Veterinary Law 2015 (79/2015/QH13)

Pursuant to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

The National Assembly promulgates the Veterinary Law.

Chapter I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Law stipulates the prevention, treatment, and control of animal diseases; animal and animal product quarantine; control of animal slaughtering, preliminary processing, and processing of animals and animal products; veterinary hygiene inspection; management of veterinary drugs; and practice of veterinary medicine.

Article 2. Subjects of application

This Law applies to domestic organizations and individuals and foreign organizations and individuals related to veterinary activities in Vietnam.

Article 3. Interpretation of terms

In this Law, the terms below are understood as follows:

1. Animals include:

a) Terrestrial animals are livestock, poultry, wild animals, reptiles, bees, silkworms, and some other animals that live on land;

b) Aquatic animals are fish, crustaceans, mollusks, amphibians, mammals, and some other animals that live in water.

2. Animal products are products derived from animals, including:

a) Terrestrial animal products are meat, eggs, milk, honey, beeswax, royal jelly, semen, animal embryos, blood, internal organs, hide, fur, bones, horns, tusks, hooves, and other products derived from terrestrial animals;

b) Aquatic animal products are aquatic animals that have been pre-processed or processed in whole form; embryos, eggs, semen, and other products derived from aquatic animals.

3. The preprocessing and processing of animals and animal products involve cleaning, deboning, sorting, freezing, salting, smoking, drying, packaging, or applying other processing methods for immediate use or as raw materials for food processing, animal feed, or other purposes.

4. Veterinary activities include state management of veterinary affairs and activities for disease prevention, treatment, and control of animal epidemics; animal and animal product quarantine; control of animal slaughtering, preprocessing, and processing of animals and animal products; inspection of veterinary hygiene; management of veterinary drugs; and practicing veterinary medicine.

5. Animal epidemic safety zones and facilities are areas or facilities for livestock, aquaculture, and animal breeding that are determined not to have infectious diseases listed in the List of Notifiable Animal Diseases for a specified period for each disease, each animal species, and veterinary activity in that area or facility ensuring disease control.

6. Infectious disease is a disease that is transmitted directly or indirectly between animals, or between animals and humans, caused by pathogenic and infectious agents.

7. Infectious disease agents are viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and other agents capable of causing infectious diseases.

8. Animal epidemic is the occurrence of infectious diseases in animals listed in the List of Notifiable Animal Diseases.

9. Animal disease outbreak is a place where infectious diseases occur in animals listed in the List of Notifiable Animal Diseases.

10. An epidemic area is an area with an outbreak of animal disease or a newly emerging infectious agent that has been identified by the specialized veterinary management authority.

11. A threatened epidemic area is an area surrounding an epidemic area or a region adjacent to an epidemic area at the border of a neighboring country that has been identified by the specialized veterinary management authority.

12. A buffer zone is an area surrounding a threatened epidemic area that has been identified by the specialized veterinary management authority.

13. The list of animal diseases that must be declared as epidemics includes dangerous infectious animal diseases that cause significant socio-economic damage or dangerous infectious diseases transmissible between animals and humans.

14. Animal and animal product quarantine is the inspection and application of technical measures to detect, control, and prevent animal and animal product quarantine objects.

15. Slaughter control is the inspection before and after the slaughter of animals to detect, handle, and prevent factors that cause disease, harm animals, human health, and the environment.

16. Veterinary hygiene is the fulfillment of requirements aimed at protecting animal health, human health, the environment, and ecosystems.

17. Veterinary hygiene inspection is the checking and application of technical measures to detect, control, and prevent objects subject to veterinary hygiene inspection.

18. Objects of animal and animal product quarantine include microorganisms, parasites, eggs, and larvae of parasites that cause disease in animals and harm human health.

19. Objects of veterinary hygiene inspection include microorganisms causing contamination, microbial toxins; physical and chemical factors; toxic substances, radioactive substances; environmental factors that adversely affect animal health, human health, the environment, and ecosystems.

20. The consignor is the owner of animals, animal products, or a person authorized by the owner who carries out the management, escorting, transportation, and care of animals and animal products.

21. Veterinary medicine is a single substance or a mixture of substances including pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biological preparations, microorganisms, and chemicals approved for use on animals to prevent disease, treat disease, diagnose disease, and regulate or restore the growth and reproductive functions of animals.

22. Finished veterinary medicine is veterinary medicine that has gone through all stages of the production process, including packaging in the final container, labeling, having passed the quality inspection of the facility, and meeting the quality criteria according to the registration dossier.

23. Veterinary medicine raw materials are substances that are part of the composition of veterinary medicine.

24. Vaccine used in veterinary medicine is a biological preparation containing antigens that enable an animal's body to have an immune response, used for disease prevention.

25. Biological products used in veterinary medicine are biologically derived products used to prevent disease, treat disease, diagnose disease, and regulate the growth and reproduction process of animals.

26. Microorganisms used in veterinary medicine are bacteria, viruses, protozoan parasites, molds, yeasts, and some other microorganisms used to diagnose, prevent disease, treat disease in animals, research, produce, test, and trial veterinary drugs.

27. Chemicals used in veterinary medicine are chemically derived products used to prevent disease, treat disease, diagnose disease, disinfect, detoxify the environment of livestock farming, aquaculture, animal slaughtering, preliminary processing, processing animals, and animal products.

28. Veterinary drug testing is the examination and determination of the technical standards of veterinary drugs.

29. Veterinary drug trials are the examination and determination of the characteristics, efficacy, and safety of veterinary drugs on animals at the trial facility.

30. Veterinary drug inspection is the process of checking and re-evaluating the quality of veterinary drugs that have been tested, trialed, or are currently in circulation when there is a dispute, complaint, or request, or when an appraisal is required by a competent state agency.

Article 4. Principles of veterinary activities

1. Ensure unity in veterinary activities from central to local levels to care for and protect animal health, enhance socio-economic efficiency, sustainability in livestock and aquaculture, ensure food safety, and protect human health and the ecological environment.

2. Prioritize disease prevention, provide timely treatment, respond urgently to epidemics; quickly and accurately detect and thoroughly handle animal disease outbreaks and sources of animal disease transmission; promptly prevent the infection and spread of animal quarantine subjects and animal products.

3. Preventing and controlling animal diseases is primarily the responsibility of livestock owners, aquaculture facility owners, and fishery farmers; state management agencies are responsible for organizing guidance and implementing measures to prevent and control animal diseases in a timely and effective manner.

4. Ensure convenience in trade transactions involving animals and animal products; harmonize the interests of the State, the community, and the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals.

5. Apply scientific and technological advances, combining modern science and technology with the traditional experience of the people in disease prevention, control, and treatment of animals.

Article 5. State Policy on Veterinary Activities

1. In each period, the State has specific policies to invest in and financially support the following activities:

a) Scientific research, development, technology transfer in animal diagnosis, testing, and treatment; establishment of animal disease diagnosis and testing facilities, trial testing, quality testing of veterinary drugs for state management purposes; construction of quarantine isolation areas;

Amended and supplemented provisions:

b) Development of a traceability system for animals and animal products; planning of slaughterhouses, preliminary processing, and processing facilities for animal products in an industrial direction associated with livestock farming areas;

c) Development of information systems, monitoring, forecasting, and warning of animal epidemics;

d) Prevention and control of animal epidemics and overcoming losses after animal epidemics;

d) Prevention and control of diseases listed in the catalog of animal diseases that must be announced as epidemics; control, containment, and eradication of dangerous infectious animal diseases, and zoonotic diseases between animals and humans;

e) Strengthening infrastructure and technical capacity for the veterinary management agencies; environmental monitoring and warning systems;

g) Production of veterinary drugs and vaccines to serve the prevention and control of dangerous animal diseases;

h) Establishment of animal disease-free zones.

2. The State encourages the following activities:

a) Establishment of animal disease-free facilities; establishment of concentrated livestock farms and centralized slaughterhouses;

b) Organization and individuals participating in the prevention and control of animal diseases; socialization of veterinary activities and livestock insurance;

c) Research, application of science and technology, implementation of good practice systems, and advanced quality management systems in the veterinary field;

d) Training and fostering human resources in the field of veterinary medicine;

d) Caring for, nurturing, and protecting animals for humanitarian purposes.

3. Persons performing veterinary activities at the request of competent state agencies, if infected with a disease, injured, or killed, shall be considered and entitled to regimes and policies similar to those for war invalids and martyrs in accordance with the law on preferential treatment for those who have contributed to the revolution.

Article 6. The system of veterinary management agencies

1. The system of veterinary management agencies includes:

a) The Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

b) Sub-departments with veterinary management functions under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of provinces and centrally-run cities (hereinafter referred to as provincial-level veterinary management agencies);

c) Stations under the Sub-Department with specialized veterinary management functions established in districts, towns, provincial cities, and equivalent administrative units (hereinafter referred to as the district-level specialized veterinary management agency).

2. Based on the veterinary activity requirements in the area and the ability to balance local resources, the People's Committee of the province or centrally-run city shall propose that the corresponding People's Council consider and decide on the arrangement of commune, ward, and township veterinary staff.

3. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on this Article and the regime and policies applicable to commune, ward, and township veterinary staff.

Article 7. Information and dissemination about veterinary medicine

1. The provision of information and dissemination about veterinary medicine aims to supply knowledge about animal diseases, measures to prevent and control animal diseases, and veterinary policies and laws.

2. Information and propaganda on veterinary activities are carried out in various forms, suitable for the target audience and location. The content of veterinary information and propaganda must be accurate, timely, and easy to understand.

3. Responsibilities of state agencies in veterinary information and propaganda activities:

a) The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development organizes and directs the provision of information and the implementation of veterinary information and propaganda activities;

b) Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, agencies under the Government, and People's Committees at all levels, within their respective tasks and powers, carry out veterinary information and propaganda activities.

4. Organizations and individuals engaged in activities related to veterinary information and propaganda must comply with the provisions of this Law and relevant laws.

Article 8. Responsibilities of state management of the Government and ministries

1. The Government uniformly manages the state veterinary affairs nationwide.

2. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible to the Government for implementing state management of veterinary affairs and has the following responsibilities:

a) Develop and direct the implementation of strategies, plans, and programs on veterinary affairs;

b) Issue within his/her authority or submit to competent authorities for issuance and organize the implementation of policies, legal normative documents, standards, and technical regulations on veterinary affairs;

c) Direct, guide, and organize the implementation of work on disease prevention, treatment, and control of animal epidemics; quarantine of animals and animal products; control of animal slaughter, preliminary processing, processing of animals and animal products; veterinary hygiene inspection; management of veterinary drugs; and veterinary practice;

d) Prescribe uniforms, insignia, rank badges, signs, and animal quarantine cards;

đ) Organize the implementation of issuance, reissuance, extension, and revocation of permits, certificates, and certificates in the field of veterinary affairs;

e) Organize basic investigations, scientific research, application of new technologies; train and improve professional skills in veterinary medicine;

g) Organize information, propaganda, dissemination of knowledge, and legal education about veterinary medicine;

h) Prescribe professional and operational standards for positions in the veterinary management system; standards for veterinary staff at communal, ward, and township levels;

i) Direct and organize inspection and supervision of veterinary activities; handle complaints, denunciations, and violations of veterinary law within their authority;

k) Compile statistics on veterinary medicine;

l) Direct and implement international cooperation in veterinary medicine.

3. The Minister of Health is responsible for coordinating with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in the prevention and control of zoonotic diseases.

4. The Minister of Industry and Trade is responsible for leading and coordinating with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in preventing and combating commercial fraud, counterfeit goods, and handling violations of the law concerning the trade of animals, animal products, and veterinary drugs circulating on the market.

5. The Minister of Science and Technology is responsible for coordinating with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in managing scientific research, development and technology transfer, and in developing standards and technical regulations related to the veterinary field.

6. The Minister of Finance is responsible for presiding over and coordinating with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to issue regulations on the conditions for completing customs procedures in the inspection and supervision of animals, animal products subject to quarantine, disease samples, veterinary drugs when exporting, importing, temporarily importing for re-export, temporarily exporting for re-import, transferring through border gates, bonded warehouses, and transit through the territory of Vietnam; preventing smuggling and illegal transportation of animals, animal products, and veterinary drugs across borders; guiding localities in arranging and using the annual budget and ensuring funding for animal disease prevention and control work.

7. The Minister of Public Security is responsible for coordinating with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in ensuring security related to animal disease prevention and control and the quarantine of animals and animal products.

8. The Minister of National Defense is responsible for coordinating with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in ensuring national defense and security related to the prevention and control of animal diseases and animal quarantine, as well as animal products; directing the Border Guard and the Coast Guard to coordinate with relevant agencies in preventing smuggling and illegal transportation of animals, animal products, and veterinary drugs across the border.

9. The Minister of Information and Communications is responsible for coordinating with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in directing and guiding the transmission of information warning about animal disease outbreaks and the prevention and control of animal diseases.

10. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment is responsible for leading and coordinating with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in issuing regulations on environmental protection and national technical environment standards related to the veterinary sector.

11. The Minister of Transport is responsible for presiding over and coordinating with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to organize the control of vehicles transporting animals, animal products, and veterinary drugs.

