Circular No. 46/2014/TT-BYT guiding the quarantine procedures

CIRCULAR

HGuidelines for health quarantine procedures

__________________

 

Pursuant to Decree No. 103/2010/NĐ-CP dated October 1, 2010 of the Government detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases regarding health quarantine at border gates;

This Circular prescribes procedures for receiving, providing health care for domestic violence victims and statistical reports on domestic violence victims at medical facilities.

At the proposal of the Director of the Preventive Health Department;

The Minister of Health issues this Circular guiding the health quarantine procedures,

PART I

HEALTH QUARANTINE PROCEDURES AT LAND AND RAILWAY BORDER GATES

Section 1. HEALTH QUARANTINE PROCEDURES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES ENTERING, EXITING, AND TRANSITING

Article 1. Receiving and Processing Information

Health quarantine officers receive information about land and railway vehicles (hereinafter referred to as vehicles) entering, exiting, or transiting from the vehicle owners or relevant organizations, individuals, and proceed with processing the information and classifying the risk level of the vehicles as follows:

Clause 1. Vehicles with risk factors include:

Point a) Vehicles originating from or passing through epidemic areas;

Point b) Vehicles carrying sick persons or suspected cases of infectious diseases or carrying infectious disease agents;

Point c) Vehicles carrying goods suspected of carrying infectious disease agents;

Point d) Vehicles carrying people originating from or passing through epidemic areas or regions affected by radiation, chemicals, biological factors, and other elements that may cause emergencies affecting public health (hereinafter referred to as health risk factors);

Point đ) Vehicles carrying goods originating from or passing through epidemic areas or regions affected by health risk factors;

Point e) Vehicles with disease transmission vectors.

Clause 2. Vehicles without risk factors are those not falling under any of the circumstances stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article. In the case of vehicles without risk factors, health quarantine officers shall monitor the vehicles during the waiting period for entry, exit, or transit according to Article 2 of this Circular.

Clause 3. In the case of vehicles with risk factors, health quarantine officers shall conduct inspections according to Article 3 of this Circular.

Article 2. Monitoring Vehicles Without Risk Factors

1. Content of supervision:

Point a) Monitoring the entry of infectious disease transmission vectors onto the vehicle;

Point b) Monitoring the risk of contamination by health risk factors;

Point c) Monitoring the loading and unloading of goods;

Point d) Monitoring the supply of food for persons on board the vehicle.

Clause 2. During the monitoring process, health quarantine officers shall implement medical inspection measures as prescribed in Article 3 of this Circular if they discover that the vehicle falls under any of the following circumstances:

Point a) Vehicles with risk factors as defined in Clause 1 of Article 1 of this Circular;

Point b) Not meeting general hygiene conditions.

Clause 3. If the vehicle does not fall under any of the circumstances stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article, the health quarantine officer concludes the health quarantine procedure.

Article 3. Medical Inspection of Vehicles With Risk Factors

Clause 1. Health quarantine officers guide vehicles to enter the inspection area for isolation and perform the following inspection contents:

Point a) Inspecting the health declaration form for the vehicle;

Point b) Inspecting the overall hygiene condition on the vehicle;

Point c) Inspecting disease transmission vectors;

Point d) Inspecting health risk factors;

Point đ) Evaluating the effectiveness of applied medical measures;

Point e) Collecting samples for testing in cases where there is suspicion of Group A infectious disease agents or health risk factors.

Clause 2. Health quarantine officers transfer to medical treatment according to Article 4 of this Circular if the inspected vehicle falls under any of the following circumstances:

Point a) Originating from or passing through areas affected by Group A infectious diseases without undergoing medical treatment;

Point b) Carrying or showing signs of carrying Group A infectious disease agents, including: Carrying sick persons or persons carrying Group A infectious disease agents; Carrying goods carrying Group A infectious disease agents; Other cases where the vehicle carries or shows signs of carrying Group A infectious disease agents.

Point c) Being contaminated by health risk factors.

