government detailing implementation of certain provisions of the Animal Health Ordinance;
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development prescribes conditions for intensive catfish farming facilities and areas to ensure food safety as follows:

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. Scope of regulation: This Circular stipulates conditions for intensive catfish farming facilities and areas to ensure food safety.

第二条 组织和实施奖励工作的支出水平，如政府第152/2025/NĐ-CP号决定关于分级授权和奖励领域的分权规定

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals related to intensive catfish farming in Vietnam.

Organizations and individuals engaged in extensive, improved extensive, and semi-intensive catfish farming are not subject to the regulations of this Circular.

3. Intensive catfish farming facilities must comply with general provisions in this Circular and when inspected according to Good Aquaculture Practices (GAP) processes (such as SQF, VietGAqP, GlobalGAP, etc.), they will be certified by competent authorities to meet corresponding levels.

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this Regulation, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. An intensive catfish farming facility (hereinafter referred to as a catfish farming facility) is a place where intensive catfish farming activities are carried out by an individual or organization.

2. Intensive catfish farming area (hereinafter referred to as a catfish farming area) is a region with one or more intensive catfish farming facilities with a minimum farming area of 30 hectares, using a shared water supply.

3. Intensive catfish farming to ensure food safety is a form of catfish farming that meets the conditions and standards set forth in Chapter II of this Circular.

Chapter II
CONDITIONS FOR FARMING FACILITIES AND AREAS

Article 3. General Conditions

1. Catfish farming facilities and areas must be located within planned regions and comply with local regulations on catfish farming. For small facilities outside planned regions and prior to the effective date of this Circular, catfish farming facilities must comply with local management and supervision regulations.

2. Catfish farming facilities must be numbered and registered according to the regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

3. The quality of the water supply must meet the requirements specified in Appendix 1 of this Circular.

Article 4. Conditions for infrastructure

1. Pond system

a) Ponds must have a minimum surface area of 3,000 square meters; depth from pond bottom to shore must be at least 3.0 meters; pond banks must be solid and leak-proof.²b) The pond bottom must not be seepage-prone, flat, and inclined at an angle of 8 degrees towards the outlet.

b) The bottom of the pond shall not leak, be flat, and have a slope of 8 degrees^° – 10^° inclined towards the drainage culvert.

c) The pond must have separate water supply and drainage culverts ensuring that there is no leakage.

c) Ponds must have separate intake and drainage structures that are solid and leak-proof.

2. Water treatment and waste disposal systems

a) Holding area (sedimentation): For water sources at risk of pollution, catfish farming facilities and areas must have a holding area (sedimentation) to treat water before it enters the ponds; the holding area must have solid banks and bottoms that are leak-proof and seepage-resistant.

b) Wastewater treatment system: It is encouraged for catfish farming facilities and areas to have a wastewater treatment area before discharging wastewater into the environment.

c) Sludge storage area: Catfish farming facilities and areas must have a sludge storage area capable of processing all sludge generated during farming and dredging before stocking; the sludge storage area must have retaining walls to prevent sludge and water from escaping into the surrounding environment.

3. Intake and drainage channel systems: Catfish farming facilities and areas must have separate, solid, and leak-proof intake and drainage channels, ensuring sufficient water supply and drainage when needed.

Article 5. Conditions regarding equipment, machinery, and specialized tools

Aquaculture facilities for pangasius must ensure the following production equipment and tools:

1. Equipment and tools to check certain environmental factors (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, BOD, COD, H_S, NH₃) and fishing gear for production.₂S, NH₃) and fishing gear for production purposes.

2. Water pumps shall ensure regular or necessary water supply and drainage for the breeding facility.

3. Oxygen supply equipment and sludge suction machines (bubblers) shall be equipped according to stocking density.

Article 6. Conditions regarding pangasius farming technology processes

1. Preparation of breeding ponds

a) Before stocking, aquaculture facilities must improve the pond bottom, treat solid waste, and eliminate potential disease-causing agents using appropriate measures to ensure pond environmental hygiene, with a minimum downtime of 01 month after each farming cycle.

b) Water supplied to the breeding ponds must be treated and filtered to remove pests and pathogens. The water quality during the pangasius farming process must meet the requirements set out in Appendix 1 of this Circular.

2. Selection and stocking of seedlings

a) Pangasius seedlings for commercial farming must have a clear origin and meet the quality requirements stipulated in Industry Standard 28 TCN 170 : 2001 Freshwater Fish - Seedlings of Various Species: Catfish, Pangasius, and Barb - Technical Requirements; they must also have a health inspection certificate from the relevant management authority.

b) Stocking density: 20 – 40 individuals/m²².

c) Seasonal timing for stocking: Must comply with the annual seasonal schedule of each locality.

3. Feed and feed supplements

a) Feed and feed supplements must be included in the list of products permitted for circulation in Vietnam.

b) In cases where the facility produces its own feed for pangasius, the feed quality must meet the requirements stipulated in Industry Standard 28 TCN 188 : 2004 Pelleted Mixed Feed for Pangasius and Barb.

4. Medicines, biological preparations, and products for treating and improving the aquaculture environment must be included in the list of products permitted for circulation in Vietnam.