Article 9. Responsibilities of People's Committees at all levels

1. The People's Committee of provinces and centrally-governed cities (hereinafter referred to collectively as the provincial level) have the following responsibilities:

a) Issue within their authority or submit to the competent authority for issuance of documents guiding the implementation of veterinary law;

Amended and supplemented provisions:

b) Develop and implement the planning of areas and establishments safe from animal diseases; plans for animal disease prevention and control; programs for monitoring, controlling, and eradicating animal diseases;

c) Decide on the allocation, management, and use of funds, and mobilize local resources according to the provisions of the law to prevent, combat, and monitor animal diseases; inspect and supervise the quality of veterinary drugs circulating in the local area; arrange funds for the treatment and destruction of animals, animal products, and abandoned veterinary drugs in the locality, and other activities related to veterinary work;

d) Direct and organize the prevention and control of animal diseases; compile statistics and assess damages caused by diseases; implement policies to support the stabilization of livelihoods and the recovery of livestock and aquaculture after animal disease outbreaks;

dd) Direct and organize propaganda, dissemination, capacity building, training, and legal education on veterinary matters;

e) Direct and organize inspection and supervision of veterinary activities, handle complaints and denunciations, and address violations of veterinary laws within their authority.

2. The People's Committees of districts, towns, provincial cities, and equivalent administrative units (hereinafter collectively referred to as district-level authorities) have the following responsibilities:

a) Directing and organizing the dissemination of knowledge and legal education on veterinary matters;

b) Requiring the district-level specialized veterinary management agency to monitor, forecast, and warn about animal diseases;

c) Allocating funds and organizing the prevention and control of animal diseases; compiling statistics, evaluating, and supporting damages for livestock and aquaculture farmers after animal disease outbreaks;

d) Directing and organizing inspections, supervision of veterinary activities, handling complaints and denunciations, and dealing with violations of veterinary law within their authority.

3. The People's Committees of communes, wards, and townships (hereinafter collectively referred to as commune-level authorities) have the following responsibilities:

a) Organizing the dissemination of knowledge and legal education on veterinary matters;

b) Regulations on locations and organization for handling and destroying animals infected with diseases, animal products carrying pathogens, counterfeit or poor-quality veterinary drugs, products of unclear origin, and smuggled goods;

c) Organizing early detection surveillance and reporting on animal disease situations; implementing measures to prevent and control animal diseases; compiling and reporting losses caused by animal diseases; guiding the implementation of policies supporting animal disease prevention and control;

d) Coordinating with district-level veterinary management authorities to monitor animal diseases and compile veterinary statistics;

đ) Organizing inspections of veterinary activities, resolving complaints and denunciations, and handling violations of veterinary law within the authority.

Article 10. Responsibilities of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, its member organizations, and professional social organizations, social organizations

1. The Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations, within the scope of their functions and duties, are responsible for propagating and mobilizing the people, union members, and association members to implement policies and laws on veterinary medicine; participating in providing opinions for law-making, and carrying out social supervision and criticism in the field of veterinary medicine as prescribed by law.

2. Professional-social organizations and social organizations participate in providing opinions for law-making in the field of veterinary medicine; propagate and disseminate knowledge and laws on veterinary medicine; provide consultation and training on veterinary techniques.

Article 11. International cooperation on veterinary medicine

1. The contents of international cooperation in veterinary medicine include:

a) Signing, joining, and implementing agreements and international treaties in the field of veterinary medicine to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member;

b) Human resource training and development; scientific research, technology transfer; exchange of information and experiences in the field of veterinary medicine;

c) Support resources.

2. The Department of Animal Health is the focal agency for implementing international cooperation in veterinary medicine as assigned by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Article 12. Fees and charges for veterinary services

Organizations and individuals involved in activities related to the veterinary field must pay fees and charges according to the provisions of the law on fees and charges.

Article 13. Prohibited acts

1. Concealing, failing to report, or reporting late animals that are sick, showing signs of illness, or dying from infectious diseases that cause the spread of animal diseases.

2. Declaring, listing, and confirming the incorrect quantity or weight of diseased or dead animals, or animal products that must be destroyed; declaring or confirming incorrect quantities or weight of materials and chemicals for the prevention and control of animal diseases with the intent of profiteering.

3. Failing to notify or announce an animal disease outbreak when required to do so according to the provisions of this Law.

4. Providing inaccurate information about the situation of animal disease outbreaks.

5. Failing to implement or implementing untimely preventive and control measures against animal diseases according to the provisions of this Law.

6. Not complying with animal disease prevention and control measures as required by competent authorities or organizations.

7. Disposing of diseased or dead animals and their products, or discharging wastewater and waste containing pathogens into the environment.

8. Transporting diseased animals, products, or waste from animals carrying dangerous infectious pathogens, animals sensitive to announced animal diseases, and their products out of an outbreak area without the permission of the competent veterinary authority.

9. Improper disposal or failure to dispose of diseased or dead animals, or animal products carrying pathogens that are required by law to be destroyed.

10. Buying, arbitrarily erasing, or altering licenses, certificates, or certifications in the field of veterinary medicine.

11. Switching or changing the quantity of animals or animal products that have been quarantined.

12. Evading quarantine; transporting animals or animal products that require quarantine without a Quarantine Certificate or with unclear origin.

13. Import, temporary import for re-export, temporary export for re-import, changing border gates, transiting through the territory of Vietnam of animals and animal products from countries or territories that have dangerous epidemics in animals susceptible to that disease.

14. Import of animals, animal products, or disease samples not permitted by the specialized veterinary management authority.

15. Import and export of animals and animal products that are prohibited from import or export according to legal regulations.

16. Slaughtering, harvesting animals or animal products for food before the withdrawal period of veterinary drugs as prescribed in usage instructions.

17. Slaughtering or treating animals infected with diseases listed in the Catalogue of animals banned from slaughtering or treatment.

18. Slaughtering animals, preliminary processing, or processing animals and animal products for business purposes without ensuring veterinary hygiene requirements.

19. Production, preliminary processing, processing, and trading of animal products containing substances banned for use in animal husbandry or veterinary medicine, or containing microorganisms or residues exceeding the permissible limits.

20. Soaking, treating with chemicals, adding water or other substances to animals or animal products in a way that makes them unsanitary for veterinary purposes.

21. Using veterinary medicine ingredients to prevent or treat animal diseases; using veterinary drugs of unknown origin, banned veterinary drugs, expired veterinary drugs, or veterinary drugs not yet authorized for circulation in Vietnam, except in cases specified at point c, clause 6, Article 15 of this Law.

22. Producing, exporting, importing, and trading counterfeit veterinary drugs, veterinary drugs of unknown origin, banned veterinary drugs, expired veterinary drugs, poor-quality veterinary drugs, veterinary drugs not yet approved for circulation in Vietnam, except in cases specified in Clause 2, Article 100 of this Law.

23. Circulating veterinary drugs with labels that do not match the content registered with the specialized veterinary management authority.

24. Advertising veterinary drugs in a way that does not correspond to the registered features and uses.

25. Practicing veterinary medicine illegally.

Chapter II. PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF ANIMAL DISEASES

Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS ON PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF ANIMAL DISEASES

Article 14. Contents of animal disease prevention and control

1. Implement disease prevention measures, diagnosis, and treatment; monitor and alert livestock environments; supervise, forecast, and warn of epidemics; conduct epidemic investigations; perform risk analysis; and control animal diseases.

2. Carry out cleaning, disinfection, and decontamination of the livestock and aquaculture environment.

3. Establish disease-free zones and facilities for animals; implement programs and plans to control and eradicate certain dangerous infectious diseases in animals, and zoonotic diseases.

4. Provide accurate, complete, and timely information on animal diseases and support policies for preventing and controlling animal diseases.

5. Propagate, disseminate, and train on measures to prevent and control animal diseases.

Article 15. Animal Disease Prevention

1. Livestock and aquaculture sites, and equipment used in livestock and aquaculture, must be cleaned, disinfected, decontaminated, and have intermediate hosts eliminated periodically and after each breeding cycle; livestock and aquaculture sites must follow local planning or be approved by competent authorities.

2. Waste in livestock and aquaculture must be treated in accordance with the laws on environmental protection. For closed aquaculture systems, the water used for farming must meet quality standards; wastewater and waste must be treated before discharge to ensure veterinary hygiene and in accordance with the laws on environmental protection.

3. Breeding stock and feed used in livestock and aquaculture must ensure disease safety, veterinary hygiene, and comply with the laws on animal breeding and feed.

4. Animals must be vaccinated against compulsory diseases and dangerous infectious diseases as required by the veterinary management authority.

5. Vaccines for mandatory disease prevention in programs for controlling and eradicating animal epidemics, and for preventing and combating emergency diseases financed by the state budget; the specialized veterinary management agency is responsible for developing, submitting to the competent authority for approval, and organizing the implementation of plans for the use of animal disease prevention vaccines.

6. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has the following responsibilities:

a) Issue the List of animal diseases that must be publicly announced; the List of zoonotic diseases; the List of animal diseases prohibited from slaughtering and treatment;

b) Regulate mandatory disease prevention measures; require veterinary hygiene and environmental sanitation in livestock and aquaculture; conditions for animals and animal products to be transported out of the epidemic area;

c) Decision to use veterinary drugs that have not been registered for circulation in Vietnam in emergency cases to promptly prevent and control animal diseases;

d) Regulations on the order, procedures, and dossiers for recognizing disease-free zones and safe animal disease facilities.

Article 16. Animal Disease Surveillance

1. Animal disease surveillance aims to detect early diseases that have the potential to cause serious socio-economic damage, infectious disease agents dangerous to animals, and diseases transmissible between animals and humans.

2. Animal disease surveillance programs are issued by competent authorities for certain dangerous infectious animal diseases to encourage livestock owners, farming facility owners, and aquaculture operators to proactively prevent and control animal diseases.

3. Owners of livestock facilities and aquaculture operations shall carry out the following activities:

a) Establish and monitor animal disease at the facility according to the guidance of the specialized veterinary management agency;

b) When participating in the animal disease surveillance program specified in Clause 2 of this Article, the owners of livestock or aquaculture facilities shall comply with the requirements of the specialized veterinary management agency and are allowed to transport animals and animal products out of the disease-affected area following the guidance of the specialized veterinary management agency;

c) Monitor and record the process of raising animals, disease prevention, treatment, and control of animal diseases;

d) Notify the authorities and specialized veterinary management agencies when inspection results determine that animals carry pathogens listed in the List of Notifiable Animal Diseases and the list of zoonotic diseases; implement the handling measures as prescribed.

4. Animal disease diagnostic and testing facilities are responsible for reporting to the veterinary management authority when test results pertain to diseases listed in the Notifiable Animal Diseases List and the Zoonotic Diseases List.

5. The veterinary management authority organizes the implementation of animal disease surveillance as follows:

a) Based on the developments of animal disease outbreaks, develop an animal disease surveillance program during the processes of raising, transporting, slaughtering, trading, and importing animals and animal products;

b) Proactively investigate and collect samples for animal disease surveillance;

c) Periodically or suddenly monitor infectious diseases that can be transmitted between wild animals and domestic animals at wildlife farms, zoos, aviaries, biodiversity conservation areas, and nature reserves;

d) Based on the results of surveillance and the epidemiological characteristics of animal diseases, carry out forecasting and warning of certain dangerous infectious diseases in animals, and provide guidance on measures for disease prevention and control; in case an infectious disease transmissible between animals and humans is detected, promptly notify the corresponding health authority, warn livestock farmers and the community to proactively implement measures to isolate infected animals and prevent and control diseases transmitted from animals to humans;

d) Develop and manage a database system on animal disease surveillance and information for forecasting and warning of animal diseases; receive and respond to information regarding the situation of animal diseases;

e) Confirm establishments participating in the animal disease surveillance program to ensure safety.

Article 17. Safe zones and establishments for animal disease.

1. Conditions for recognition as an animal disease-free area or facility:

a) Implement animal disease prevention measures as prescribed in Article 14 and Clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of Article 15 of this Law;

b) Conduct animal disease surveillance as prescribed in Clause 3 of Article 16 of this Law;

c) No occurrence of registered animal diseases within a specified period for each disease and each species of animal;

d) Veterinary activities in that area or facility ensure control over animal diseases.

2. Animal disease-free areas and facilities are given priority in the selection for supplying breeding stock, animals, and animal products.

3. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall stipulate the details of this Article.

Article 18. Control and eradication of certain dangerous infectious diseases in animals, zoonotic diseases transmitted from animals to humans.

1. The control and eradication of certain dangerous infectious diseases in animals, and zoonotic diseases, must be developed into programs and plans in each period.

2. The control and eradication of certain dangerous infectious diseases in animals include the following contents:

a) Researching and investigating to identify pathogens, transmission agents of dangerous infectious diseases in animals; analyzing and assessing the risk of disease occurrence and animal epidemic transmission;

b) Early detection of animal epidemics, timely suppression of outbreaks to prevent widespread transmission;

c) Implementing mandatory disease prevention measures for animals, including the use of vaccines, sanitation, disinfection, detoxification of breeding areas, mandatory culling and slaughter of infected animals, and other mandatory technical measures as required by the specialized veterinary management authority;

d) Monitor animal epidemics, warn of the risk of disease transmission;

d) Propagate, train, and guide organizations and individuals to proactively prevent and control certain dangerous infectious diseases in animals;

e) Expand and maintain animal disease-safe zones and facilities.