Clause 3. If the inspected vehicle does not fall under any of the circumstances stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article, the health quarantine officer concludes the health quarantine procedure and informs the border gate authority to process entry, exit, or transit formalities for the vehicle.

Article 4. Medical Treatment

1. For means of transport falling under one of the cases prescribed in Points a and b Clause 2 Article 3 of this Circular, disinfection measures and disease-causing agent eradication measures shall be applied.

2. For means of transport prescribed in Point c Clause 2 Article 3 of this Circular, risk factor elimination measures shall be applied.

3. After completing the medical treatment procedures prescribed in Clause 1 or Clause 2 of this Article, the health quarantine officer shall issue a medical treatment certificate and conclude the quarantine process.

Section 2. HEALTH QUARANTINE PROCEDURES FOR ARRIVING, DEPARTING AND TRANSIT PERSONS

Article 5. Information Reception and Processing

The health quarantine officer receives information on the health status of persons on the means of transport from the means of transport owner or relevant organizations, individuals, and processes the information, classifying risks for persons as follows:

1. Persons with risk factors include:

a) Persons departing from or passing through epidemic areas;

b) Persons departing from or passing through areas with health risk factors;

c) Persons traveling together with means of transport with risks as prescribed in Clause 1 Article 1 or goods with risks as prescribed in Clause 1 Article 9 of this Circular;

d) Persons suspected of being infected with infectious diseases or carrying disease-causing agents;

đ) Persons showing signs of exposure to health risk factors.

2. Persons without risk factors are those not falling under any of the cases prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article. In the case of persons without risk factors, the health quarantine officer shall proceed with supervision according to Article 6 of this Circular.

3. In the case of persons with risk factors, the health quarantine officer shall perform:

a) Collecting information:

- Health status of sick persons or those suspected of being infected and accompanying persons;

- Medical measures already applied to sick persons or those suspected of being infected;

- Number of close contacts, number of persons on the means of transport;

- Required medical measures.

b) Reporting to the head of the border health quarantine organization;

c) Conducting medical checks on persons with risk factors according to Article 7 of this Circular.

Article 6. Supervision for Persons Without Risk Factors

1. The health quarantine officer shall conduct supervision as follows:

a) Observing physical condition;

b) Monitoring body temperature.

2. During the supervision process, the health quarantine officer shall implement medical inspection measures as prescribed in Article 7 of this Circular if the person under supervision falls under the risk factors prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 5 of this Circular.

3. In the case where persons arriving, departing, or transiting do not fall under any of the cases prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 5, the health quarantine officer shall conclude the quarantine process.

Article 7. Medical Checks for Persons With Risk Factors

1. The health quarantine officer shall apply the following measures:

a) Checking the health declaration form as prescribed in Circular No. 32/2012/TT-BYT dated December 24, 2012, issued by the Ministry of Health regarding health declarations for persons arriving, departing, and transiting at Vietnamese ports of entry (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 32/2012/TT-BYT);

b) Checking international vaccination certificates or applying preventive measures (if available);

c) Observing physical condition;

d) Checking body temperature;

đ) Conducting clinical examinations for suspected cases of infectious diseases or carriers of disease-causing agents;

e) Evaluating the effectiveness of applied medical treatment measures;

g) Taking samples for testing in cases of suspected Group A infectious diseases.

2. The health quarantine officer shall proceed with medical treatment according to Article 8 of this Circular if the person being checked falls under any of the following cases:

a) Suspected of being infected with or carrying disease-causing agents of Group A infectious diseases;

b) Exposed to health risk factors;

c) Having contact with arriving persons falling under Points a and b of this Clause;

d) Not having or having expired international vaccination certificates or preventive measures applicable to persons departing from or arriving in epidemic areas where such vaccinations or measures are mandatory.

3. In the case where the person being checked does not fall under any of the cases prescribed in Clause 2 of this Article, the health quarantine officer shall conclude the health quarantine process and notify the port authority to process entry, departure, or transit formalities for that person.