5. Management and care

a) Pond water level: Maintain a water depth of 2.0 – 4.5 meters.

b) Pond environment: The aquaculture facility owner must regularly monitor environmental water quality indicators and pond bottom sediment according to Section I of Appendix 4 of this Circular.

c) Feeding: The daily feeding portion should be 3 – 5% of the fish's body weight, however, the farmer must monitor the fish's feed consumption rate to adjust the feeding portion appropriately; feeding frequency should be 1 – 2 times/day.

d) Effluent and solid waste

Effluent from pangasius breeding ponds must be treated before discharge to meet the water quality standards set out in Appendix 2 of this Circular.

Solid waste and pond bottom sediment must be placed in separate storage areas and not discharged into the surrounding environment without prior treatment.

e) Disease prevention for fish

Aquaculture facilities must develop and strictly implement health monitoring plans for farmed fish as outlined in Appendix 3 of this Circular.

People, tools, and equipment that come into direct contact with sediment and water when moving between ponds must be cleaned to prevent the spread of pathogens.

Diseased fish, dead fish, and waste from diseased ponds must be collected and treated promptly.

6. Requirements for harvesting products

Aquaculture facilities must cease using antibiotics and chemicals before harvesting fish in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Article 7. Personnel Conditions

Aquaculture facilities with a farming area under 5 hectares must have at least one person who has participated in training courses on intensive pangasius farming regulations ensuring food safety or in aquaculture responsibility training courses.

Aquaculture facilities with a farming area from 5 to 20 hectares must have at least one mid-level aquaculture officer.

Aquaculture facilities with a farming area over 20 hectares must have at least one aquaculture officer holding an engineering degree.

Article 8. Record Management Conditions

Aquaculture facilities must keep production activity records and maintain logs for pangasius farming operations according to the model set out in Section II of Appendix 4 of this Circular.

Chapter III
IMPLEMENTATION

Article 9. Responsibilities of Authorities

1. The General Department of Fisheries shall be responsible for guiding, supervising, and inspecting the implementation of this Circular throughout the country.

2. Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development shall be responsible for organizing and implementing this Circular within their respective provinces and cities.

Article 10. Effective Date

1. This Circular shall take effect forty-five days from the date of issuance.

2. This Circular replaces Decision No. 70/2008/QD-BNN dated June 5, 2008 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on the Issuance of the Regulation on Management of Intensive Pangasius Farming Areas and Facilities.

During the implementation of this Circular, if there are difficulties or obstacles, agencies, organizations, and individuals are requested to promptly report them to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for research and resolution.

 

ANNEX 1.

WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PANGASIUUS FARMING
(Annexed to Circular No. 44/2010/TT-BNNPTNT dated July 22, 2010 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development)

 

Spinibarbus caldwelli

WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENTS FOR DISCHARGED WATER FROM PANGASIUUS FARMING AFTER TREATMENT
(Annexed to Circular No. 44/2010/TT-BNNPTNT dated July 22, 2010 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development)

 

ANNEX 3:

GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPING HEALTH MONITORING PLANS FOR FARMED FISH
(Annexed to Circular No. 44/2010/TT-BNNPTNT dated July 22, 2010 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development)

Aquaculture facilities and areas must develop health monitoring plans for farmed fish to proactively monitor and respond to diseases affecting pangasius.

The contents of the health monitoring plan for farmed fish include:

1. Summary description of the farming process to be applied.

2. Pond renovation and preparation plan.

3. Selection of seed supply sources, quality testing techniques for seedlings, and timing for stocking.

4. Care plan: Selection of feed type; determination of feeding methods and feed consumption assessment methods to adjust feed portions.

5. Management Plan:

- Determination of pond observation times and fish activities.

- Prediction of health risks for fish, identification of causes, and specific response measures for each case.

- Determination of frequency of growth rate checks for farmed fish.

- Determination of frequency of environmental and disease indicator checks.

6. Harvesting Plan: Determination of harvesting time and method.

7. Recording and maintaining health monitoring logs for farmed fish.

During the implementation of the health monitoring plan for farmed fish, the facility owner should self-assess and adjust the plan to meet actual requirements.

 

ANNEX 4:

GUIDELINES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INSPECTION OF FISH FARM PONDS AND LOGGING
(Annexed to Circular No. 44/2010/TT-BNNPTNT dated July 22, 2010 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development)

I. Environmental Inspection of Fish Farm Ponds

1. Daily inspection of parameters: DO, water temperature, pH.

2. Bi-weekly inspection of parameters: BOD, COD, H₂S, NH₃ (encouraged to inspect weekly).

II. Log Contents

1. Information about seedlings: quantity, quality, health status, name and address of the seedling production facility.

2. Information about seasonal schedule, water quality, and health of farmed fish.

3. Information about feed: daily feed amount for each pond.

4. Information about drugs, biological products, environmental treatment and improvement products used, quantities used, reasons for use, application methods, usage dates, and post-use fish health changes.

5. Growth rate of fish: Monthly check of growth rate (length, weight) of fish.

6. Harvesting: cultivation period, fish size, yield, production volume, fish price, harvesting method, and product delivery.

7. Selling fish to whom, where.

8. Other necessary information.