3. The control and eradication of zoonotic diseases include the following contents:

a) Research, investigate, and detect pathogens that cause zoonotic diseases;

b) Control and contain sources of infection to prevent the spread of disease;

c) Implement mandatory disease prevention measures for animals, including the use of vaccines, sanitation, disinfection, detoxification of breeding areas, compulsory culling and slaughter of infected animals, and other mandatory technical measures as required by the veterinary authorities and health agencies.

d) Monitor infectious diseases transmitted between animals and humans; establish an information system and alert system for the risk of infectious diseases transmitted between animals and humans;

de) Information regime, reporting on animal disease situations between veterinary management agencies and health agencies in response to and handling of epidemics;

e) Propagate, train, and guide organizations and individuals to proactively prevent and control infectious diseases transmitted between animals and humans according to the guidance of veterinary management agencies and health agencies.

4. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has the following responsibilities:

a) Develop programs and plans to control and eradicate certain dangerous infectious diseases in animals, as well as infectious diseases transmitted between animals and humans, and submit them to the Prime Minister for approval;

b) Direct and organize the implementation of compulsory measures to control and eradicate dangerous infectious animal diseases; diseases that are transmissible between animals and humans;

c) Annually, assess the situation of animal diseases, the control and eradication of animal diseases, and report to the Prime Minister.

5. The Minister of Health is responsible for presiding over and coordinating with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in handling information related to diseases transmissible between animals and humans; organizing timely treatment of human cases; and implementing the announcement of epidemics in accordance with the law on the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

6. The Minister of Finance is responsible for ensuring the funding to implement the programs and plans specified in point a, clause 4 of this Article.

7. The Chairpersons of the People's Committees at all levels are responsible for organizing the implementation of programs and plans to control and eliminate certain dangerous infectious diseases in animals, as well as zoonotic diseases (diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans).

Article 19. Reporting, diagnosing, and investigating animal epidemics

1. Owners of livestock, aquaculture facilities, and individuals practicing veterinary medicine, upon detecting animals that are sick, dead, or show signs of infectious diseases, must immediately report to the commune-level veterinary staff, the commune People's Committee, or the nearest specialized veterinary management agency.

2. Commune-level veterinary staff, when detecting or receiving reports of diseased or dead animals, or animals showing signs of infectious diseases, have the following responsibilities:

a) Verify information, perform clinical diagnosis, and assist specialized veterinary management agencies in collecting samples for testing;

b) Guide pet owners, livestock farm owners, and aquaculture facility owners to implement the measures stipulated in Clause 1, Article 25 and Clause 1, Article 33 of this Law;

c) Report to the commune-level People’s Committee and the district-level veterinary management authority.

3. The district-level veterinary management authority, upon receiving notification of sick, dead animals, or animals showing signs of infectious diseases, shall have the following responsibilities:

a) Verify information, perform clinical diagnosis, and investigate animal disease outbreaks;

b) Collect samples for testing to identify the causative agent;

c) Guide measures for prevention and control of animal diseases;

d) Report to the district-level People’s Committee and the provincial-level veterinary management authority.

4. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall provide detailed regulations on this Article.

Article 20. Treatment of animals

1. Animals showing signs of illness must be diagnosed, isolated, cared for, and treated in a timely manner, except in cases where treatment is prohibited or slaughter and compulsory destruction are required under the regulations of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

2. Owners of livestock, owners of aquaculture facilities, commune-level veterinary staff, and individuals practicing veterinary medicine, when treating animals in an outbreak or disease-affected area, must follow the guidance of the veterinary management authorities; implement hygiene, disinfection, detoxification, and regulations on the prevention and control of animal diseases.

3. The use of veterinary drugs to treat sick animals must comply with the provisions of clause 1, Article 104 of this Law.

Article 21. Treatment of animals

1. Organizations and individuals raising livestock, practicing aquaculture, or using animals have the following responsibilities:

a) Manage, care for, nurture, and transport animals appropriately for each species;

b) Minimize pain and fear, treat animals humanely in livestock farming, aquaculture, transportation, slaughter, disposal, disease prevention, treatment, and scientific research.

2. Organizations and individuals raising pets or conserving biodiversity are responsible for adequately and timely caring for, nurturing, preventing diseases, and treating animals in accordance with the provisions of this Law.

Article 22. Reserve and use of veterinary drugs on the list of national reserve goods

1. The reserve of veterinary drugs on the list of national reserve goods is stipulated as follows:

a) The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development submits to the Prime Minister for decision the quantity and types of veterinary drugs in the national reserve;

b) Veterinary drugs on the list of national reserve goods are managed and used in accordance with the laws on national reserve.

2. The use of veterinary drugs on the list of national reserve goods is stipulated as follows:

a) In urgent, sudden cases involving natural disasters or animal epidemics, and based on the recommendation of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall decide to release and provide veterinary drugs listed in the National Reserve for the prevention and control of animal diseases, with a value corresponding to the budget expenditure authority of the Minister of Finance as stipulated in the State Budget Law, and report to the Prime Minister, while also notifying the Ministry of Finance about the release and provision of national reserve veterinary drugs; in cases exceeding this authority, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall submit to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision;

b) The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee directs the reception, preservation, and use of veterinary drugs listed in the national reserve commodity list, which are supported for the timely, effective, and proper prevention and control of animal diseases, and reports to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on the results of using veterinary drugs listed in the national reserve commodity list that have been provided to the locality.

3. The Provincial People's Committee arranges the reserve of veterinary drugs from the local budget to implement measures for the prevention and control of animal diseases.

Article 23. Funds for the prevention and control of animal diseases

1. Funds for the prevention and control of animal diseases are used for the following activities:

a) Prevention and control of animal diseases;

b) Remedying the consequences of animal diseases;

c) Restoring the livestock and aquaculture environment.

2. Funds for the prevention and control of animal diseases are formed from the following sources:

a) State budget;

b) Funding from the owners of livestock, owners of livestock facilities, and aquaculture establishments;

c) Contributions and sponsorships from domestic and foreign organizations, individuals, international organizations, and other legal sources according to the provisions of the law.

3. The Government shall regulate the mobilization, management, and use of funding sources for the prevention and control of animal diseases.

Article 24. Steering Committee for Animal Disease Prevention and Control

1. Steering committees for animal disease prevention and control at all levels shall be established when an animal disease is officially announced.

2. The Prime Minister shall regulate the establishment, organization, and operation of steering committees for animal disease prevention and control at all levels.

Section 2. PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF TERRESTRIAL ANIMAL DISEASES

Article 25. Handling of Terrestrial Animal Disease Outbreaks

1. The owners of livestock and livestock facilities have the following obligations:

a) Immediately isolate animals that are sick or show signs of illness;

b) Do not slaughter, buy, sell, or dispose of animals that are sick, show signs of illness, are dead, or animal products that carry pathogens into the environment;

c) Carry out sanitation, disinfection, detoxification, destruction, and mandatory slaughter of animals that are sick, show signs of illness, or are dead according to the instructions of the veterinary management authority and the provisions of the law on environmental protection;

d) Provide accurate information about animal epidemics as requested by the veterinary management authority and commune-level veterinary staff;

đ) Comply with inspection and examination requests from competent state agencies.

2. Commune-level veterinary staff have the following responsibilities:

a) Guide livestock owners and farm owners to comply with the provisions in clause 1 of this Article;

b) Prevent diseases, control epidemics, diagnose, treat animal diseases, and collect disease samples according to the guidelines of the veterinary management authority;

c) Report to the Chairman of the Commune-level People's Committee on the situation of animal disease.

3. The commune-level People's Committee has the following responsibilities:

a) Propagate the prevention and control of animal diseases in the area;

b) Direct commune-level veterinary staff, related organizations, and individuals to inspect and supervise livestock owners and animal husbandry facility owners in implementing the isolation of sick animals, record the number of infected animals, and animals susceptible to animal diseases; coordinate with district-level specialized veterinary management agencies to collect disease samples;

c) Organize disease prevention with vaccines, control epidemics, and treat animals according to the guidance of specialized veterinary management agencies;

d) Decide on and direct the culling of animals in the disease outbreak; sanitize, disinfect, and detoxify livestock areas, slaughterhouses, and places of animal and animal product trade;

đ) Organize the control of transportation of animals and animal products into and out of the disease outbreak.

4. The district-level People's Committee has the following responsibilities:

a) Allocate funding for handling animal disease outbreaks;

b) Require the district-level veterinary management agency to direct the relevant departments and sectors to identify animal disease outbreaks, announce them on local media, and provide guidance on implementing veterinary hygiene measures in farming, slaughtering, transporting, and trading animals and animal products;

c) Direct the commune-level People's Committee to implement the provisions specified in Clause 3 of this Article.

5. The provincial-level People's Committee shall direct lower-level People's Committees and relevant departments to handle animal disease outbreaks, allocate funding, and support livestock owners and owners of farming facilities whose animals are culled.

Article 26. Announcement of terrestrial animal diseases

1. Principles for announcing terrestrial animal diseases:

a) The announcement of animal diseases must ensure sufficient conditions, proper authority, transparency, accuracy, and timeliness;

b) Within 24 hours from the receipt of the proposal to announce an animal disease, the competent authority specified in Clause 4 and Clause 5 of this Article shall decide on the announcement of the animal disease.

2. Announcing an animal disease on land when the following conditions are met:

a) There is an outbreak of an animal disease listed in the list of animal diseases that must be announced, which is spreading rapidly over a wide area, or a new infectious agent is detected;

b) There is a conclusive diagnosis that the disease belongs to the list of animal diseases that must be reported or a new infectious disease agent determined by the competent authority for diagnosis and testing of animal diseases.

3. The content of reporting terrestrial animal disease outbreaks includes:

a) Name of the animal disease or name of the new infectious disease agent; affected animal species;

b) Time of the animal disease outbreak or the time the new infectious disease agent was detected;

c) Area with the disease, threatened area, buffer zone;

d) Measures for prevention and control of animal diseases.

4. The authority to declare terrestrial animal disease outbreaks is regulated as follows:

a) The Chairman of the District People's Committee, based on the proposal of the district-level veterinary management authority, decides to declare an animal disease outbreak when the conditions specified in Clause 2 of this Article are met and the disease occurs within the district.

b) The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, based on the proposal of the provincial veterinary management authority, shall decide to announce an animal epidemic when the conditions specified in Clause 2 of this Article are met and the epidemic occurs in two or more districts within the province.

5. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, based on the proposal of the Department of Animal Health, shall decide to announce an animal epidemic when the conditions specified in Clause 2 of this Article are met and the epidemic occurs in two or more provinces; shall inspect, urge, and supervise the announcement of the epidemic by the Chairmen of the District and Provincial People's Committees.

6. In the event that an animal epidemic spreads rapidly over a large area, seriously threatening human life and health or causing serious socio-economic damage, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall report to the Prime Minister to propose that the competent state authority declare a state of emergency in accordance with the law on the state of emergency.

Article 27. Organization of the fight against terrestrial animal epidemics in epidemic areas

1. When announcing an animal epidemic, the authority announcing the epidemic shall direct relevant organizations and individuals to implement the following measures:

a) Determine the boundaries of the epidemic area, the threatened area, and the buffer zone; place signs, checkpoints, and provide guidance on the movement and transportation of animals and animal products through the epidemic area;

b) Prohibit unauthorized persons from entering areas with sick or dead animals; restrict entry to and exit from epidemic zones; implement animal disease prevention measures as prescribed;

c) Prohibit slaughtering, bringing in, taking out, or circulating in epidemic zones of animals susceptible to the declared animal disease and their animal products, except in cases permitted to transport animals or animal products according to the regulations of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development;

d) Urgently organize disease prevention by vaccination or apply other mandatory disease prevention measures for animals susceptible to the declared animal disease in epidemic zones; treat, compulsorily slaughter animals, or destroy sick animals and animal products carrying pathogens according to the guidance of specialized veterinary management authorities;

d) Clean, disinfect, and detoxify livestock pens, areas where sick animals are grazed, equipment and tools used in animal husbandry, and waste according to the guidelines of the specialized veterinary management authority.

2. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has the following responsibilities:

a) Direct the provincial People's Committee where the epidemic occurs to mobilize local resources to quickly implement measures to encircle, control, and eradicate the epidemic, prevent its spread; inspect, supervise, and urge the organization of animal disease prevention and control by the provincial People's Committee where the epidemic occurs;

b) Submit to the Prime Minister for a decision on support for animal disease prevention and control and implement such support;

c) Report to the Prime Minister on the results of animal disease prevention and control, the results of implementing support policies for prevention and control, measures to overcome the consequences caused by the epidemic, and the restoration of livestock farming after animal disease.

3. The Chairman of the provincial People's Committee has the following responsibilities:

a) Direct the district-level People's Committees, provincial veterinary management agencies, relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals to implement measures for the prevention and control of animal diseases; mobilize local resources for the prevention and control of animal diseases; inspect and supervise the implementation of animal disease prevention and control measures;

b) Organize propaganda and dissemination of measures for the prevention and control of animal diseases in the area;

c) Direct the implementation of policies to support the prevention and control of animal diseases, remedy the consequences caused by animal diseases, stabilize livelihoods, and restore livestock farming in the area;

d) Propose to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to submit to the Prime Minister for a decision on financial, material, and resource support when the requirements for animal disease prevention and control exceed the local capacity;

d) Report to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on the results of animal disease prevention and control and the implementation of policies supporting disease prevention and control, remedying the consequences caused by diseases, and restoring livestock production in the area.