Article 8. Medical Treatment

1. For individuals suspected of being infected with or carrying infectious disease agents classified under Group A, the medical quarantine officer shall implement the following contents:

a) Apply preventive measures to prevent the transmission of the disease;

b) Transfer to a quarantine room at the border area;

c) Conduct a preliminary examination, provide initial treatment, or transfer to a healthcare facility as prescribed.

2. For individuals exposed to health risk factors, in addition to implementing the provisions stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article, depending on the actual situation, the medical quarantine officer may apply additional disinfection and decontamination measures to eliminate health risk factors.

3. Individuals who have come into contact with incoming persons specified in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article, the medical quarantine officer shall prepare a complete list of information including name, phone number, and contact address for reporting to the competent authority as prescribed, while applying one or more of the following measures:

a) Apply preventive measures;

b) Use vaccines and medical products;

c) Promote and advise on disease prevention.

4. For individuals without or with expired international vaccination certificates or preventive measures, the medical quarantine officer shall carry out vaccination with medical products or apply appropriate preventive measures in accordance with regulations on preventing and controlling infectious diseases.

5. After completing the medical treatment procedures stipulated in Clauses 1, 2, or 3 of this Article, the medical quarantine officer shall issue an international vaccination certificate or apply preventive measures and conclude the quarantine process.

Section 3. PROCEDURE FOR MEDICAL QUARANTINE OF IMPORTED, EXPORTED, AND TRANSIT GOODS

Article 9. Receiving and Processing Information

The medical quarantine officer receives information about goods from the consignor or relevant organizations and individuals, and proceeds to process the information and classify the risk level of the goods as follows:

1. Goods with risk factors include:

a) Goods originating from or passing through areas affected by epidemics or health risk factors;

b) Goods carrying or showing signs of carrying infectious disease pathogens or vectors;

c) Goods transported by means of transport with risk factors;

d) Goods accompanying individuals with risk factors;

đ) Goods with notifications from competent authorities regarding the risk of disease spread.

2. Goods without risk factors are those not falling within any of the cases stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article. In the case of goods without risk factors, the medical quarantine officer shall conduct supervision and inspection of related health documents as prescribed in Article 10 of this Circular.

3. In the case of goods with risk factors, the medical quarantine officer shall be responsible for:

a) Collecting additional information on applied medical treatment measures and support needed;

b) Conducting health inspections of goods in accordance with Article 11 of this Circular.

Article 10. Supervision and Inspection of Health-related Documents for Goods Without Risk Factors

1. During the period when goods are waiting for import, export, and transit, the medical quarantine officer shall implement the following measures:

a) Inspect health declaration forms for goods, except for goods in transit that are not unloaded from the means of transport;

b) Monitor the entry of infectious disease vectors into goods;

c) Monitor other risk factors affecting health that may contaminate goods.

2. During the supervision process, if the medical quarantine officer discovers that the goods fall under any of the following circumstances, they shall implement health inspection measures as prescribed in Article 11 of this Circular:

a) Goods with risk factors as stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 9 of this Circular;

Point b) Not meeting general hygiene conditions.

3. In the case where goods do not fall under any of the circumstances stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article, the medical quarantine officer shall issue a certificate of inspection and conclude the quarantine process.

Article 11. Health inspection for goods with risk factors

1. For goods falling under the cases prescribed in Clause 1, Article 9 and Clause 2, Article 10 of this Circular, the health inspector shall guide the goods to be placed in the inspection area and conduct inspections on the following contents:

a) Inspect the health declaration form for goods, except where the goods have already been inspected according to the provisions of Point a, Clause 1, Article 10 of this Circular;

b) Inspect the declared content against the actual goods;

c) Inspect the general hygiene condition;

d) Inspect the intermediate carriers of infectious diseases or health risk factors;

đ) Inspect the regulations concerning containers, packaging, labeling, and transportation conditions for goods;

e) Evaluating the effectiveness of applied medical treatment measures;

g) Take samples for testing in cases prescribed in Clause 3, Article 13 of Decree No. 103/2010/NĐ-CP dated October 1, 2010 of the Government detailing a number of articles of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases regarding health quarantine at border gates.

