Circular No. 66/2025/TT-BNNMT stipulates the breeding of other animals listed in the Catalogue of Permitted Breeding Animals and the Traceability of Breeding Products

Pursuant to Decree No. 35/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 25, 2025 of the Government on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

Pursuant to the Livestock Law dated November 19, 2018;

Pursuant to the Law on Product Quality and Goods dated November 21, 2007; and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Product Quality and Goods dated June 18, 2025;

Pursuant to the Food Safety Law dated June 17, 2010;

Pursuant to Decree No. 13/2020/ND-CP dated January 21, 2020 of the Government guiding the Livestock Law; and Decree No. 46/2022/ND-CP dated July 13, 2022 of the Government amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 13/2020/ND-CP dated January 21, 2020 of the Government guiding the Livestock Law;

At the proposal of the Director of the Livestock Production and Animal Health Department;

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development issues this Circular prescribing regulations on raising other animals listed in the Catalogue of Animals Permitted for Raising and Traceability of Animal Products.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular provides detailed guidance on the Livestock Law regarding management of raising other animals listed in the Catalogue of Animals Permitted for Raising and Traceability of Animal Products as prescribed by law.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals within Vietnam, foreign organizations and individuals involved in raising activities; traceability of animal products in Vietnam.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Catalogue of Animals Permitted for Raisingincludes red earthworms(Perionyx excavatus),black soldier flies(Hermetia illucens),crickets(Acheta domesticus),scorpions(Arachnida),wild ducks(Anas poecilorhyncha haringtoni),dragon lizards(Leiolepis belliana),silkworms(Bombyx Mori).

2. Substraterefers to the raw material on which red earthworms, crickets, and black soldier flies live.

3. Traceability of Animal Productsrefers to the activity of monitoring, supervising, and identifying a unit of animal product over time and location through each stage of the supply chain.

4. Data Carrier for Traceabilityrefers to means or objects containing data or links to data of products and goods (including but not limited to: labels, stickers, cards, and other suitable objects), ensuring that the device can read the data; the data can be verified.

5. Readable Devicerefers to technological means such as barcode scanners, RFID readers, smartphones, scanning cameras, and other devices capable of receiving and decoding data stored on the data carrier.

6. Traceability Datarefers to data from different parts and processes within the defined scope of traceability. Traceability data includes but is not limited to: quality and safety data of the product and basic data.

Chapter II

MANAGEMENT OF OTHER ANIMALS IN THE CATALOGUE

OTHER ANIMALS PERMITTED FOR RAISING

Article 4. Management Regulations for Raising Red Earthworms, Black Soldier Flies, Crickets, and Scorpions

1. Requirements for Facilities Raising Red Earthworms, Black Soldier Flies, Crickets, and Scorpions

Facilities raising red earthworms, black soldier flies, crickets, and scorpions must meet the following requirements:

a) The facility must have appropriate breeding area, ensuring it does not affect human health, livestock, and the environment. The breeding area must be surrounded by suitable fencing materials;

b) There must be breeding sheds and equipment suitable for each type of animal;

c) There must be records documenting the breeding process, feed usage, and other data to ensure traceability; records must be stored for at least one year after the end of the breeding cycle;

d) Do not use manure or carcasses of diseased animals as substrate for raising red earthworms, crickets, and scorpions for food purposes, human consumption, or animal feed;

e) Natural harvested red earthworms, black soldier flies, crickets, and scorpions may be used as supplementary breeding stock;

f) In cases where facilities use imported black soldier flies, crickets, and their breeding stock for raising, they must store documentation provided by exporting organizations or individuals for inspection, supervision, and traceability of products.

2. Organizations and individuals raising black soldier flies and scorpions for commercial purposes must notify the breeding plan, management plan, and risk control plan during breeding activities according to Form I attached to this Circular to the competent authority.

3. Competent Authority Receiving Notification of Breeding Plan, Management Plan, and Risk Control Plan During Breeding Activities of Black Soldier Flies and Scorpions

a) The Department of Livestock Production and Veterinary Services receives notifications of breeding plans, management plans, and risk control plans during breeding activities of black soldier fly farms;

b) The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development receives notifications of breeding plans, management plans, and risk control plans during breeding activities of scorpion farms in the province.

4. Receiving Notification of Breeding Plan, Management Plan, and Risk Control Plan During Breeding Activities of Black Soldier Flies and Scorpions

a) The competent authority specified in Clause 3 of this Article shall receive notifications of breeding plans, management plans, and risk control plans during breeding activities of black soldier fly and scorpion farms sent directly or via postal services or online;

b) Within three working days from the date of receipt of the notification, the competent authority shall publicly announce the breeding plan, management plan, and risk control plan during breeding activities of black soldier flies and scorpions on the official website of the competent authority.