4. The Chairman of the district-level People's Committee has the following responsibilities:

a) Direct and organize the implementation of measures for animal disease prevention and control as directed by the Chairman of the provincial-level People's Committee;

b) Organize propaganda and dissemination of measures for the prevention and control of animal diseases in the area;

c) Implement policies supporting animal disease prevention and control, remedying the consequences caused by diseases, stabilizing livelihoods, and restoring livestock production in the area;

d) Submit to the Chairman of the provincial-level People's Committee for decision regarding financial, material, and resource support when the demand for animal disease prevention and control exceeds the local capacity;

d) Report to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee on the results of animal disease prevention and control, and the implementation of policies supporting disease prevention and control, overcoming the consequences caused by the disease, and restoring livestock farming in the area.

5. The Chairman of the Commune-level People's Committee has the following responsibilities:

a) Organize the implementation of measures for the prevention and control of animal diseases as directed by the higher-level People's Committee;

b) Organize the disposal of dead animals and sick animals; mandatory slaughter of sick animals; sanitation, disinfection, and detoxification;

c) Organize propaganda and dissemination of measures for the prevention and control of animal diseases in the area;

d) Implement policies supporting the prevention and control of animal diseases, overcoming the consequences caused by the disease, stabilizing life, and restoring livestock farming in the area;

d) Submit to the Chairman of the district-level People's Committee for a decision to support funding, materials, and resources when the demand for animal disease prevention and control exceeds the local capacity;

e) Report to the Chairman of the District People's Committee on the results of animal disease prevention and control and the implementation of policies to support disease prevention and control, mitigate the consequences caused by diseases, and restore livestock farming in the area.

6. The Department of Animal Health has the following responsibilities:

a) Guide local veterinary management agencies on measures for animal disease prevention and control; participate in supporting localities in animal disease prevention and control, disease investigation, and evaluation of animal disease outbreaks;

b) Identify the causative agents of infectious animal diseases in cases of new diseases or diseases with unknown causes.

7. Local specialized veterinary management agencies are responsible for advising the People's Committee of the same level, guiding the implementation of measures to prevent and control animal diseases, determining losses caused by animal diseases, monitoring, aggregating, evaluating the effectiveness of animal disease prevention and control, and fulfilling reporting obligations as prescribed.

8. Commune-level veterinary staff have the following responsibilities:

a) Implement the directions of the Commune People's Committee and the specialized veterinary management agency in preventing and controlling animal diseases;

b) Handle animal disease outbreaks according to the provisions in Clause 2, Article 25 of this Law;

c) Guide and participate in carrying out hygiene, disinfection, and detoxification measures to prevent and control the spread of animal diseases;

d) Compile statistics on the number of farmed animals, sick and dead animals, and animals culled according to the guidance of the specialized veterinary management agency.

9. Animal owners and livestock facility owners have the following obligations:

a) Implement the handling of animal disease outbreaks as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 25 of this Law;

b) Implement measures for the prevention and control of animal diseases as required by the People's Committees at all levels, specialized veterinary management agencies, and commune-level veterinary staff;

c) Pay the costs for remedying the consequences of violations; compensate for damages caused by their violations of the laws on the prevention and control of animal diseases as prescribed by law.

Article 28. Prevention and control of terrestrial animal diseases in threatened epidemic areas

1. People's Committees at all levels shall direct the implementation of the following measures:

a) Control the introduction to and removal from threatened epidemic areas of animals susceptible to declared animal diseases and their products;

b) Strictly control the slaughtering and transportation of animals and animal products within threatened epidemic areas;

c) Organize disease prevention by vaccination and apply mandatory disease prevention measures for animals susceptible to the announced animal disease;

d) Organize propaganda and disseminate measures for preventing and combating animal diseases in the locality.

2. In case the neighboring border area has an animal disease, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall implement the following measures and immediately report to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development:

a) Announce the threatened area within 5 km from the border and implement the measures specified in Clause 1 of this Article;

b) Decide on border gates and animals, animal products that are not allowed to circulate through the border gates;

c) Decide on a temporary ban during the period of animal disease on bringing into the territory of Vietnam animals susceptible to the animal disease occurring in the neighboring country and their products;

d) Direct relevant agencies to inspect and strictly control activities related to animals and animal products in areas threatened by disease; implement hygiene, disinfection, and detoxification measures for people and vehicles passing through border gates.

3. Livestock owners and owners of farming establishments have the following obligations:

a) Implement disease prevention through vaccines and other disease prevention measures for animals according to the guidance of specialized veterinary management agencies;

b) Sanitize, disinfect, and detoxify livestock areas, farming tools, and the farming environment;

c) Comply with animal disease prevention and control measures as required by competent state agencies.

Article 29. Prevention and control of terrestrial animal diseases in buffer zones

1. People's Committees at all levels direct relevant agencies to implement the following measures:

a) Inspect and control the transportation, slaughter, and trade of animals and animal products;

b) Regularly monitor and supervise animals susceptible to animal diseases.

2. Pet owners and owners of breeding facilities shall implement the measures stipulated in Clause 3, Article 28 of this Law.

Article 30. Mandatory handling of animals with diseases, showing signs of disease, and animal products carrying pathogens listed in the list of animal diseases requiring epidemic announcement, list of zoonotic diseases between animals and humans, or when new infectious agents are detected

1. The mandatory measures for handling animals with diseases, showing signs of disease, and animal products carrying pathogens listed in the list of animal diseases requiring epidemic announcement, list of zoonotic diseases between animals and humans, or when new infectious agents are detected include:

a) Mandatory destruction;

b) Mandatory slaughter.

2. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Chairpersons of People's Committees at all levels, within the scope of their duties and powers, shall decide on the measures to handle as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article.

3. The State supports the destruction and compulsory slaughter of animals that are diseased, show signs of disease, and animal products carrying pathogens listed in the List of animal diseases required to be announced as epidemics, the list of diseases transmissible between animals and humans, or when new infectious agents are detected. In each period, the Prime Minister shall specifically decide the beneficiaries and the level of support for the destruction and compulsory slaughter of diseased animals, animals showing signs of disease, and animal products carrying pathogens listed in the List of animal diseases required to be announced as epidemics, and the list of diseases transmissible between animals and humans.

4. The compulsory slaughter of animals shall be carried out as follows:

a) Must be carried out at a slaughterhouse designated by the local veterinary authority and must fully implement veterinary hygiene measures as prescribed;

b) Vehicles used to transport slaughtered animals must have a closed floor to prevent waste from falling on the way and must be cleaned, disinfected, and detoxified immediately after transport;

c) Slaughterhouses, slaughtering tools, and waste from slaughtered animals must be treated, cleaned, disinfected, and detoxified after slaughter;

d) The meat of slaughtered animals must be used but must be treated to meet veterinary hygiene requirements;

e) By-products and other products of slaughtered animals, bedding materials, and animal waste must be incinerated or buried.

5. The destruction and compulsory slaughter of animals that are sick, show signs of illness, and animal products carrying pathogens listed in the List of Animal Diseases Requiring Notification, the List of Zoonotic Diseases, or in cases where new infectious agents are detected, must comply with the provisions of the law on veterinary medicine, prevention of infectious diseases, and environmental protection.

6. Owners of livestock and owners of livestock facilities with animals subject to compulsory destruction or slaughter have the following obligations:

a) Comply with the compulsory destruction and slaughter, and consumption of animal products from compulsory slaughter according to the guidance of the specialized veterinary management agency;

b) Implement the provisions specified in Clause 1, Article 25 of this Law.

7. Annually, the provincial People's Committee is responsible for arranging contingency funds for the disposal of animals, supporting pet owners and owners of livestock facilities with animals that are destroyed to ensure the rapid, effective control and prevention of animal diseases and environmental hygiene.

8. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall provide detailed regulations on Clauses 1, 4, and 5 of this Article.

Article 31. Announcement of the end of terrestrial animal disease

1. Conditions for announcing the end of animal disease include:

a) Within the prescribed time for each disease, from the date the last sick animal died, was destroyed, mandatorily slaughtered, or recovered, no animal has been sick or died from the declared animal disease;

b) Vaccination has been carried out or other mandatory disease prevention measures applied to animals susceptible to the disease in the epidemic area or areas at risk of the epidemic.

c) Implemented hygiene, disinfection, and sanitation measures ensuring veterinary hygiene requirements for epidemic areas and areas threatened by the epidemic;

d) Have a written document requesting the announcement of the end of the animal disease from the specialized veterinary management agency and be appraised and recognized by the higher specialized veterinary management agency.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall provide detailed regulations on this clause.

2. The competent authority to announce animal disease specified in Article 26 of this Law has the authority to announce the end of animal disease when the conditions specified in Clause 1 of this Article are met.

Section 3. PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF AQUATIC ANIMAL DISEASES

Article 32. Monitoring and warning of the aquaculture environment

1. The owner of an aquaculture facility has the following obligations:

a) Monitor, supervise, and check environmental indicators at aquaculture locations and fully record the collected information and data;

b) Provide information and data on environmental monitoring and aquatic disease prevention for farmed aquatic animals upon request from the competent state authorities.

2. The competent fisheries management authority shall take the lead in coordinating with the veterinary management authority to carry out the following activities:

a) Develop and submit to the competent authority for approval the plan for monitoring and warning of aquaculture environment;

b) Implement or coordinate with organizations and individuals monitoring the aquatic environment to carry out the plan for monitoring and warning of the aquaculture environment in order to detect early signs of environmental adverse conditions and advise aquaculture facility owners to make timely adjustments.

3. The provincial People's Committee approves, allocates funding, and directs the implementation of the plan for monitoring and warning of the aquaculture environment.

4. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has the following responsibilities:

a) Guide and organize the implementation of monitoring, forecasting, and warning of aquaculture environmental conditions; handle and overcome environmental fluctuations in farming areas;

b) Designate organizations or individuals qualified to participate in aquaculture environmental monitoring and warning activities and send monitoring and warning results to the veterinary management authority and the fisheries management authority.

Article 33. Handling outbreaks of aquatic animal diseases

1. The owner of an aquaculture facility has the following obligations:

a) Do not discharge untreated wastewater or waste, or waste that has not met treatment standards, into the environment;

b) Do not dispose of diseased, suspected infectious, or dead aquatic animals into the environment;

c) Treat, harvest, or handle diseased, suspected infectious, or dead aquatic animals and apply other measures as guided by the veterinary management authority;

d) Declare aquatic animal diseases in accordance with the provisions of Clause 1, Article 19 of this Law; provide information on aquatic animal diseases as requested by veterinary management authorities and commune-level veterinary staff;

d) Sanitize, disinfect, and detoxify the aquaculture environment and aquaculture equipment following the guidance of veterinary management authorities;

e) Handle and destroy aquatic animals ensuring no disease spread;

g) Comply with inspection and examination requirements of competent state agencies.

2. Commune-level veterinary staff have the following responsibilities:

a) Implement the provisions in Point a and Point c, Clause 8, Article 27 of this Law; guide and supervise aquaculture facility owners to implement the measures prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article;

b) Compile statistics and report the aquaculture area, the number of stocked animals; the quantity and area of diseased aquatic animals.

3. The specialized veterinary management agency is responsible for investigating, reporting, and proposing the application of measures to handle aquatic animal disease outbreaks as stipulated in clauses 6 and 7 of Article 27 of this Law.

4. The commune-level People's Committee has the following responsibilities:

a) Timely and accurately notifying the situation of animal disease outbreaks in the commune based on the conclusions of the competent agency on animal disease diagnosis and testing for diseases listed in the animal disease notification list and the recommendations of commune veterinary staff;

b) Implementing surveillance and warning of areas with animal disease outbreaks;

c) Propagating the prevention and control of animal diseases in the area; implementing policies to support the prevention and control of animal diseases, mitigating the consequences caused by disease, and restoring aquaculture in the area;

d) Direct the treatment of diseases, harvesting, processing, or supervising the processing of diseased aquatic animals; compile statistics on aquaculture areas, the number and area of diseased aquatic animals; sanitize, disinfect, and decontaminate the environment in epidemic areas;

d) Organize the implementation of animal disease prevention and control measures as directed by the district-level People's Committee;

e) Submit to the Chairman of the district-level People's Committee for a decision on financial, material, and resource support when animal disease prevention and control requirements exceed local capacity;

g) Report to the Chairman of the district-level People's Committee on the results of animal disease prevention and control and the implementation of policies supporting animal disease prevention and control.

5. The district-level People's Committee has the following responsibilities:

a) Timely and accurate notification of the occurrence of animal disease outbreaks in the district based on the conclusions of the competent authorities that diagnose and test animal diseases for diseases listed in the list of notifiable animal diseases and the recommendations of the district-level veterinary management authority;

b) Organizing disease prevention, handling diseased aquatic animals; cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing the aquaculture environment according to regulations for each disease;

c) Guiding aquaculture facility owners, buyers, and transporters of aquatic animals to implement veterinary hygiene measures to prevent the spread of animal diseases;

d) Implementing policies to support the prevention and control of animal diseases, mitigate the consequences caused by animal diseases, and restore aquaculture in the area;

đ) Organizing the implementation of measures for the prevention and control of animal diseases as directed by the provincial People's Committee;

e) Organize the dissemination and popularization of measures for the prevention and control of animal diseases in the locality;

g) Submit to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for decision on financial support, supplies, and resources when the requirements for animal disease prevention and control exceed the capacity of the locality;

h) Report to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee on the results of animal disease prevention and control and the implementation of policies supporting animal disease prevention and control.