2. The health inspector shall transfer the goods to health handling procedures as prescribed in Article 12 of this Circular if they fall under any of the following cases:

a) Goods carrying or showing signs of carrying infectious disease pathogens belonging to Group A;

b) Goods contaminated by health risk factors.

3. For goods not falling under any of the cases prescribed in Clause 2 of this Article, the health inspector shall issue a health inspection certificate and conclude the quarantine process.

Article 12. Health Handling of Goods

1. Goods carrying or showing signs of carrying infectious disease pathogens belonging to Group A must be handled as follows:

a) Disinfection, elimination of disease-causing agents and intermediate carriers of infectious diseases;

b) Compulsory destruction or re-exportation for goods that cannot eliminate disease-causing agents and intermediate carriers of infectious diseases.

2. For goods contaminated by health risk factors affecting health:

a) Removal of health risk factors affecting health;

b) Compulsory destruction or re-exportation for goods that cannot remove health risk factors affecting health.

3. After completing health handling as prescribed in Clause 1 or Clause 2 of this Article, the health inspector shall issue a health handling certificate for the goods and conclude the quarantine process.

Section 4. PROCEDURE FOR HEALTH QUARANTINE OF BODIES, REMAINS, AND CREMATED REMAINS IMPORTED, EXPORTED, AND TRANSIT

Article 13. Health Inspection

1. The health inspector shall apply the following health inspection measures:

a) The health inspector shall inspect the health declaration form for bodies, remains, and cremated remains;

b) Inspect the health treatment confirmation issued by the health organization at the place of origin;

c) Compare the health declaration content with the actual preservation of bodies, remains, and cremated remains in accordance with the law.

2. In cases where bodies, remains have a health treatment confirmation and ensure hygiene in embalming and transportation conditions as prescribed in Circular No. 02/2009/TT-BYT dated May 26, 2009 of the Minister of Health guiding hygiene in funeral and cremation activities (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 02/2009/TT-BYT) or cremated remains ensuring preservation and transportation conditions, the health inspector shall issue a health quarantine certificate for bodies, remains, and cremated remains and conclude the quarantine process.

3. In cases where bodies, remains do not have a health treatment confirmation or do not ensure hygiene in embalming and transportation conditions as prescribed in Circular No. 02/2009/TT-BYT or cremated remains do not ensure preservation and transportation conditions, health handling measures shall be applied as prescribed in Article 14 of this Circular.

Article 14. Medical Treatment Measures

1. Health quarantine officers shall apply medical treatment measures based on the results of actual inspections as follows:

a) Require persons transporting corpses, remains, or ashes across borders to implement hygiene measures during the embalming of corpses and remains in accordance with Circular No. 02/2009/TT-BYT before allowing transportation across borders;

b) Require persons transporting ashes across borders to comply with storage and transportation conditions for ashes as prescribed before allowing transportation across borders.

2. After completing the medical treatment measures stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article, health quarantine officers shall issue a health quarantine certificate for corpses, remains, and ashes.

Section 5. PROCEDURE FOR HEALTH QUARANTINE OF MEDICAL MICROORGANISMS SAMPLES, BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS, TISSUES, AND HUMAN ORGANS IMPORTED, EXPORTED, AND TRANSIT

Article 15. Health Inspection

1. The health inspector shall apply the following health inspection measures:

a) Inspect the health declaration form for medical microorganisms samples, biological products, tissues, and human organs;

b) Inspect the permit for transporting medical microorganisms samples, biological products, tissues, and human organs issued by the Minister of Health;

c) Compare the declared information with the storage and transportation conditions prescribed by the Minister of Health.

2. In cases where medical microorganisms samples, biological products, tissues, and human organs have a permit for cross-border transportation issued by the Minister of Health and meet the storage and transportation conditions, health quarantine officers shall issue a health quarantine certificate for medical microorganisms samples, biological products, tissues, and human organs and conclude the quarantine process.

3. In cases where medical microorganisms samples, biological products, tissues, and human organs do not meet the storage and transportation conditions, health quarantine officers shall handle them according to the provisions of Article 16 of this Circular.