Article 5. Management regulations for migratory duck and goose farming

Based on the scale of farming, the farming facility for migratory ducks and geese must comply with the provisions of Article 54 and Clauses 1 and 2 of Article 55 or Article 56 of the Livestock Breeding Law and the following requirements:

1. Organizations and individuals are only allowed to raise migratory ducks and geese of legal origin and shall be responsible under the law for the origin of the migratory ducks and geese raised.

2. Organizations and individuals raising migratory ducks and geese must have suitable housing that conforms to the biological characteristics of the animals, ensuring safety for humans, other animals, biosafety, and food safety as prescribed by law.

3. The farming facility must establish records, keep track of, and store information during the breeding process, trace the origin of migratory ducks and geese.

Article 6. Management regulations for silkworm farming

1. Organizations and individuals producing and trading silkworm breeds shall implement the provisions of Clause 1 of Article 22; Points b, c, and d of Clause 2 of Article 22; Clause 3 of Article 22; Clause 6 of Article 23; Articles 24 and 25 of the Livestock Breeding Law.

2. Testing and certification of new silkworm breeds shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Articles 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31 of the Livestock Breeding Law.

3. Silkworm breeds created using genetic engineering technology and imported silkworm breeds and genetic resources of genetically modified silkworms must comply with the laws on biodiversity.

Chapter III

TRACEABILITY OF ORIGIN OF LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS

Article 7. Management of livestock farm identification numbers

1. The owner of the livestock farm shall declare their livestock activities according to the declaration form for livestock activities specified in Appendix III of Circular No. 23/2019/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 30, 2019, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development guiding certain provisions of the Livestock Breeding Law on livestock activities (amended and supplemented by Circular No. 18/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development).

2. Establish an account to log in to the National Livestock Data System and declare as follows:

a) The owner of the livestock farm establishes an account to log in to the National Livestock Data System at the domain name csdlchannuoi.mae.gov.vn.

Account creation information includes the username being the business registration number or tax code or identification number or citizen identification card number of the livestock farm owner;

Declaration information when creating an account includes the fields of information specified in the National Livestock Data System.

b) Declare according to the form on the National Livestock Data System. Declaration of livestock activities applies to all livestock farms subject to declaration.

c) Encourage livestock farms subject to declaration; other livestock activity facilities including: livestock farms not subject to declaration, collection, slaughter, processing, preliminary processing, manufacturing, and trading of livestock products, other livestock trading facilities to declare to register traceability of origin of livestock products on the National Livestock Data System.

3. Issuing identification numbers for livestock farms

a) For the declaration case stipulated in point b of Clause 2 of this Article, the National Livestock Data System automatically issues an identification number for the facility within three days from the completion of declaring livestock activities on the National Livestock Data System;

b) For the declaration case stipulated in point c of Clause 2 of this Article, the National Livestock Data System automatically issues an identification number for the facility within ten working days from the completion of declaration on the National Livestock Data System based on verification, cross-checking, and confirmation of information by the specialized agency on livestock on the National Livestock Data System;

c) The identification number issued by the system will be notified on the account and sent to the email of organizations and individuals. In case of refusal to issue, the reasons must be clearly stated;

d) The structure of the identification number for livestock farms consists of:

(414) 893 MMMM PPPPP C (254) X Y

Where:

(414): Global Location Number (GLN) assignment number;

893: Vietnam country code;

MMMM: Identification number assigned by GS1 Vietnam to the Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health;

PPPPP: Reference number for the facility to identify a single facility in the province or centrally administered city assigned by the Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health;

C: Check digit calculated according to the algorithm;

(254): Extended GLN assignment number;

X: Type of livestock farm defined in Appendix II attached to this Circular;

Y: Livestock species code defined in Appendix II attached to this Circular.

4. The National Livestock Data System automatically revokes the identification number of the livestock farm and notifies the email of organizations and individuals based on verification and confirmation of information by the specialized agency on livestock in the following cases:

a) Organizations and individuals engaged in livestock farming notify the cessation of use of the identification number of the livestock farm on the National Livestock Data System;

b) Organizations and individuals engaged in livestock farming do not meet the conditions for livestock farming stipulated in the Livestock Breeding Law and implementing regulations at the time of inspection and supervision or the inspection results contain information inconsistent with the information on the National Livestock Data System.