6. The Provincial People's Committee has the following responsibilities:

a) Direct the People's Committees at all levels, relevant departments, and agencies to carry out the handling of animal disease outbreaks;

b) Arrange funds to handle animal disease outbreaks and support owners of aquaculture establishments whose aquatic animals are diseased, dead, and required to be destroyed.

Article 34. Announcement of aquatic animal diseases

1. The principles and contents of announcing aquatic animal diseases shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Clause 1 and Clause 3, Article 26 of this Law.

2. Announcing aquatic animal disease outbreaks when the following conditions are met:

a) There is an outbreak of animals listed in the List of Notifiable Animal Diseases that has occurred and shows a tendency to spread widely or when a new infectious disease agent is detected;

b) There is a diagnostic conclusion confirming that the disease is on the List of Notifiable Animal Diseases or a new infectious disease agent issued by a competent agency for animal disease diagnosis and testing;

c) There is a written request for disease announcement from the provincial veterinary authority.

3. The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee decides on the announcement of aquatic animal disease outbreaks when the conditions for announcement specified in Clause 2 of this Article are fully met.

Article 35. Organizing the fight against aquatic animal diseases in outbreak areas

1. When announcing an epidemic, the authority authorized to announce aquatic animal disease shall direct relevant agencies, sectors, organizations, and individuals to implement the following measures:

a) Determine the boundaries of the epidemic area; place signs, guide the movement and transportation of animals and aquatic animal products through the epidemic area;

b) Restrict people without duties from entering places with aquatic animals that are sick or have died due to animal disease;

c) Control the transportation of animals and aquatic animal products in and out of epidemic areas; prevent and treat diseases for aquatic animals;

d) Clean, disinfect, and detoxify aquaculture areas, means, tools, wastewater, and waste in aquaculture according to the instructions of the veterinary management authority.

2. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for organizing disease prevention and control as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 27 of this Law.

3. The Chairman of the provincial People's Committee has the following responsibilities:

a) Direct the provincial veterinary management authorities, relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals to implement measures for the prevention and control of animal diseases; mobilize local resources to prevent and control animal diseases;

b) Organize propaganda and dissemination of measures for the prevention and control of animal diseases in the area;

c) Organize the implementation of policies supporting the prevention and control of animal diseases, overcome the consequences caused by diseases, and restore aquaculture in the locality;

d) Inspect and monitor the implementation of animal disease prevention and control;

d) Propose to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to submit to the Prime Minister for support in funding, supplies, and resources when the demand for animal disease prevention and control exceeds the capacity of the local area;

e) Report to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on the results of animal disease prevention and control and the implementation of support policies for disease prevention and control, overcoming the consequences caused by the disease, and restoring aquaculture in the area.

4. The Chairman of the district-level People's Committee has the following responsibilities:

a) Direct the organization to implement measures for animal disease prevention and control as prescribed;

b) Organize propaganda and dissemination of measures for the prevention and control of animal diseases in the area;

c) Implement policies to support animal disease prevention and control, overcome the consequences caused by the disease, and restore aquaculture in the area;

d) Submit to the Chairman of the provincial-level People's Committee for decision regarding financial, material, and resource support when the demand for animal disease prevention and control exceeds the local capacity;

d) Report to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee on the results of animal disease prevention and control, and the implementation of policies supporting disease prevention and control, overcoming the consequences caused by diseases, and restoring aquaculture in the area.

5. The Chairman of the Commune-level People's Committee has the following responsibilities:

a) Organize the implementation of measures for animal disease prevention and control as prescribed;

b) Organize monitoring and handling of diseased aquatic animals as prescribed;

c) Organize propaganda and dissemination of measures for the prevention and control of animal diseases in the area;

d) Implement policies supporting animal disease prevention and control, overcoming the consequences caused by diseases, and restoring aquaculture in the area;

d) Submit to the Chairman of the district-level People's Committee for a decision to support funding, materials, and resources when the demand for animal disease prevention and control exceeds the local capacity;

e) Report to the Chairman of the District People's Committee and the district-level specialized veterinary management agency on the results of animal disease prevention and control, and the implementation of policies supporting disease prevention and control, overcoming the consequences caused by diseases, and restoring aquaculture in the area.

6. The specialized veterinary management agency shall implement the provisions of Clauses 6 and 7, Article 27 of this Law.

7. Commune-level veterinary staff have the following responsibilities:

a) Implement the directions of the People's Committee and the specialized veterinary management agency in the prevention and control of animal diseases;

b) Handle animal disease outbreaks in accordance with the provisions of Clause 2, Article 33 of this Law;

c) Guide and participate in carrying out hygiene, disinfection, and detoxification measures to prevent and control the spread of animal diseases;

d) Collect disease samples following the guidance of the district-level specialized veterinary management agency.

8. Aquaculture facility owners shall comply with the provisions of Clause 1, Article 33 of this Law.

9. For aquaculture facilities that do not yet have sick animals but are in epidemic areas, the aquaculture facility owners must apply measures to prevent pathogens from entering; enhance environmental monitoring and warning, care, feeding, and improving the resistance of aquatic animals; and monitor diseases to detect sick aquatic animals early.

Article 36. Announcement of the end of aquatic animal disease

1. Conditions for announcing the end of animal disease include:

a) No new outbreaks of animal disease have occurred since the last animal disease outbreak was handled in accordance with the regulations for each disease;

b) Mandatory disease prevention measures have been applied for animals susceptible to animal diseases in the affected area;

c) Hygiene, disinfection, and sterilization measures ensuring veterinary hygiene requirements have been carried out in the affected area;

d) There is a written request to declare the end of the animal disease from the provincial specialized veterinary management authority and it has been appraised and recognized by the Department of Animal Health.

2. The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee announces the end of the animal disease when the conditions stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article are met.

Chapter III. ANIMAL AND ANIMAL PRODUCT QUARANTINE

Section 1. QUARANTINE OF ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS ON LAND

Article 37. General provisions on the quarantine of animals and animal products on land

1. Animals and animal products listed in the terrestrial animals and animal products catalog that are required to be quarantined before being transported out of the provincial area must be quarantined once at the place of origin in the following cases:

a) Animals and animal products originating from collection or business establishments;

b) Animals and animal products originating from livestock farms that have not been monitored for animal diseases;

c) Animals that have not been vaccinated as prescribed in Clause 4, Article 15 of this Law or have been vaccinated but no longer have protective immunity;

d) Animals and animal products originating from establishments that have not been recognized as safe from animal diseases;

e) Animal products originating from preliminary processing or processing establishments that have not undergone periodic veterinary hygiene inspections;

f) Animals and animal products not falling under the cases specified in points b, c, d, and e of this clause, upon the request of the consignor.

2. Animals and animal products listed in the list of terrestrial animals and animal products subject to quarantine before export, as required by the importing country, the shipper, and before import, temporary import for re-export, temporary export for re-import, border crossing, bonded warehouses, or transit through the territory of Vietnam, must undergo quarantine.

3. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall promulgate:

a) The list of terrestrial animals and animal products subject to quarantine;

b) The list of terrestrial animals and animal products exempt from quarantine;

c) The list of terrestrial animals and animal products that must undergo risk analysis before being imported into Vietnam;

d) The list of objects subject to quarantine for terrestrial animals and animal products.

d) Specify the content and dossiers for the quarantine of animals and animal products transported out of the provincial area; for export, import, temporary import for re-export, temporary export for re-import, transfer of border gates, bonded warehouses, transit through Vietnam's territory, and animals and animal products carried by individuals; marking, assigning identification numbers to animals, sealing transportation means, containers holding animals and animal products subject to quarantine.

Article 38. Requirements for terrestrial animals and animal products transported out of the provincial area

1. Animals and animal products listed in the catalog of terrestrial animals and animal products subject to quarantine when transported out of the provincial area must meet the following requirements:

a) Have an animal quarantine certificate, animal products issued by the veterinary authority of the place of origin;

b) Animals must be healthy, animal products must meet veterinary hygiene requirements;

c) Do not spread animal diseases, do not harm human health.

2. Animals and animal products must be transported using means of transport and containers that ensure veterinary hygiene requirements as prescribed in Article 70 of this Law.

Article 39. Procedures for quarantining animals and animal products transported overland out of the provincial area

1. Animals and animal products as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 37 of this Law shall undergo quarantine as follows:

a) Organizations and individuals transporting animals and animal products must register for quarantine with the local veterinary authority;

b) Within 01 working day from the date of receiving the quarantine registration, the local specialized veterinary management authority shall decide and notify the organization or individual registering for quarantine about the location and time of the quarantine;

c) The content of quarantine implementation includes clinical examination, diagnosis, and testing of animals and animal products to detect quarantine subjects and subjects for veterinary hygiene inspection;

d) Within 05 working days from the start of quarantine, if the quarantine requirements are met, the local specialized veterinary management authority shall issue a Quarantine Certificate; in cases where it takes longer than 05 working days or the Quarantine Certificate is not issued, the local specialized veterinary management authority shall notify and respond in writing and clearly state the reasons.

2. Animals and animal products originating from establishments recognized as disease-safe or participating in disease surveillance programs, or vaccinated and still possessing protective immunity, or animal products from primary processing or processing establishments that are periodically inspected for veterinary hygiene, are quarantined as follows:

a) Organizations and individuals transporting animals and animal products must register for quarantine with the local veterinary authority;

b) Within 1 working day from the date of receiving the quarantine registration, the local specialized veterinary authority shall issue a Quarantine Certificate.

Article 40. Animal quarantine stations at transportation hubs

1. The quarantine of animals and animal products when transported through transportation hubs shall be carried out by animal quarantine stations. Animal quarantine stations at transportation hubs must include representatives from the police, market management, and veterinary sectors.

2. The content of the quarantine of animals and animal products at transportation hubs includes:

a) Inspect the quantity and type of animals and animal products according to the Quarantine Certificate; the identification number, stamp, veterinary hygiene seal; the seal, and lock of the transportation vehicle;

b) Check the health status of the animals; the current veterinary hygiene status of animal products and transportation vehicles; hygiene, disinfection, and detoxification of transportation vehicles;

c) Confirm the inspection of animals and animal products if they meet the requirements; in cases where they do not meet the requirements, temporarily suspend the transportation of animals and animal products and handle according to legal regulations.

Amended and supplemented provisions:

3. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall plan and approve the establishment of animal quarantine stations at traffic hubs nationwide.

Amended and supplemented provisions:

4. The provincial People's Committee, based on the planning specified in Clause 3 of this Article, decides on the establishment and organization of animal and animal product quarantine at animal quarantine stations at traffic hubs within the province.

Article 41. Quarantine of terrestrial animals and animal products for export

1. Animals and animal products listed in the catalog of terrestrial animals and animal products subject to quarantine before export must be quarantined and issued a Quarantine Certificate as required by the importing country or the consignee; in case the importing country or the consignee does not require quarantine, the quarantine procedures for terrestrial animals and animal products transported out of the provincial area shall be followed.

2. The Department of Animal Health carries out quarantine and issues Quarantine Certificates in accordance with Vietnamese law and the requirements of the importing country or the consignee.

3. The quarantine of animals and animal products shall be carried out at the place of origin or at the quarantine isolation facility at the border gate according to the procedures and veterinary hygiene requirements prescribed for exported animals and animal products.

Article 42. Procedures for the quarantine of exported terrestrial animals and animal products

1. The quarantine dossier for exported animals and animal products includes:

a) Quarantine registration form;

b) Veterinary hygiene requirements of the importing country or the consignor (if any);

c) Sample of quarantine certificate issued by the competent authority of the importing country (if any).

2. The quarantine of exported animals and animal products shall be carried out according to the following sequence:

a) Organizations or individuals exporting animals or animal products listed in the Catalogue of terrestrial animals and animal products subject to quarantine shall submit the quarantine registration dossier prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article to the Department of Animal Health;

b) Within 01 working day from the date of receiving a valid application, the Department of Animal Health shall decide and notify the organization or individual registering for quarantine about the location and time of quarantine;

c) Within 05 working days from the start date of quarantine, if the quarantine requirements are met, the Department of Animal Health shall issue a Quarantine Certificate; in cases where it takes longer than 05 working days or the Quarantine Certificate is not issued, a written notice must be provided, clearly stating the reasons.

3. In cases where the importing country does not require quarantine, it shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of Article 39 of this Law.

Article 43. Risk analysis of animals and terrestrial animal products for import

1. Animals and animal products listed in the catalog of terrestrial animals and animal products subject to risk analysis before being imported into Vietnam must undergo risk analysis.

2. The Department of Animal Health shall organize the implementation of risk analysis based on information provided by the competent veterinary authority of the exporting country and other relevant sources of information.

3. Based on the results of the risk analysis, the Department of Animal Health shall decide on the import of animals and animal products.