4. Transportation of medical microorganisms samples, biological products, tissues, and human organs across borders will not be permitted without a permit from the Minister of Health.

Article 16. Medical Treatment Measures

1. Health quarantine officers shall apply appropriate storage and transportation measures based on the results of actual inspections before transporting medical microorganisms samples, biological products, tissues, and human organs across borders.

2. After completion, health quarantine officers shall issue a health quarantine certificate for medical microorganisms samples, biological products, tissues, and human organs.

3. Transportation of medical microorganisms samples, biological products, tissues, and human organs across borders will not be permitted if they still do not meet the requirements for storage and transportation even after medical treatment.

Chapter II

HEALTH QUARANTINE PROCEDURE AT AIRPORTS

Section 1. PROCEDURE FOR HEALTH QUARANTINE OF AIRCRAFT

Article 17. Reception and Processing of Information for Aircraft Arriving

Prior to landing, health quarantine officers shall receive information about the flight from the civil aviation authority, the chief flight attendant, the captain of the flight, air traffic control, or representatives of airlines, and process the information, classifying the risk level of the aircraft as follows:

1. Risk factors for the aircraft include:

a) The aircraft originates from or passes through an epidemic area;

b) The aircraft carries sick passengers or those suspected of being infected or carrying infectious disease agents;

c) The aircraft carries goods suspected of carrying infectious disease agents;

d) The aircraft carries passengers originating from or passing through an epidemic area or an area affected by health risk factors;

e) The aircraft carries goods originating from or passing through an epidemic area or an area affected by health risk factors;

f) The aircraft has been a vector for disease transmission.

2. Aircraft without risk factors are those that do not fall under any of the circumstances specified in Clause 1 of this Article. In such cases, health quarantine officers shall conduct surveillance and inspect relevant health-related documents as stipulated in Article 18 of this Circular.

3. In cases where the aircraft has risk factors, health quarantine officers shall be responsible for:

a) Collecting additional information on applied health measures and required support;

b) Conducting health inspections as prescribed in Article 19 of this Circular.

Article 18. Supervision and inspection of health-related documents for aircraft without risk factors

1. When the aircraft is parked, the medical quarantine officer shall implement the following measures:

a) Inspect the general aviation declaration in accordance with regulations;

b) Monitor the general hygiene conditions on the aircraft;

c) Monitor intermediate vectors of infectious diseases and other factors affecting health on the aircraft.

2. During supervision, if the medical quarantine officer discovers that the means of transport falls under any of the following cases, they shall be responsible for implementing health inspection measures as stipulated in Article 19 of this Circular:

a) The aircraft has risk factors as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 17 of this Circular;

Point b) Not meeting general hygiene conditions.

3. In cases where the aircraft does not fall under any of the circumstances specified in Clause 2 of this Article, the medical quarantine officer shall conclude the quarantine process.

Article 19. Health Inspection of Aircraft with Risk Factors

1. At the parking position, the medical quarantine officer shall implement the following measures:

a) Inspect the health declaration form for the aircraft;

b) Inspect the general hygiene condition on the aircraft;

Point c) Inspecting disease transmission vectors;

Point d) Inspecting health risk factors;

d) Take samples for testing in case there is suspicion of pathogenic agents causing Category A infectious diseases or health risk factors.

2. After conducting inspections as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article, if the medical quarantine officer discovers that the means of transport falls under any of the following cases, they shall be responsible for implementing health treatment measures as stipulated in Article 20 of this Circular:

Point a) Originating from or passing through areas affected by Group A infectious diseases without undergoing medical treatment;

b) Carrying or showing signs of carrying pathogens of Category A infectious diseases, including: Carrying sick persons or persons carrying pathogens of Category A infectious diseases; Carrying goods carrying pathogens of Category A infectious diseases; Other cases where the means of transport carries or shows signs of carrying pathogens of Category A infectious diseases;

Point c) Being contaminated by health risk factors.

