Decision No. 54/2001/QĐ-BNN/TY On Issuing Regulations on Prevention and Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Livestock

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the issuance of regulations on preventing and controlling foot-and-mouth disease in livestock

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MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Pursuant to Decree No. 73/CP dated November 1, 1995 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

Pursuant to the Veterinary Law issued on February 15, 1993, and Decree No. 93/CP dated November 27, 1993 guiding the implementation of the Veterinary Law;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Animal Health.

DECISION:

Article 1. Now promulgates the "Regulations on Preventing and Controlling Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Livestock".

Article 2. The Director of the Department of Animal Health shall be responsible for providing detailed guidance on the implementation of these regulations.

Article 3These regulations shall take effect 15 days from the date of signature.

Article 4. The Head of the Ministry's Office, the Director of the Department of Animal Health, the Heads of relevant units, and the Directors of Provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development are responsible for implementing these regulations./.

REGULATIONS

On preventing and controlling foot-and-mouth disease in livestock

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(Issued pursuant to Decision No. 54/2001/QĐ-BNN-TY dated May 11, 2001 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development)

 General characteristics of foot-and-mouth disease in livestock

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. 1. Foot-and-mouth disease in livestock (abbreviated as FMD) is the most rapidly spreading infectious disease, caused by seven types of viruses: A, O, C, Asia1, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, with over 60 subtypes.

In Southeast Asia, types O, A, and Asia1 are commonly found, while type C is also present in the Philippines. In Vietnam, types O, A, and Asia1 have been detected, but type O is the most frequently encountered.

The disease spreads between countries through border crossings via the transport of live animals and animal products in fresh form (including frozen meat, smoked meat, hides, bones, horns, hooves, milk, etc.).

2. Animals affected by FMD include even-toed ungulates such as cattle, buffalo, pigs, goats, sheep, deer, etc.

The incubation period typically ranges from 2 to 5 days, with a maximum of 21 days. When symptoms appear, the affected animals experience high fever above 40°C, reduced appetite or loss of appetite, excessive salivation from the mouth. Vesicles appear on the gums, tongue, nostrils, hoof edges, and interdigital spaces. Vesicle rupture leads to oral ulcers and easy hoof shedding, particularly in pigs.

After the onset of illness, it takes 10 to 15 days for the animal to recover, but infected livestock can still carry the virus for months, sometimes even years.

There is currently no specific treatment for the disease, only vaccines for prevention. FMD is ranked first in List A by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), which includes the most dangerous infectious diseases for livestock and trade restrictions on animals, animal products, and agricultural products in general.

3. The FMD virus is easily destroyed by sunlight, high temperatures (such as boiling at 100°C), highly acidic substances (pH < 3), and strong alkaline substances like caustic soda (pH > 9). The virus can survive for several days in organic matter in animal pens and in slightly alkaline substances (pH from 7.2 to 7.8). In frozen meat, the virus can persist for many months.

Responsibilities for Implementation.

Article 2. 1. Organizations and individuals involved in breeding, buying, slaughtering, transporting animals and animal products susceptible to FMD in areas affected by FMD, areas threatened by FMD, or passing through FMD-affected areas must comply with these regulations.

2. The Animal Health Authority is responsible for guiding localities in applying technical measures to prevent the spread of the disease and control FMD outbreaks.

3. People's Committees at all levels are responsible for organizing the implementation of preventive and control work against FMD and providing funding to support disease control efforts.

Prohibitions.

Article 3. Strictly prohibited is the arbitrary sale, slaughter, disposal, or abandonment of carcasses, organs, products, and waste from animals that are sick, suspected of being sick, or suspected of being infected with FMD.

PREVENTION OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE IN LIVESTOCK

 Chapter II

DEPARTMENT FOR THE PREVENTION OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN LIVESTOCK

Article 4. Vaccination Regulations

The animal owners must compulsorily vaccinate livestock against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in accordance with Article 10 of the Veterinary Ordinance, Decision 1242 NN-TY/QD and Decision 1243 NN-TY/QD issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on July 24, 1996.

Article 5. In infected areas

1. Prohibit buying and selling animals or animal products in infected areas.

2. Prohibit grazing livestock in pastures or grasslands within infected areas. Do not hire or borrow cattle, buffalo, or pig breeding stock from infected areas for local use.