Article 44. Requirements for terrestrial animals and animal products imported

1. For animals:

a) Healthy; originating from areas or establishments recognized as disease-free or free from dangerous diseases according to the regulations of the World Organisation for Animal Health and Vietnam;

b) Having a quarantine certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country that meets the veterinary hygiene requirements of Vietnam.

2. For animal products intended for food:

a) Derived from animals that meet the provisions in point a, Clause 1 of this Article;

b) Have a quarantine certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country that meets the veterinary hygiene requirements of Vietnam;

c) Slaughtered, preliminarily processed, and processed at production facilities registered for export to Vietnam.

3. For animal products not used for food:

a) Taken from animals specified in point a, Clause 1 of this Article;

b) Have a quarantine certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country that meets the veterinary hygiene requirements of Vietnam;

c) In case of use for breeding, they must originate from disease-free regions or facilities, or free of dangerous infectious diseases as regulated by the World Organisation for Animal Health and Vietnam.

4. When necessary, the Department of Animal Health supervises the quarantine isolation process; inspects and evaluates the system for animal disease management and veterinary hygiene in the exporting country.

Article 45. Dossiers for registration and declaration of quarantine for imported land animals and animal products

1. The dossier for registering quarantine of imported terrestrial animals and animal products includes:

a) A written request for guidance on quarantine of imported animals and animal products from organizations or individuals;

b) For animals and animal products under the management of other competent state agencies, a document or permit must be submitted according to regulations.

2. The dossier for declaring quarantine of imported terrestrial animals and animal products includes:

a) Quarantine declaration form;

b) Quarantine certificate from the exporting country.

Article 46. Procedure for quarantine of imported terrestrial animals and animal products

1. Organizations and individuals importing animals and animal products listed in the Catalogue of terrestrial animals and animal products subject to quarantine must submit the quarantine registration dossier as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 45 of this Law to the Department of Animal Health.

2. Within 05 working days from the date of receiving a valid dossier stipulated in Clause 1, Article 45 of this Law, based on the epidemic situation, the disease surveillance management system, and veterinary hygiene monitoring of the exporting country, the Department of Animal Health shall issue a written consent for the quarantine of imported animals and animal products and guide relevant organizations and individuals in carrying out the quarantine of imported animals and animal products; in case of disapproval, a written response must be provided, specifying the reasons.

In cases where animals or animal products come from countries or territories registering for import into Vietnam for the first time, or from countries or territories with a high risk of animal diseases, the Department of Animal Health must conduct a risk analysis as prescribed in Article 43 of this Law.

3. Within 01 working day from the date of receiving a valid animal quarantine declaration dossier, and animal products as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 45 of this Law, the Department of Animal Health shall decide and notify the organization or individual registering for quarantine about the location and time for conducting quarantine according to the provisions of Article 47 of this Law.

Article 47. Content of quarantine for imported terrestrial animals and animal products

1. For imported animals, the Department of Animal Health shall conduct quarantine as follows:

a) Check the quarantine declaration dossier and the health status of the animals; if the quarantine dossier is valid and the animals show no signs of dangerous diseases, confirm it to proceed with the procedures and transfer the animals to the quarantine isolation area or to a location that has been inspected and meets the conditions for quarantine isolation;

b) Supervise animals at the quarantine isolation area or at a place with adequate quarantine conditions; the quarantine monitoring period should be appropriate for each animal species and each disease being inspected, but not more than 45 days from the start of quarantine;

c) Collect samples for animal disease testing and apply compulsory disease prevention measures for animals according to regulations;

d) Issue Import Quarantine Certificates for animals meeting veterinary hygiene requirements and notify the relevant veterinary management authority at the destination;

đ) Guide the consignor in implementing hygiene, disinfection, and detoxification measures.

2. For imported animal products, the Department of Animal Health conducts quarantine as follows:

a) Check the quarantine declaration documents and the actual condition of the goods; if they meet requirements, collect samples to test for veterinary hygiene indicators as prescribed;

b) Issuing an import quarantine certificate for animal products that meet veterinary hygiene requirements and notifying the relevant veterinary management authority at the destination;

c) Guiding the consignor to implement hygiene, disinfection, and pest control measures.

3. In case animals or animal products do not meet the requirements, minutes shall be made and handled in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Article 48. Animal and animal product quarantine dossiers for temporary import for re-export, temporary export for re-import, customs gate transfer, bonded warehouse, transit through the territory of Vietnam

1. Quarantine registration dossiers include:

a) A written request for guidance on the quarantine of animals and animal products for temporary import for re-export, temporary export for re-import, customs gate transfer, bonded warehouse, transit through the territory of Vietnam from organizations or individuals;

b) Commercial contract;

c) For animals, animal products that fall under the management of other competent state agencies must submit documents or permits as prescribed.

2. The quarantine declaration dossier includes:

a) Quarantine declaration form;

b) Quarantine certificate from the exporting country.

Article 49. Procedure for quarantine of animals and terrestrial animal products temporarily imported for re-export, temporarily exported for re-import, transshipment at border gates, in bonded warehouses, or in transit through Vietnamese territory

1. Organizations and individuals temporarily importing for re-export, temporarily exporting for re-import, transshipping at border gates, in bonded warehouses, or in transit through Vietnamese territory animals or terrestrial animal products listed in the Catalogue of animals and terrestrial animal products subject to quarantine must submit the dossier prescribed in Clause 1, Article 48 of this Law to the Department of Animal Health.

2. Within 05 working days from the date of receiving a valid dossier, based on the epidemic situation, the disease surveillance management system, and the veterinary hygiene surveillance of the exporting country, the Department of Animal Health shall issue written guidance for organizations and individuals on the implementation of quarantine for animals and animal products that are temporarily imported for re-export, temporarily exported for re-import, transferred at border gates, to bonded warehouses, or in transit through the territory of Vietnam.

3. At the border gate, within 01 working day from the date of receiving a valid dossier as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 48 of this Law, the Department of Animal Health shall make a decision and notify the organization or individual registered for quarantine to proceed with quarantine in accordance with the provisions of Article 50 of this Law.

Article 50. Quarantine of animals and animal products temporarily imported for re-export, temporarily exported for re-import, transferred at border gates, to bonded warehouses, or in transit through the territory of Vietnam

1. At the import border gate, the Department of Animal Health shall:

a) Check the quarantine dossier and the actual condition of the shipment;

b) Issuing a quarantine certificate, except for cases specified in Clause 4 of this Article;

c) Seal or place a lead seal on the means of transporting animals and animal products;

d) Guide the consignor and implement veterinary hygiene regulations during the storage and transportation of animals and animal products within the territory of Vietnam; sanitize, disinfect, and detoxify the means of transport and loading/unloading areas;

d) In case animals or animal products are transported in containers or other closed means, if the transportation means, seal, or lead seal shows any abnormal signs, the Department of Animal Health shall require the consignor to open the container or transport means for veterinary inspections in the presence of customs authorities and the consignor.

2. The consignor, when transporting temporarily exported and re-imported animals and animal products, temporarily imported and re-exported animals and animal products, transferring through border gates, bonded warehouses, or transiting through the territory of Vietnam, must comply with the following regulations:

a) Follow the guidance of the Department of Animal Health during the storage and transportation of animals and animal products within the territory of Vietnam; in case of needing to change the transportation route or the checkpoint, written approval from the Department of Animal Health must be obtained;

b) Do not unload goods or break seals or locks without authorization, except in necessary cases which must be witnessed by the veterinary management authority; in case of needing to change the means of transportation, written approval from the Department of Animal Health must be obtained;

c) Do not allow animals to contact domestic animals; animals may only be released for feeding, drinking, or in other special cases when permitted and supervised by the veterinary management authority;

d) Vehicles transporting animals and animal products must ensure that waste is not spilled on the way. Animal carcasses, waste, bedding, leftover animal feed, and containers arising during transportation must be collected and treated at locations as instructed by the Department of Animal Health.

3. At the export border gate, the Department of Animal Health shall:

a) Check the Quarantine Certificate;

b) Check the seal or lock on vehicles transporting animals and animal products;

c) If the goods comply with the Quarantine Certificate issued at the import border gate, confirm it so that the owner can carry out export procedures from the territory of Vietnam.

4. Quarantine Certificates for animals and animal products for temporary import for re-export, temporary export for re-import, border gate transfer, bonded warehouse, or transit through the territory of Vietnam shall not be issued in the following cases:

a) Animals and animal products that have passed through countries or territories with animal disease outbreaks to which those animals are susceptible;

b) Quarantine certificates from the exporting country that are not valid;

c) Animals that are sick, show signs of illness, or animal products carrying dangerous pathogens as prescribed by Vietnamese law.

Article 51. Requirements for terrestrial animals participating in fairs, exhibitions, sports competitions, artistic performances; terrestrial animal products participating in fairs and exhibitions

1. Animals participating in fairs, exhibitions, sports competitions, artistic performances; terrestrial animal products participating in fairs and exhibitions must comply with the following regulations:

a) Have a clear origin and be free of pathogens;

b) Undergo quarantine at both the place of departure and the place of arrival as prescribed.

2. During participation in fairs, exhibitions, sports competitions, and art performances, the consignor must comply with veterinary hygiene requirements under the supervision of the local veterinary authority.

3. Upon the conclusion of fairs, exhibitions, sports competitions, and art performances, the local veterinary authority guides the cleaning, disinfection, and detoxification of areas where animals and animal products are concentrated; inspects and issues a Quarantine Certificate for animals and animal products that meet veterinary hygiene requirements for domestic transportation and use; in case of export from Vietnam, the consignor must carry out procedures in accordance with export quarantine regulations.

Article 52. Transportation of specimen samples

1. Organizations and individuals wishing to bring specimen samples into Vietnam or send them abroad must register and submit a dossier to the Department of Animal Health for permission to transport.

2. Specimens sent to testing facilities must be packaged, preserved, and transported according to regulations, ensuring veterinary hygiene requirements, preventing the spread of pathogens, and not causing environmental pollution.

3. Specimens that are not allowed to be brought into Vietnam, or specimens that are not packaged, preserved, and transported according to regulations, do not meet veterinary hygiene requirements, or pose a risk of spreading and causing environmental pollution, must be destroyed in accordance with the law on veterinary medicine, infectious disease prevention, and environmental protection.

Section 2. QUARANTINE OF ANIMALS AND AQUATIC ANIMAL PRODUCTS

Article 53. General regulations on animal and aquatic animal product quarantine

1. Animals and aquatic animal products listed in the Catalogue of animals and aquatic animal products subject to quarantine before being transported out of a provincial area must undergo quarantine once at the place of origin in the following cases:

a) Animals and aquatic animal products originating from areas announced as disease zones by competent state authorities;

b) Aquatic animals used for breeding originating from collection or trading establishments;

c) Aquatic animals used for breeding originating from aquaculture establishments that have not been recognized as disease-safe establishments or have not been monitored for diseases according to regulations;

d) Animals and animal products not falling under the cases specified in points a, b, and c of this clause when requested by the consigner.

2. Aquatic animals and aquatic animal products listed in the list of animals and aquatic animal products that must undergo quarantine before export, according to the requirements of the importing country or the consigner, and before import, temporary import for re-export, temporary export for re-import, border gate transfer, warehousing in bonded warehouses, or transit through the territory of Vietnam, must be quarantined.

3. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall promulgate:

a) List of animals and aquatic animal products subject to quarantine or exempt from quarantine;

b) List of animals and aquatic animal products subject to risk analysis before being imported into Vietnam;

c) List of objects for animal and aquatic animal product quarantine;

d) Regulations, specific content, and dossiers for quarantine of animals and aquatic animal products transported out of provincial areas, exported, imported, temporarily imported for re-export, temporarily exported for re-import, transferred through border gates, bonded warehouses, or transiting through Vietnamese territory.

Article 54. Requirements for animals and aquatic animal products transported out of provincial areas

1. Animals and aquatic animal products listed in the List of animals and aquatic animal products subject to quarantine when transported out of the provincial-level area must meet the following requirements:

a) Have a Veterinary Quarantine Certificate for animals and aquatic animal products issued by the local veterinary authority at the place of origin;

b) Aquatic animals must be healthy, and aquatic animal products must meet veterinary hygiene requirements;

c) Do not spread animal diseases, do not harm human health.

2. Animals and aquatic animal products must be transported by means and containers that ensure veterinary hygiene requirements as prescribed in Article 70 of this Law.

Article 55. Procedures for quarantining animals and aquatic animal products transported out of the provincial-level area

1. The animals and aquatic animal products specified in Clause 1, Article 53 of this Law shall be quarantined as follows:

a) Organizations and individuals, when transporting animals or aquatic animal products, must register for quarantine with the local veterinary management authority;

b) Within 01 working day from the date of receiving the quarantine registration, the local specialized veterinary management authority shall decide and notify the organization or individual registering for quarantine about the location and time of the quarantine;

c) The quarantine implementation includes clinical inspection, diagnosis, and testing of animals or aquatic animal products to detect quarantine subjects and veterinary hygiene inspection subjects;

d) Within 03 working days from the start date of the quarantine, if the quarantine requirements are met, the veterinary management authority shall issue a Quarantine Certificate; in cases where it takes more than 03 working days or no Quarantine Certificate is issued, the local veterinary management authority shall notify in writing and clearly state the reason.