3. In cases where the aircraft does not fall under any of the circumstances specified in Clause 2 of this Article, the medical quarantine officer shall issue a health inspection certificate and conclude the quarantine process.

Article 20. Health Treatment of Aircraft

1. For aircraft falling under any of the cases specified in Points a or b, Clause 2, Article 19 of this Circular, disinfection and eradication of disease-causing agents and intermediate vectors of infectious diseases shall be applied.

2. For aircraft specified in Point c, Clause 2, Article 19 of this Circular, measures to remove risk factors shall be applied.

3. After completing health treatment as stipulated in Clauses 1 or 2 of this Article, the medical quarantine officer shall issue a health treatment certificate and conclude the quarantine process.

Article 21. Health Quarantine of Departing, Transiting, and Port-Changing Aircraft

1. During the time the aircraft is parked at the airport awaiting departure, transit, or port change, the medical quarantine officer shall conduct supervision as follows:

a) Monitor the entry of intermediate vectors of infectious diseases or other health risk factors into the aircraft;

b) Monitor the supply of food, loading or unloading of goods onto the aircraft.

2. During supervision, if the medical quarantine officer discovers that the aircraft falls under any of the circumstances specified in Clause 2 of Article 19 of this Circular or additional loading or unloading of goods occurs, they shall be responsible for implementing health inspection and treatment measures as for inbound aircraft.

3. If the aircraft does not fall under any of the circumstances specified in Clause 2 of this Article, the medical quarantine officer shall conclude the quarantine process.

Section 2. PROCEDURE FOR HEALTH SCREENING OF ARRIVING, DEPARTING, AND TRANSIT PERSONS

Article 22. Reception and Processing of Information for Arriving, Departing, and Transit Persons via Air Transport

When the aircraft has not yet landed or is waiting to depart or transit, the medical quarantine officer receives health information about passengers and crew from the civil aviation port authority, the flight attendant chief or the captain of the flight, or air traffic control, representatives of airlines, and processes the information, classifying the risk level for arriving, departing, and transit persons via air transport according to the provisions of Article 5 of this Circular.

Article 23. Health Surveillance, Inspection, and Medical Treatment for Arriving, Departing, and Transit Persons via Air Transport

1. Health surveillance and inspection for arriving, departing, and transit persons via air transport shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Articles 6 and 7 of this Circular.

2. Medical treatment for arriving, departing, and transit persons via air transport, which fall under the scope defined in Clause 2 of Article 7 of this Circular, shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of Article 8 of this Circular.

Section 3. PROCEDURE FOR HEALTH SCREENING OF GOODS, CORPSES, REMAINS, CREMATED REMAINS, MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY SAMPLES, BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS, TISSUES, AND BODY PARTS

Article 24. Health Screening of Imported, Exported, and Transiting Goods at Airports

Health screening of imported, exported, and transiting goods at airports shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of Chapter I of this Circular.

Article 25. Health Screening of Corpses, Remains, Cremated Remains, Medical Microbiology Samples, Tissues, and Body Parts at Airports

Health screening of corpses, remains, cremated remains, medical microbiology samples, tissues, and body parts at airports shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Sections 4 and 5 of Chapter I of this Circular.

Chapter III

HEALTH SCREENING PROCEDURES AT SEAPORTS

Section 1. PROCEDURE FOR HEALTH SCREENING OF ARRIVING VESSELS

Article 26. Reception and Processing of Information for Arriving Vessels

When the vessel has not yet docked, the medical quarantine officer receives information about the vessel from the maritime port authority, the ship's captain, or through a shipping agent, the vessel owner, and processes the information, classifying the risk level for the vessel as follows:

1. Risk vessels include:

a) Vessels departing from or passing through epidemic areas;

b) Vessels carrying sick persons or suspected disease patients or carriers of infectious disease agents;

c) Vessels carrying goods that may carry infectious disease agents or suspected to carry infectious disease agents;

d) Vessels carrying people departing from or passing through epidemic areas or regions affected by health risks;

đ) Vessels carrying goods departing from or passing through epidemic areas or regions affected by health risks;

e) Vessels with potential vectors of disease transmission.