3. Prohibit transporting animals and animal products, livestock feed, and farming tools (shovels, spades, feeding troughs, drinking troughs, etc.) out of infected areas.

4. Prohibit organizing exhibitions, tours, meetings, or coming into contact with diseased animals or carcasses at the source of infection, or participating in slaughtering without permission from the competent veterinary authority.

5. For cattle and buffalo that have recovered clinically within two years, they shall not be transported out of the infected area except when sent for slaughter according to the guidance of the veterinary authority.

Article 6. For veterinary agencies

1. Have the responsibility to propose plans to organize disease prevention and treatment, protect the health of livestock herds, and strictly control the export, import, and slaughter of livestock in the locality.

2. When detecting livestock showing signs of suspected FMD, immediately report to the higher-level veterinary agency and local authorities, and simultaneously guide the implementation of technical measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

3. Strictly manage the sale, slaughter, and trade of animals and animal products. Mobilize organizations and individuals involved in animal and animal product trading to commit to the People's Committee of the commune or ward regarding strict compliance with regulations on preventing and controlling FMD.

4. Continuously disseminate and publicize knowledge about FMD and preventive measures to the people.

5. Organize vaccination for livestock in surrounding areas around the source of infection, along major transportation routes, and places where livestock are concentrated for sale and slaughter.

Article 7. For provinces bordering other countries

When FMD occurs in border areas adjacent to Vietnam, the Animal Health Sub-department must report to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Provincial People's Committee, and the Animal Health Department while implementing urgent measures to prevent the spread of the disease:

1. Cease the transport of animals and animal products across the border into Vietnam under any form.

2. Disinfect transportation vehicles before entering Vietnamese territory at border gates.

3. Closely coordinate with Border Guard Forces, Police, Customs, and Market Management Authorities to monitor and handle illegal entry of livestock and livestock products along the border.

4. Propose to competent authorities to issue decisions establishing temporary quarantine checkpoints at important transportation hubs.

Chapter III

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE CONTROL IN LIVESTOCK

Article 8. Conditions for declaring an outbreak

When an FMD outbreak occurs, the Animal Health Sub-department must promptly identify and report in writing to the Animal Health Department and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and simultaneously request the Provincial People's Committee to declare an outbreak with the following conditions:

1. The disease is currently occurring in livestock and has a tendency to spread widely.

2. There is a written report from the People's Committee of the district, city district, or provincial city on the development of the epidemic situation.

3. There is a conclusive diagnosis of the disease by the Central Veterinary Diagnostic Center, Regional Veterinary Center, or Provincial Animal Health Sub-department.

Article 9. Quarantine zones and control of animal transportation

In areas affected by disease, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall direct the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Animal Health Service to perform the following specific tasks:

1. Identify villages, communes, districts with disease to delineate the disease zone and establish checkpoints (with guards on duty 24/7), with signs and traffic guidance; prohibit the movement of animals and their products out of the disease zone. At these checkpoints, there must be means and disinfectants to process all entities leaving the disease area.

2. Strictly prohibit activities related to trading in animals, animal products, and private veterinary treatment within the affected area.

Article 10. Regulations on slaughtering animals suspected of being infected with LMLM disease.

1. The slaughtering of animals infected or suspected of being infected with LMLM disease shall be carried out as follows:

a). Slaughterhouses and slaughter points must be designated by the Provincial or City Animal Health Service, and at these locations, full veterinary hygiene measures must be implemented as required for disease-affected areas.

b). Transportation vehicles must ensure that no waste is spilled along the route.

c). Wastewater generated during the slaughtering process must be disinfected according to Article 11.

d). The slaughtering site and waste materials must be disinfected.

e). Animal meat must be boiled thoroughly in small pieces of 2 kg each. Offal, other products, and waste must be processed according to Article 11.

2. The Animal Health Service is responsible for supervising and inspecting the transportation, slaughtering of animals, and the processing and disinfection procedures mentioned in this article.