2. Breeding aquatic animals originating from disease-free facilities or participating in disease surveillance programs shall be quarantined as follows:

a) Organizations and individuals transporting aquatic animals for breeding must register for quarantine with the local veterinary management authority;

b) Within 1 working day from the date of receiving the quarantine registration, the local specialized veterinary authority shall issue a Quarantine Certificate.

Article 56. Procedures and contents of quarantine for aquatic animals and aquatic animal products exported not for food purposes

The procedures and contents of quarantine for aquatic animals and aquatic animal products listed in the catalog of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products subject to export quarantine not for food purposes shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Articles 41 and 42 of this Law.

Article 57. Procedures for quarantine of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products exported for food purposes

1. Before exporting aquatic animals and aquatic animal products listed in the catalog of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products subject to quarantine for food purposes, organizations and individuals must register for quarantine with the competent authority. The registration dossier includes:

a) Quarantine registration form;

b) Quarantine requirements of the importing country (if any);

c) For animals, aquatic animal products subject to management by other competent state agencies must submit documents or permits as prescribed;

d) Health safety certificate of the aquatic farm where the aquatic animals originate for producing the shipment (if any).

2. Upon receiving a quarantine registration from an organization or individual, the competent authority conducting animal and animal product quarantine shall:

a) Check the quantity, type, and packaging of animals and aquatic animal products;

b) Check for signs of animal diseases;

c) Take samples for disease testing as required by the importing country (if any), except for diseases that have been recognized as safe in the farm of origin of the aquatic animals.

d) In the case of disease testing, within 01 working day from the date of sampling, the competent quarantine authority shall send the samples to the designated laboratory for disease testing;

d) Within no more than 03 working days from the date of receiving the disease test samples, the laboratory shall notify the test results to the competent quarantine authority.

3. The issuance of the Quarantine Certificate is carried out as follows:

a) In the case where disease testing is not required, the competent quarantine authority shall issue the export Quarantine Certificate within 01 working day from the date of receiving satisfactory inspection results;

b) In the case where disease testing is required, the competent quarantine authority shall issue the export Quarantine Certificate within 01 working day from the date of receiving satisfactory test results.

c) In case the consignor requests a replacement of the quarantine certificate for the shipment, the competent quarantine authority shall inspect the shipment and issue a replacement quarantine certificate.

Article 58. Procedures and content of quarantine for animals and aquatic animal products imported, temporarily exported for re-import, temporarily imported for re-export, transferred at border gates, in bonded warehouses, in transit through the territory of Vietnam; aquatic animals participating in fairs, exhibitions, sports competitions, artistic performances; aquatic animal products participating in fairs, exhibitions; transportation of aquatic disease samples.

Procedures and contents of quarantine for animals and aquatic animal products imported, temporarily imported for re-export, temporarily exported for re-import, changing ports of entry, bonded warehouses, transit through the territory of Vietnam; aquatic animals participating in fairs, exhibitions, sports competitions, art performances; aquatic animal products participating in fairs, exhibitions; transportation of aquatic diagnostic samples shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Articles 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, and 52 of this Law.

Section 3. RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS REGARDING ANIMAL AND ANIMAL PRODUCT QUARANTINE

Article 59. Responsibilities and authorities of the Department of Animal Health

1. The Department of Animal Health has the following responsibilities:

a) Coordinate with competent veterinary authorities of the exporting country to conduct inspections in the exporting country or request quarantine in accordance with the regulations of the importing country;

b) Decide on measures for handling; supervise the handling of animals and animal products subject to export and import quarantine that do not meet veterinary hygiene requirements;

c) Coordinate with relevant agencies to handle animals and animal products subject to quarantine that are ownerless, of unknown origin from foreign countries entering Vietnam;

d) Provide information on animal and animal product quarantine to related countries upon request.

2. The Department of Animal Health has the following powers:

a) Request the competent veterinary authority of the exporting country of animals and animal products to provide related information and cooperate in inspections in the exporting country;

b) Refuse the import of animals and animal products that do not meet the prescribed veterinary hygiene requirements;

c) Require the owner of imported animals and animal products that do not meet veterinary hygiene requirements to handle them.

d) In necessary cases, the Department of Animal Health authorizes the provincial veterinary management agencies to carry out quarantine and issue quarantine certificates for export, import, temporary import for re-export, temporary export for re-import, border gate transfer, bonded warehouse, and transit of animals and animal products at certain border gates.

Article 60. Responsibilities and powers of local veterinary management agencies

1. Quarantine of animals and animal products for export, import, temporary import for re-export, temporary export for re-import, border gate transfer, bonded warehouse, and transit through the territory of Vietnam when authorized by the Department of Animal Health.

2. Decide on handling measures; supervise the handling of animals and animal products; request the handling of animals and animal products that do not meet veterinary hygiene requirements; request the consignor to implement and bear the costs.

Article 61. Temporary suspension of export and import; prohibition of export and import of animals and animal products

1. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development decides to temporarily suspend export, import or prohibit export, import in the following cases:

a) Imported animals and animal products are identified as carrying dangerous infectious pathogens, posing a risk of spreading disease to domestic animals, adversely affecting human health; have been warned, fail to meet Vietnamese regulations; seriously affecting Vietnam's exports;

b) Exported animals and animal products do not meet veterinary hygiene requirements, have been warned by the importing country, posing a risk of losing Vietnam's export markets.

2. When the risks specified in clause 1 of this Article have been remedied, animals and animal products may continue to be exported and imported.

3. The government shall provide detailed regulations on this Article.

Article 62. Responsibilities and powers of animal quarantine officers

1. Carry out the quarantine of animals and animal products in accordance with the provisions of this Law; comply with quarantine operational procedures and be responsible for performing their tasks and exercising their powers; when on duty, wear uniforms, badges, rank insignias, signs, and animal quarantine cards.

2. Request the consignor to provide necessary records and documents for quarantine purposes.

3. Guide and supervise the consignor to bring animals and animal products to the quarantine location or isolation area; clean, disinfect, and sterilize transport means and containment tools.

4. Perform inspection and sampling during the quarantine process as prescribed.

Article 63. Rights and obligations of the consignor

1. The consignor has the following rights:

a) To be provided with information about animal and animal product quarantine;

b) Be guided by the veterinary specialized management agency to identify and detect factors harmful to animals and animal products; the measures of hygiene, disinfection, and detoxification;

c) Request the veterinary specialized management agency to carry out the quarantine of animals and animal products as prescribed in point e, clause 1, Article 37 and point d, clause 1, Article 53 of this Law, except in cases beyond the capacity of the veterinary specialized management agency;

d) File complaints about the quarantine results and decisions of the veterinary specialized management agency.

2. The consignor has the following obligations:

a) Comply with the provisions of this Law and relevant laws regarding the quarantine of animals and animal products;

b) Facilitate specialized veterinary regulatory authorities in performing animal and animal product quarantine;

c) Provide necessary information for quarantine work when requested by specialized veterinary regulatory authorities;

d) Be responsible for raising, caring for animals, preserving animal products, means of transport, and quarantine declaration contents; ensure veterinary hygiene and environmental sanitation requirements during the gathering and transportation of animals and animal products as prescribed;

đ) Must inform the nearest specialized veterinary regulatory authority when detecting unusual diseases or animals showing signs of disease, or animal products carrying pathogens listed in the Animal Disease Notification list;

e) Not to tamper with or change the number of animals, the weight of animal products that have been quarantined; not to arbitrarily add, erase, or alter the content recorded in the Animal and Animal Product Quarantine Certificate;

g) Not to arbitrarily remove seals or clips, change the means of transport or the transportation location of animals and animal products, or arbitrarily change the animal identification code during transportation;

h) To pay the treatment costs and compensate for damages caused by violations of the law on animal and animal product quarantine;

i) To pay fees, charges, and quarantine costs for animals and animal products according to legal regulations.

Chapter IV. CONTROL OF SLAUGHTERING LAND ANIMALS; PREPROCESSING, PROCESSING

ANIMALS, ANIMAL PRODUCTS; VETERINARY SANITARY INSPECTION

Section 1. CONTROL OF SLAUGHTERING OF TERRESTRIAL ANIMALS

Article 64. Requirements for the slaughter of terrestrial animals for business purposes

1. Animals listed in the Catalogue of animals subject to slaughter control shall have their slaughter monitored by the specialized veterinary authority according to the established procedure.

2. The slaughter of animals must be conducted at centralized animal slaughter facilities ensuring veterinary hygiene requirements as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 69 of this Law.

In cases in rural, mountainous, island areas, regions with ethnic minority populations, and areas with difficult socio-economic conditions where there are no centralized animal slaughtering facilities, animal slaughtering shall be carried out at small-scale animal slaughtering establishments and must meet the veterinary hygiene requirements stipulated in Clause 2, Article 69 of this Law.

Animals listed in the List of animals subject to controlled slaughter must be healthy when brought for slaughter, meet veterinary hygiene requirements, and be treated in accordance with the provisions at Point b, Clause 1, Article 21 of this Law.

Article 65. Contents of controlling the slaughter of land animals

1. Inspect the implementation of veterinary hygiene requirements for slaughtered animals.

2. Inspect the implementation of veterinary hygiene requirements for slaughter establishments as stipulated in Clauses 1 and 2 of Article 69 of this Law.

3. Inspect the compliance with regulations for persons directly involved in animal slaughter.

4. Inspect before and after animal slaughter to detect factors causing disease or harm to animals, human health, and the environment.

5. Handle animals and animal products that do not meet veterinary hygiene requirements.

6. Stamp or mark slaughter control on the carcass or attach a veterinary hygiene seal; issue a Quarantine Certificate for animal products transported out of the provincial area.

Section 2. CONTROL OF PREPROCESSING AND PROCESSING OF ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS

Article 66. Veterinary hygiene requirements for the preliminary processing and processing of animals and animal products

1. Veterinary hygiene inspections must be carried out by veterinary management authorities during the preliminary processing and processing of animals and animal products.

2. Establishments performing preliminary processing and processing of animals and animal products must ensure veterinary hygiene requirements as prescribed in Clauses 3 and 4, Article 69 of this Law, and the laws on food safety.

Article 67. Content of control over the preliminary processing and processing of animals and animal products

1. Inspect the implementation of veterinary hygiene requirements for establishments performing the preliminary processing and processing of animals and animal products according to the provisions of Clauses 3 and 4, Article 69 of this Law.

2. Inspect the compliance of regulations for persons directly participating in the preliminary processing and processing of animals and animal products.

3. Handle animals and animal products that do not ensure veterinary hygiene and food safety requirements.

Section 3. VETERINARY HYGIENE INSPECTION

Article 68. General provisions on veterinary hygiene inspection

1. Veterinary hygiene inspections must be carried out during the processes of animal husbandry, aquaculture, transportation, slaughtering of terrestrial animals, preliminary processing, processing, preservation, and business of animals and animal products.

2. The specialized veterinary management agency conducts inspections and monitors compliance with veterinary hygiene requirements for the subjects listed in the Catalog of subjects required to undergo veterinary hygiene inspection; analyzes risks and traces the origin of animals and animal products.

3. Contents of veterinary hygiene inspection:

a) Inspecting and assessing compliance with veterinary hygiene requirements for subjects required to undergo veterinary hygiene inspection;

b) Applying technical measures to detect subjects under veterinary hygiene inspection;

c) Concluding and handling in accordance with legal regulations.

Article 69. Veterinary hygiene requirements for terrestrial animal slaughterhouses; establishments preliminarily processing and processing animal products

1. Concentrated animal slaughtering establishments:

a) The location must comply with the planning of the local administration;

b) Designing separate areas to prevent cross-contamination;

c) Equipment, tools and water for the slaughtering of animals must meet veterinary hygiene requirements;

d) Having wastewater and waste treatment systems to ensure epidemic safety and in accordance with the law on environmental protection;

dd) Persons directly involved in animal slaughter must comply with health regulations and implement hygiene procedures during slaughter.

2. Small-scale animal slaughtering establishments:

a) The location must be separate from the source of toxicity or pollution;

b) Equipment and tools suitable for slaughtering, not causing toxicity or pollution to animal products;

c) Have enough water to ensure veterinary hygiene requirements for the slaughter of animals;

d) Have measures to collect and treat wastewater and waste to ensure epidemic safety and comply with environmental protection laws;

dd) Persons directly involved in animal slaughter must comply with health regulations and implement hygiene procedures during slaughter.

3. Facilities for preliminary processing and processing of animals and animal products for business:

a) Have a suitable location and area, a safe distance from toxic, polluted sources, and other harmful factors;

b) Designing separate areas to prevent cross-contamination;

c) Equipment and tools that meet veterinary hygiene requirements;

d) Have enough water that meets technical standards for preliminary processing and processing of animal products;

đ) Have a wastewater and waste treatment system that ensures epidemic safety and complies with environmental protection laws;

e) The processing and preparation procedures must ensure that the products are not cross-contaminated, exposed to contaminants, or toxic factors;

g) Persons directly involved in processing and preparing animal products must comply with health regulations and follow hygiene procedures during processing and preparation.

4. Facilities for processing and preparing small-scale animal products:

a) Must have sufficient distance to ensure they are not contaminated by harmful agents;

b) Equipment and tools must meet veterinary hygiene requirements;

c) Must have enough water that meets technical standards to serve the processing and preparation of animal products;

d) Have measures to collect and treat wastewater and waste to ensure epidemic safety and comply with environmental protection laws;

d) Persons directly involved in processing and preparing animals and animal products must comply with health regulations and follow hygiene procedures during processing and preparation.