2. Non-risk vessels are those not falling within any of the cases stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article. In the case of non-risk vessels, the medical quarantine officer shall conduct supervision and check relevant health-related documents in accordance with the provisions of Article 27 of this Circular.

3. In the case of risk vessels, the medical quarantine officer shall perform the following actions:

a) Collect additional information on applied health measures and required support.

b) Conduct health inspections in accordance with the provisions of Article 28 of this Circular.

Article 27. Supervision and inspection of health-related documents for vessels without risk factors

1. When vessels arrive at the inspection location, the medical inspector boards the vessel and implements the following measures:

a) Inspect the maritime health declaration form; certificate of exemption from sanitary treatment or proof that the vessel has undergone sanitary treatment;

b) Monitor intermediate vectors of infectious diseases;

c) Monitor health risks caused by risk factors;

d) Monitor cargo loading and unloading activities;

đ) Monitor water and food supplies provided to persons on board the vessel.

2. After implementing the measures prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article, the medical inspector shall apply the health inspection measures as stipulated in Article 28 of this Circular if the vessel falls under any of the following circumstances:

a) The vessel has risk factors as defined in Clause 1 of Article 26 of this Circular;

Point b) Not meeting general hygiene conditions.

3. In cases where the vessel does not fall under any of the circumstances specified in Clause 2 of this Article, the medical inspector shall issue a health inspection certificate for imported and exported goods and vessels according to the model attached as Appendix 1 to this Circular and conclude the quarantine process.

Article 28. Health Inspection for Vessels with Risk Factors

1. When vessels arrive at the inspection location, the medical inspector shall be responsible for:

a) Inspecting the maritime health declaration form; certificate of exemption from sanitary treatment or proof that the vessel has undergone sanitary treatment, except when the vessel has already been inspected according to Point a of Clause 1 of Article 27 of this Circular;

b) Inspecting general hygiene conditions on the vessel;

c) Inspecting ballast water hygiene;

d) Inspecting and monitoring intermediate vectors of infectious diseases and other factors that may affect health on the vessel;

đ) Evaluating the effectiveness of applied health measures;

e) Taking samples for testing in cases where there is suspicion of Group A pathogenic agents or other health-risk factors on the vessel;

g) Preparing a health inspection report for the vessel according to the model attached as Appendix 2 to this Circular.

2. If the vessel falls under any of the following circumstances, the medical inspector shall proceed to apply health treatment measures as stipulated in Article 29 of this Circular:

Point a) Originating from or passing through areas affected by Group A infectious diseases without undergoing medical treatment;

Point b) Carrying or showing signs of carrying Group A infectious disease agents, including: Carrying sick persons or persons carrying Group A infectious disease agents; Carrying goods carrying Group A infectious disease agents; Other cases where the vehicle carries or shows signs of carrying Group A infectious disease agents.

Point c) Being contaminated by health risk factors.

3. In cases where the vessel does not fall under any of the circumstances specified in Clause 2 of this Article, the medical inspector shall perform the following actions:

a) Issue a certificate of exemption from sanitary treatment for the vessel or a certificate of sanitary treatment for the vessel without a certificate of exemption from sanitary treatment or for the vessel with a certificate of exemption from sanitary treatment that is no longer valid;

b) Issue a health inspection certificate for imported and exported goods and vessels.

Article 29. Health Treatment for Vessels

1. Based on the results of the health inspection, the vessel must undergo health treatment using one or more of the following measures:

a) Apply sanitary treatment measures for the vessel;

b) Apply measures to eliminate pathogens and intermediate vectors of infectious diseases on the vessel;

c) Apply measures to remove health-risk factors;

d) Guide the removal and destruction of solid waste, human and animal waste on the vessel;

đ) Treat potable water and ballast water.

2. After implementing the health treatment measures as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article, issue a Sanitary Treatment Certificate for the vessel and conclude the quarantine process.

