TO CHANGE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HEALTH
On May 29, 2017, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued the Circular No. 11/2017/TT-BNNPTNT on amending a number of Articles of legislative documents relating to functions and tasks of units affiliated to the Ministry of Agriculture And Rural Development.
In accordance with this Circular, the Department of Animal Health shall receive documents about assurance of food safety and quality of registered exporters of animal source foods from the competent authority of the exporting country; exchange information and reach an agreement on the inspection plan with the competent authority of the exporting country and request the Ministry to issue the decision on establishment of the Vietnam’s Inspectorate charged with carrying out inspection in the exporting country; publish the list of exporters of animal source foods
(of the exporting country) that are eligible for food safety assurance and those that are suspended from export to Vietnam; inform and warn competent authorities of exporting countries of shipments failing to meet food safety requirements and request them to uncover reasons and take remedial measures. In previous regulations, the National Agro Forestry, Fisheries Quality Assurance Department is responsible for these duties.
Besides, the Department of Animal Health shall prepare and request the competent authorities of exporting countries to complete a questionnaire before an inspection is carried out in exporting countries; submit annual or unscheduled (upon request) reports on inspection of food safety of imported animal source foods to the Ministry.
This Circular takes effect on July 18, 2017.