5. Reissue of the identification number of the livestock farm for the case stipulated in point b of Clause 4 of this Article.

Within six months from the date of revocation of the identification number of the livestock farm, organizations and individuals must rectify and submit a report on the National Livestock Data System.

The National Livestock Data System automatically reissues the identification number of the livestock farm and notifies the email of organizations and individuals based on verification and confirmation of information by the specialized agency on livestock; in case of refusal to issue, the reasons must be clearly stated.

6. In case of changes to declared information as stipulated in point a of Clause 2 of this Article, organizations and individuals shall update the changed information themselves on the National Livestock Data System.

Article 8. Management of Livestock Product Codes

1. Encourage organizations and individuals producing and trading livestock products to establish a traceability data system and declare on the National Livestock Database System to be granted a livestock product code.

2. Organizations and individuals who have been granted a livestock farm identification code and wish to obtain a livestock product code shall log into the National Livestock Database System and complete declarations for product origin traceability as follows:

a) Organizations and individuals who have been granted a livestock farm identification code shall log into their account on the National Livestock Database System at the domain namecsdlchannuoi.mae.gov.vn. Login information is the business registration number, tax code, identification number, or citizen identity card number of the farm owner;

b) Complete declarations according to the form on the National Livestock Database System.

3. After receiving full information as stipulated in point b, Clause 2 of this Article, the National Livestock Database System will automatically grant a livestock product code to the production and trading entity. The code issued by the System will be notified on the account and sent to the email address of the organization or individual producing and trading livestock products. In case of refusal to issue, the reasons must be clearly stated.

4. The structure of the livestock product code includes:

(01) i 893 MMMM PPPPP C (21) XYZ

Where:

(01): Global Product Number (GS1) classification number;

i (from 0 to 9): Packaging level of the product;

893: Vietnam country code;

MMMM: Identification number assigned by GS1 Vietnam to the Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health;

PPPPP: Reference number assigned by the Livestock and Veterinary Administration to identify the single product type of the facility;

C: Check digit calculated according to the algorithm;

(21): Serial number for unique identification of a specific product at each stage;

X: Type of livestock farm defined in Appendix II attached to this Circular;

Y: Animal category code as specified in Appendix II attached to this Circular;

Z: Livestock product code as specified in Appendix II attached to this Circular.

5. The National Livestock Database System will automatically revoke the livestock product code and notify the organization or individual involved in livestock through their email address based on verification and confirmation of information from the relevant livestock authority on the National Livestock Database System under the following circumstances:

a) Organizations and individuals who have been granted a livestock product code notify the cessation of use of the livestock product code on the National Livestock Database System;

b) Within 60 days from the date of sending the corrective report, but the livestock organization or individual fails to correct the inspection and monitoring results that do not match the information on the National Livestock Database System;

c) Organizations and individuals fail to retain records related to the product origin traceability process as required.

Article 9. Provisions on the Origin Traceability System for Livestock Products

1. Encourage organizations and individuals involved in livestock activities to implement origin traceability for livestock products.

2. Organizations and individuals implementing origin traceability for livestock products shall comply with the National Standard TCVN 13274:2020 Origin Traceability - Guidelines for Format of Tracing Codes.

3. Organizations and individuals implementing origin traceability for livestock products shall use data carriers that comply with the National Standard TCVN 13275:2020 Origin Traceability - Data Carrier Format. Data carriers shall be affixed, printed, attached, cast, engraved, or inscribed directly on the product, packaging, technical documentation, or labels on the product in easily visible and readable positions.

4. When establishing an origin traceability data system for livestock products, the production facility must organize record-keeping, storage, extraction, and reporting of the following information:

a) Information about the production batch of the product:

Product name;

Production batch number of the product;

Quantity or volume of the product in the produced batch;

Production date of the batch;

Expiration date of the product;

Product recognition image;

Production and trading stages (including at least: product tracing code, location and time event tracing code for each stage);

Applied national standards, technical regulations, international standards, regional standards, and enterprise standards.

b) Quantity of products in the production batch that have been shipped out and remaining in stock at the production facility;

c) List of customer names and addresses, distributors (if any), quantity of products in the production batch received, sold, and remaining in stock.

5. When establishing an origin traceability data system for livestock products, the trading facility must organize record-keeping, storage, extraction, and reporting of the following information:

a) Name and address of the supplier providing livestock products to the trading facility;

b) Information about the type of livestock product, quantity of products in the production batch received, sold, and remaining in stock at the trading facility;

c) List of customer names and addresses, distributors (if any), quantity of products in the production batch received, sold, and remaining in stock.