Article 30. Health quarantine for outbound, transit, and port-changing vessels

1. During the time vessels are moored at the port, health inspectors shall perform the following tasks:

a) Monitor intermediaries of infectious diseases or other health risk factors that may enter the vessel;

b) Monitor the discharge of ballast water and infectious waste from the vessel;

c) Monitor the supply of water and food, as well as the loading or unloading of goods onto the vessel.

2. During the monitoring process, if the health inspector discovers that the means of transport falls under any of the following circumstances, they shall implement the contents prescribed in Articles 28 and 29 of this Circular:

a) There is an intermediary of Group A infectious diseases;

b) There are health risk factors entering the vessel;

c) Ballast water is being discharged;

d) Unsafe water and food are being supplied.

3. In cases where the means of transport does not fall under any of the circumstances stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article, issue certificates of inspection for imported and exported goods, vessels, and health quarantine certificates for port-changing vessels according to the model prescribed in Appendix 3 attached to this Circular.

Section 2. PROCEDURE FOR HEALTH QUARANTINE OF PERSONS ENTERING, EXITING, TRANSITING, AND PORT-CHANGING

Article 31. Reception and Processing of Information on Persons Entering the Country

When the vessel has not yet docked at the port or is waiting to exit, transit, or change ports, the health inspector shall receive information about the health status of passengers and crew members from the maritime port authority, the ship's captain, or the ship's doctor, or through a shipping agent, and classify the health risks of individuals according to the provisions of Article 5 of this Circular.

Article 32. Medical Examination of Non-Risk Individuals and Risk Individuals

The medical examination of non-risk individuals and risk individuals shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Articles 6 and 7 of this Circular.

Section 3. PROCEDURE FOR HEALTH QUARANTINE OF GOODS, CORPSES, REMAINS, CREMATED REMAINS, MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY SAMPLES, BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS, TISSUES, AND HUMAN ORGANS AT SEAPORTS

Article 33. Health Quarantine of Imported, Exported, and Transiting Goods at Seaports

The health quarantine of imported, exported, and transiting goods at seaports shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section 3, Chapter I of this Circular.

Article 34. Health Quarantine of Corpses, Remains, Cremated Remains, Medical Microbiology Samples, Tissues, and Human Organs at Seaports

The health quarantine of corpses, remains, cremated remains, medical microbiology samples, tissues, and human organs at seaports shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Sections 4 and 5, Chapter I of this Circular.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 35. References

In cases where the referenced documents in this Circular are replaced or amended, they shall be applied according to the replacing or amending documents.

Article 36. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The Preventive Medicine Department, Ministry of Health:

a) Direct and guide the implementation of this Circular nationwide;

b) Organize inspections and supervision of the implementation of health quarantine procedures across the country;

c) Organize mid-term and final reviews of the implementation of this Circular across the country on a regular basis.

2. Responsibilities of the Institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Pasteur Institutes:

a) Direct and guide the implementation of health quarantine procedures at all levels within their areas of responsibility;

b) Organize inspections, supervision, and evaluation of the implementation of health quarantine procedures at units within their areas of responsibility.

3. Provincial Departments of Health in cities directly under the Central Government where there are ports have the following responsibilities:

a) Direct and guide health units under their management to implement health quarantine procedures;

b) Organize inspections, supervision, and urging the implementation of health quarantine procedures.

4. International Health Quarantine Centers and Provincial Centers for Preventive Medicine in cities directly under the Central Government that conduct health quarantine have the following responsibilities:

a) Organize the implementation of health quarantine procedures within their jurisdiction. Direct, guide, and supervise quarantine units at ports to implement health quarantine procedures;

b) Promote and guide the implementation of this Circular;

c) Coordinate with animal quarantine agencies or plant quarantine agencies at ports to jointly carry out health quarantine and medical treatment of animals, animal products, plants, and plant products;

d) Implement reporting on health quarantine activities as prescribed.

Article 37. Effective date.

This Circular shall take effect from January 20, 2015.

During the implementation process, if any issues arise, units shall promptly report to the Preventive Medicine Department of the Ministry of Health for study and resolution./.