Article 11. Destruction of Animals Infected with LMLM Disease

1. The destruction of infected animals must be carried out according to the following regulations:

a). For cattle and buffalo: If the number of infected cattle and buffalo is few, from 1 to 10, they should be destroyed. In cases where there are many infected cattle and buffalo, they must be isolated within the household premises without grazing in common pastures or roaming freely.

b). For pigs, deer, and elk: Destroy all infected animals.

2. The bedding material and waste must be burned or treated with disinfectant chemicals. Afterward, bury them at least 1 meter deep underground. The process of handling carcasses of animals that died from LMLM disease must be supervised and certified by the veterinary authority as stipulated in Clause 2 - Article 25 of the Animal Disease Prevention Regulation.

3. Responsibilities of the Veterinary Authority and animal owners:

a). The Animal Health Service proposes the provincial People's Committee to issue a decision on the disposal of diseased animals.

b). The Animal Health Service is responsible for guiding the technical disposal of diseased animals for the local veterinary staff to implement.

c). Animal owners have the responsibility to carry out the disposal of animals infected with LMLM disease according to the guidance of the veterinarian.

Article 12. Sanitation, Disinfection, and Sterilization

1. Livestock housing, breeding equipment, grazing areas, transportation means, slaughter sites, and places where dead animals are located must be sanitized, disinfected, and sterilized according to Article 26 of the Animal Disease Prevention Regulation.

2. Chemicals used for sanitation, disinfection, and sterilization include:

Sodium hydroxide 1-2%, Formaldehyde 1-2%, Prophyl 0.5%, IODA VIC, Biodine 0.333%, Lindores 0.42%, Halamid 0.5%, Antec 1%... Lime powder should be spread at village entrances and livestock housing areas.

Article 13. Compulsory Vaccination

1. Vaccination targets: cattle, buffalo, goats, sheep, and pigs in threatened or high-risk areas for disease recurrence, and export breeding areas must be vaccinated.

2. Vaccination area: Vaccinate the peripheral areas, not directly within the disease zone.

3. Vaccination time:

a). Emergency vaccination when a disease outbreak occurs.

b). Annual routine vaccination and vaccination methods according to the guidance of the General Bureau of Animal Health.

Article 14. Conditions and procedures for lifting the declaration of an outbreak

1. Conditions for lifting the decision to declare an outbreak:

a). All susceptible animals in the protective zone have been vaccinated 21 days after the last vaccination;

b). No new cases of sick or dead animals due to Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) have occurred 21 days after the death or recovery of the last affected animal or compulsory slaughter;

c). Comprehensive disinfection and cleaning of the entire outbreak site has been completed, meeting the veterinary hygiene requirements set by the local veterinary authority.

2. Procedures for lifting the decision to declare an outbreak:

a). The Director of the Veterinary Sub-Department and the Director of the Regional Veterinary Center, upon inspection and finding that all conditions specified in Clause 1 of this Article are met, shall report to the Department Director, who, upon agreement, shall propose to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to consider and issue a decision to lift the declaration of the outbreak.

b). The Department Director of Veterinary Services shall propose the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to issue a decision to lift the declaration of the outbreak for cases declared by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Article 15. Reporting Requirements for Outbreaks

1. Local veterinary officers, private veterinarians, and pet owners must immediately report suspected cases of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in livestock to the District Veterinary Station, and simultaneously request local authorities to strictly manage the sick animals to prevent their sale or unauthorized slaughter.

2. Upon receiving reports from the District Veterinary Station, the Veterinary Sub-Department must:

a). Immediately report to the Department and the Regional Veterinary Center under its jurisdiction;

b). Immediately report to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Provincial People's Committee to propose timely preventive measures;

c). During the outbreak period, report every seven days until the end of the outbreak according to the format prescribed by the Department of Veterinary Services;

d). After the decision to lift the declaration of the outbreak is issued, submit a summary report on the outbreak.

Chapter IV

SANCTIONS AND REWARDS

Article 16. Organizations and individuals violating these provisions shall be subject not only to administrative penalties under veterinary regulations but also to compensation as stipulated by law.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 17.

This regulation takes effect from the date of signature. Previous disease control documents conflicting with this regulation are hereby abolished.

The Director of the Department of Veterinary Services, within the scope of his functions, duties, and powers, is responsible for directing, organizing the implementation, guiding, inspecting, and enforcing this regulation, and regularly reporting to the Ministry.