6. The origin traceability system of organizations and individuals must ensure comprehensive traceability processes in accordance with national, international, regional standards, or enterprise standards corresponding to the product type or import country requirements and be announced as complying with applicable standards and technical regulations according to the law.

7. Origin traceability data for each livestock product in the traceability system includes at least the following information:

a) Livestock product name and livestock product code;

b) Livestock product image;

c) Name and code of the production and trading unit;

d) Address of the production and trading unit;

đ) Production and trading stages (including at least: product tracing code, location and time event tracing code for each stage);

e) Production and trading time (time of origin traceability events);

g) Livestock product origin tracing code;

h) Brand, trademark, symbol code, serial number of the product (if any);

i) Expiration date of the livestock product (if any);

k) Applied national standards, technical regulations, international standards, regional standards, and enterprise standards.

8. Information on tracing the origin of livestock farms and livestock products shall be centrally managed in the National Livestock Database System and be ready to share with other tracing systems; the minimum information is prescribed in Clause 7 of this Article.

9. Data for tracing the origin of livestock products to serve consumers' inquiries on the National Livestock Database System, including at least the following information:

a) Name of the livestock product;

b) Livestock product image;

c) Name of the production and business unit;

d) Address of the production and trading unit;

d) Production and business time (time when origin tracing events occur);

e) Brand, trademark, code symbol, serial number of the product (if any);

g) Shelf life of the livestock product (if any).

10. Each batch of livestock products is uniquely identified by an origin tracing code encoded in a data carrier.

11. The data carrier for origin tracing must comply with the provisions of Clause 3 of this Article. Decoded information must include at least the information prescribed in Clause 9 of this Article.

The minimum retention period for origin tracing data of livestock products that do not require mandatory labeling of a minimum shelf life is six months from the date of production for fresh livestock products, and twenty-four months for frozen or processed livestock products.

The minimum retention period for origin tracing data of livestock products that require mandatory labeling is twelve months from the expiration date of the batch of products.

12. Access to the livestock product origin tracing system

a) Livestock organizations and individuals access the livestock product origin tracing system at the domain name csdlchannuoi.mae.gov.vn or through mobile applications provided and guided by the Livestock and Veterinary Bureau;

b) Consumers can inquire about origin tracing information by scanning QR codes or entering tracing codes on the portal announced by the Livestock and Veterinary Bureau or through software reading QR codes or barcodes according to national or international standards.

13. The livestock product origin tracing system must meet the following requirements:

a) The livestock product origin tracing system is designed according to origin tracing standards and legal regulations;

b) The livestock product origin tracing system must have mechanisms for automatically collecting, storing, processing, and synchronizing data in real-time or periodically, ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and verifiability of origin tracing information;

c) The livestock product origin tracing system integrates automatic monitoring and inspection functions, including:

Warning signals when detecting invalid data;

Automatically recording activity logs of entities participating in the system.

d) Supporting access permissions, traceability, and historical data analysis for inspection and monitoring work.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 10. Responsibilities of the Livestock and Veterinary Bureau

1. To take the lead and coordinate with provincial Departments of Agriculture and Environment to inspect the implementation of this Circular, promptly identify existing issues and inadequacies in management processes to propose measures to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Chairperson of the Provincial People's Committee for handling.

2. To take the lead and advise on building, managing, and operating the National Livestock Database System to implement and manage identification codes for livestock farms and livestock products; build, operate, and manage the livestock product origin tracing system, connecting data with the National Product and Goods Origin Tracing Portal. Issue Certificates of Registration for Certification Activities in accordance with the law. Announce livestock farm identification codes for export upon request of importing countries.

3. To take the lead in drafting and submitting to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for issuance or issuing within its authority good livestock practices for other animal husbandry; economic and technical norms, technical procedures for other animals allowed to be raised to ensure biosafety and food safety.

4. To take the lead and coordinate with provincial Departments of Agriculture and Environment to conduct surprise inspections or periodic inspections every two years on the implementation of breeding plans, management and risk control schemes in activities related to black soldier fly and scorpion breeding.

5. To take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies and units to issue guidance materials for using the National Livestock Database System, organize training to support livestock farms in registering accounts, entering data, and querying information on the aforementioned system; provide and support technical assistance to organizations and individuals participating in the livestock product origin tracing system.

