Decision No. 53/2008/QD-BNN on strictly prohibiting the act of injecting water and moisture-retaining additives into frozen fresh fish products for commercial fraud

Pursuant to …;

On prohibiting the act of adding water and moisture-retaining additives to frozen fresh fish products for the purpose of commercial fraud

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Pursuant to Decree No. 01/2008/ND-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. 128/2005/NĐ-CP dated October 11, 2005 of the Government on administrative violations in the fisheries sector;

Pursuant to Decree No. 154/2006/NĐ-CP dated December 25, 2006 of the Government amending and supplementing Article 17 of Decree No. 128/2005/NĐ-CP;

Pursuant to Directive No. 06/2007/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister dated March 28, 2007 on implementing urgent measures to ensure food safety;

Considering the proposal of the Director of the Directorate of Quality Assurance for Forestry, Agriculture and Fisheries Products,

DECISION:

Article 1. Prohibits the act of adding water and moisture-retaining additives (injecting, soaking, marinating with phosphate and non-phosphate substances) into frozen fresh fish products for the purpose of commercial fraud regarding weight and strictly handle according to current laws.

Article 2. Enterprises that have installed liquid injection equipment and moisture-retaining additives in their processing workshops for frozen fresh fish products must report and explain to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Directorate of Quality Assurance for Forestry, Agriculture and Fisheries Products) about the reasons and purposes of using such equipment before May 25, 2008.

Article 3. Entrusts the Directorate of Quality Assurance for Forestry, Agriculture and Fisheries Products to take the lead and coordinate with the Inspectorate of the Ministry and related agencies:

1. To organize inspections to detect violations as stipulated in Article 1 of this Decision at enterprises processing frozen fresh fish products (especially those processing tra and basa fish). In case equipment for injecting and soaking liquids and moisture-retaining additives is found in the processing workshops of frozen fresh fish products and the enterprise cannot fully explain the reasons and purposes of using such equipment according to the HACCP process, then revoke the decision recognizing the facility as meeting food safety standards, and simultaneously suspend the issuance of export certificates for frozen fresh fish products from the enterprise to markets requiring certificates from the Directorate until the enterprise completes the removal of the equipment.

2. To inspect the levels of moisture-retaining additives (phosphate and non-phosphate substances) in frozen fresh fish products (especially tra and basa fish). If the levels of moisture-retaining substances exceed the limits set out in Decision No. 3742/2001/QĐ-BYT dated August 31, 2001 of the Ministry of Health and the regulations of importing countries (for exported goods), then handle the violation according to Article 1 of Decree No. 154/2006/NĐ-CP dated December 25, 2006 of the Government and other relevant laws.

3. To announce on industry information channels the enterprises violating the provisions of Articles 1 and 3 of this Decision.

Article 4. The Standard Measurement Quality Control Department shall be responsible for organizing and guiding the implementation of the Regulations adopted herein.

Article 5. The Heads of the Office of the Ministry, the Director of the Directorate of Quality Assurance for Forestry, Agriculture and Fisheries Products, the Heads of units under the Ministry, and enterprises processing and trading in aquatic products are responsible for implementing this Decision. /./