Article 11. Responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture and Environment

1. Advise the provincial People's Committee to organize the implementation of the contents stipulated in this Circular.

2. Organize, guide, implement, and inspect the implementation of this Circular at the local level.

3. Take the lead and coordinate with the Livestock Production and Veterinary Services Department to inspect and supervise the implementation of livestock farming plans, management and risk control schemes for black soldier fly and centipede farming activities within the jurisdiction.

4. Take the lead and coordinate with the Livestock Production and Veterinary Services Department and other relevant agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in managing, inspecting, and proposing measures to address violations related to livestock declarations, traceability of livestock products at the local level.

5. Report periodically annually or on demand, the results of inspections of traceability activities within the scope of management of the locality.

6. Coordinate with the Livestock Production and Veterinary Services Department to organize training and guidance for organizations and individuals engaged in livestock farming within the jurisdiction to declare their livestock activities through the National Livestock Database System and to implement traceability of livestock products.

Article 12. Responsibilities of organizations and individuals engaged in livestock farming; organizations and individuals implementing traceability of livestock products and organizations and individuals providing traceability services and solutions for livestock products

1. Responsibilities of organizations and individuals engaged in livestock farming

a) Comply with regulations on managing other animal husbandry as specified in Articles 4, 5, and 6 of this Circular and the relevant laws on animal husbandry;

b) Declare livestock activities in accordance with Circular No. 23/2019/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 30, 2019, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (amended and supplemented by Circular No. 18/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development) either directly, via postal service, or through the internet to the People's Committee of the commune or on the National Livestock Database System;

c) Be subject to regular or spot inspections by state management agencies responsible for animal husbandry.

2. Responsibilities of organizations and individuals implementing traceability of livestock products

a) Establish a traceability data system for livestock products, storing complete information about batches of livestock products, origin, raw materials, production processes, processing, storage, and sales according to Clause 4 and Clause 5 of Article 9 of this Circular;

b) Maintain and retain the traceability data system for livestock products using appropriate means to facilitate easy access and in accordance with the retention period specified in Clause 11 of Article 9 of this Circular;

c) Announce the traceability system for livestock products in compliance with national standards, national technical regulations (if applicable), international standards, and regional standards;

d) Immediately initiate traceability of livestock products that do not ensure safety upon self-discovery or receipt of warning information from organizations or individuals regarding unsafe livestock products from the facility or upon request from competent authorities; submit a report on the results of traceability to the Livestock Production and Veterinary Services Department within five working days from the date of self-discovery or receipt of warning information from organizations or individuals regarding unsafe livestock products from the facility or upon request from competent authorities. The report must contain all information as specified in Clauses 4 and 5 of Article 9 of this Circular. In case of unsafe livestock products, they must be recalled and handled in accordance with the law, and bear all costs associated with the recall and handling of unsafe livestock products;

đ) Fully and accurately declare all fields of information in the National Livestock Database System as specified in Articles 7, 8, and 9 of this Circular. Pay related costs in accordance with the law;

e) Be subject to inspection and supervision by competent state management authorities.

3. Responsibilities of organizations and individuals providing traceability services and solutions for livestock products

a) Provide traceability services and solutions for livestock products that meet the requirements stipulated in Article 9 of this Circular;

b) Bear legal responsibility for the services and solutions provided to organizations and individuals related to traceability of livestock products. If organizations and individuals providing traceability services and solutions for livestock products wish to connect with the National Livestock Database System, they shall cooperate with the Livestock Production and Veterinary Services Department to ensure maintenance of the National Livestock Database System;

c) Be subject to inspection and supervision by state management agencies responsible for animal husbandry and competent authorities responsible for traceability of livestock products in accordance with the law.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 13. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from January 5, 2026.

Article 14. Transitional Provisions

1. Livestock farms established and operating for commercial purposes before the effective date of this Circular but not meeting the requirements stipulated in Articles 4, 5, and 6 of this Circular must complete these requirements within twelve months from the effective date of this Circular.

2. For organizations and individuals involved in livestock activities that have established and operated traceability systems prior to the effective date of this Circular, they must review, update, and supplement missing information in accordance with this Circular within twelve months from the effective date of this Circular.

Article 15. Responsibility for Implementation

The Director of the Livestock Production and Veterinary Services Department, the Director of the Quality Control, Processing, and Market Development Department, the Directors of the Departments of Agriculture and Environment of provinces and cities, and the heads of relevant agencies, units, organizations, and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

During the implementation process, if there are difficulties, organizations and individuals are requested to promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (through the Livestock Production and Veterinary Services Department) for consideration, amendment, and supplementation to make it suitable./.