Article 70. Veterinary hygiene requirements in the transportation of animals and animal products

1. Animal transport means:

a) Technical safety to protect animals during transportation;

b) Ensure that wastewater and waste do not escape into the environment during transportation;

c) Easy to clean, disinfect, and sterilize;

d) For closed transport vehicles, there must be a system to provide oxygen or proper ventilation.

2. Vehicles and containers for animal products:

a) Technical safety to ensure that the quality of animal products is not adversely affected during transportation;

b) The interior of containers for animal products must be made of non-corrosive materials, easy to clean, disinfect, and sterilize;

c) Containers for animal products must be sealed to protect the products from contamination from the external environment and vice versa;

d) Meet the temperature storage requirements for each type of animal product throughout the transportation process.

3. Wastewater and waste during transportation must be collected and treated to ensure epidemic safety and in accordance with the provisions of the law on environmental protection.

Article 71. Veterinary hygiene requirements for markets and animal collection establishments

1. Markets specializing in animal trading:

a) The location must comply with the planning of the local administration;

b) Have separate areas for each species of animal;

c) Equipment, tools, and water that meet veterinary hygiene requirements;

d) Have measures to collect and treat wastewater and waste to ensure epidemic safety and comply with environmental protection laws;

d) Implement cleaning, disinfection, and pest control according to regulations.

2. Small-scale animal trading markets:

a) Locations separated from other merchandise sectors;

b) Facilitate cleaning, disinfection, pest control, collection, and treatment of wastewater and waste.

3. Animal collection establishments:

a) Locations separated from residential areas, livestock farming, aquaculture areas, and public works;

b) Have separate areas for each species of animal;

c) Equipment, tools, and water that meet veterinary hygiene requirements;

d) Have measures to collect and treat wastewater and waste to ensure epidemic safety and in accordance with the provisions of the law on environmental protection.

Article 72. Veterinary hygiene requirements for establishments trading animal products

1. Establishments trading animal products:

a) Means of display and containers holding animal products must be made of non-corrosive materials, must not negatively affect product quality, and must be easy to clean, disinfect, and decontaminate;

b) Appropriate measures must be taken to store animal products to prevent food safety hazards and spoilage;

c) Places and equipment used in trading animal products must be kept clean before, during, and after sale, with periodic disinfection and decontamination;

d) Warehouses and equipment for storing animal products must comply with the regulations according to the corresponding technical standards;

d) Wastewater and waste generated during the business of animal products must be treated to ensure disease safety and in accordance with the provisions of the law on environmental protection.

2. Business establishments and animal products intended for food purposes must meet the veterinary hygiene requirements stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article and in accordance with food safety laws.

Article 73. Veterinary hygiene requirements for animal testing, diagnosis, and surgery establishments

1. Animal disease testing and diagnostic establishments:

a) Located separately from residential areas and public works;

b) Have suitable facilities, equipment, tools, and chemicals;

c) Have a separate area to keep animals;

d) Have measures to collect and treat wastewater and waste to ensure epidemic safety and in accordance with the provisions of the law on environmental protection.

2. Animal surgical establishments:

a) Have sufficient space, technical facilities, equipment, tools, and chemicals;

b) Have areas to keep animals before and after surgery;

c) Implement measures to collect and treat wastewater and waste to ensure epidemic safety and in accordance with the provisions of the law on environmental protection.

Section 4. RESPONSIBILITIES IN MANAGING LAND ANIMAL SLAUGHTER;

PRIMARY PROCESSING, ANIMAL AND ANIMAL PRODUCT PROCESSING;

VETERINARY HYGIENE INSPECTION

Article 74. Responsibilities of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall issue:

1. National technical standards on veterinary hygiene requirements for subjects under veterinary hygiene inspection; facilities for animal testing, diagnosis, surgery; facilities for animal slaughter, primary processing, and processing of animals and animal products;

2. List of animals subject to slaughter control; List of subjects required to undergo veterinary hygiene inspection; List of subjects for veterinary hygiene inspection;

3. Procedures for controlling animal slaughter; procedures and records for veterinary hygiene inspection; samples of slaughter control stamps, veterinary hygiene seals; regulations on handling animals and animal products that do not meet veterinary hygiene requirements.

Article 75. Responsibilities of specialized veterinary management agencies

1. Guide, inspect, and supervise the implementation of regulations on veterinary hygiene requirements for subjects required to undergo veterinary hygiene inspections, and for subjects inspected for veterinary hygiene.

2. Guide measures for handling subjects required to undergo veterinary hygiene inspections that do not meet the requirements.

3. Provide training and professional development in slaughter control and veterinary hygiene inspection.

4. The Department of Animal Health carries out control of land animal slaughter for export.

5. Local specialized veterinary management agencies carry out control of land animal slaughter for domestic consumption.

Article 76. Responsibilities of the People's Committees at all levels

1. The provincial-level People's Committee has the following responsibilities:

a) Issue regulations, policies, and guidelines on slaughtering activities, control of terrestrial animal slaughter; preliminary processing, processing, transportation, and trading of animals and animal products; veterinary hygiene inspection;

Amended and supplemented provisions:

b) Direct the development of plans for centralized animal slaughter and plan the implementation of centralized animal slaughter;

c) Direct relevant departments, agencies, and sectors to coordinate management of slaughtering activities, control of terrestrial animal slaughter; preliminary processing, processing, transportation, trading of animals and animal products, and veterinary hygiene in the area; organize propaganda and dissemination of legal regulations on veterinary medicine;

d) Direct the organization of inspection, examination, and handling of legal violations in slaughter activities, control of animal slaughter; preliminary processing, processing, transportation, trading of animals and animal products, and veterinary hygiene in the area.

2. The district-level People's Committee has the following responsibilities:

Amended and supplemented provisions:

a) Coordinate with relevant departments, offices, and sectors to organize the implementation of the plan for centralized animal slaughter facilities;

b) Manage the activities of centralized animal slaughter facilities; preliminary processing, processing, transportation, trading of animals and animal products, and veterinary hygiene in the area;

c) Organize the implementation of the provisions at point a and point d, clause 2, Article 9 of this Law.

3. The commune-level People's Committee has the following responsibilities:

a) Coordinate with the competent authority in managing centralized animal slaughter, preliminary processing, processing, transportation, trading of animals and animal products, and veterinary hygiene in the area;

b) Manage the activities of small-scale animal slaughter facilities.

Article 77. Responsibilities of organizations and individuals

1. Comply with regulations on veterinary hygiene requirements in slaughtering, preliminary processing, and processing of animals and animal products.

2. Keep records and necessary information to trace the origin of animals and animal products.

Chapter V. MANAGEMENT OF VETERINARY DRUGS

Section 1. MANAGEMENT AND REGISTRATION OF VETERINARY DRUGS

Article 78. General regulations on the management of veterinary drugs

1. Veterinary drugs must be managed for quality according to technical standards.

2. Veterinary drugs must ensure quality according to the technical standards for which the Certificate of Circulation for veterinary drugs in Vietnam is issued.

3. Organizations and individuals importing veterinary drugs under the provisions of Clauses 1, 2, and 3 of Article 100 of this Law must have an import license and use them according to the purpose stated in the import license.

4. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development promulgates:

a) Technical standards for veterinary drugs;

b) The list of veterinary drugs permitted to circulate in Vietnam;

c) List of veterinary drugs prohibited for use in Vietnam;

d) Regulations on labeling content, trial records, production, trading, import, and circulation of veterinary drugs.

5. The Government stipulates in detail the conditions for production, trading, import, testing, and trial of veterinary drugs.

Article 79. Veterinary drugs not allowed to be registered for circulation

1. Veterinary drugs on the list of veterinary drugs prohibited for use in Vietnam.

2. Veterinary drugs with a high risk of adversely affecting human health, animal health, and the environment.

3. Veterinary drugs that are concluded by competent state authorities to infringe intellectual property rights.

4. Organizations or individuals registering veterinary drugs for circulation who arbitrarily modify or use false documents in the veterinary drug registration dossier.

5. Organizations or individuals registering veterinary drugs for circulation who use fake seals, forged signatures, or seals of related organizations or individuals in the veterinary drug registration dossier.

Article 80. Registration for the circulation of veterinary drugs

1. Organizations and individuals that manufacture or import veterinary drugs must register the circulation of veterinary drugs with the Department of Animal Health in the following cases:

a) Veterinary drugs newly manufactured domestically;

b) Veterinary drugs imported for the first time into Vietnam for trading or manufacturing.

2. The dossier for registering the issuance of a Veterinary Drug Circulation Certificate includes:

a) Registration form;

b) Technical documents, samples of veterinary drug labels;

c) Results of the product quality analysis by the manufacturer; results of veterinary drug quality testing by a laboratory designated in Vietnam; results of trials on the efficacy and safety of the veterinary drug for drugs that require testing;

d) Certificate of good practice in veterinary drug production or Certificate of eligibility for veterinary drug production or Certificate of eligibility for veterinary drug import; Certificate of veterinary drug circulation issued by the competent authority of the producing country for imported veterinary drugs.

3. Procedures for issuing the Certificate of Veterinary Drug Circulation:

a) Organizations or individuals submit the registration dossier to the Department of Animal Health;

b) Within 06 months from the date of receiving a valid dossier, the Department of Animal Health shall appraise the dossier and issue the Certificate of Veterinary Drug Circulation if the dossier meets the requirements; in case of non-issuance, a written response stating the reason must be provided.

4. The veterinary drug circulation certificate is valid for a period of 5 years.

Article 81. Extension of the veterinary drug circulation certificate

1. Within 3 months prior to the expiration date of the veterinary drug circulation certificate, organizations or individuals who wish to extend it must submit an application for extension.

2. The application for extension includes:

a) Extension application form;

b) A copy of the issued veterinary drug circulation certificate;

c) Product quality analysis results from the manufacturer; veterinary drug quality test results from a designated laboratory in Vietnam;

d) Certificate of good veterinary drug manufacturing practice or Certificate of eligibility for veterinary drug production; for imported veterinary drugs, a veterinary drug circulation certificate issued by the competent authority of the producing country is also required.

3. Within 20 days from the date of receiving a valid dossier, the Department of Animal Health shall appraise the dossier and extend the Veterinary Drug Circulation Certificate if the dossier meets the requirements; in case the extension is not granted, a written response stating the reasons must be provided.

4. The extended Veterinary Drug Circulation Certificate is valid for 5 years.

Article 82. Reissuance of the Veterinary Drug Circulation Certificate

1. The Veterinary Drug Circulation Certificate shall be reissued in the following cases:

a) Changes in the composition, formula, dosage form, route of administration, dose, or therapeutic indications of the veterinary drug; changes in the method or manufacturing process that alter the product quality; reassessment of the quality, efficacy, and safety of the veterinary drug as prescribed. The dossier, order, and procedures for the reissuance of the Veterinary Drug Circulation Certificate shall be carried out according to the provisions at Clause 2 and Clause 3 of Article 80 of this Law;

b) Being lost, incorrect, damaged; changes in the product name or information related to the organization or individual registering the circulation of veterinary drugs.

2. The dossier for reissuing the Veterinary Drug Circulation Certificate in the case specified in point b, clause 1 of this Article includes:

a) Reissuance application;

b) Documents proving the content of the change;

c) The issued Veterinary Drug Circulation Certificate, except in the case of loss.

3. Procedure for reissuing the Veterinary Drug Circulation Certificate in the case specified in point b, clause 1 of this Article:

a) Organizations or individuals submit the reissuance application dossier to the Department of Animal Health;

b) Within 15 days from the date of receiving a valid dossier, the Department of Animal Health shall appraise the dossier and reissue the Veterinary Drug Circulation Certificate if the dossier meets the requirements; in cases where it is not issued, a written response must be provided stating the reasons.

Article 83. Revocation of the Veterinary Drug Circulation Certificate

1. The Veterinary Drug Circulation Certificate shall be revoked in the following cases:

a) The content has been erased or corrected;

b) False documents or papers, or untruthful information, are discovered in the approved circulation registration dossier;

c) The veterinary drug is banned from circulation in Vietnam;

d) There is scientific evidence that the veterinary drug adversely affects human health, animal health, and the environment;

e) Two consecutive production batches of the veterinary drug fail to meet quality standards, or there is a single but serious violation of quality standards as concluded by the state management authority for the quality of veterinary drugs;

e) Organizations and individuals holding a veterinary drug circulation certificate in Vietnam request withdrawal of registration;

g) Veterinary drugs whose circulation certificates are withdrawn in the country of manufacture or export;

h) Veterinary drugs that are concluded by competent state authorities to infringe intellectual property rights;

i) Organizations and individuals holding a veterinary drug circulation certificate in Vietnam commit other violations for which the law requires revocation.

2. The Department of Animal Health shall revoke the veterinary drug circulation certificate.

Chapter 2. VETERINARY DRUG TESTING

Article 84. Veterinary drug testing

1. Veterinary drug testing must be conducted for all veterinary drugs before registration for circulation in Vietnam, except in cases exempted from testing as prescribed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

2. Veterinary drug testing may only be conducted after obtaining a Veterinary Drug Testing Permit from the Department of Animal Health and must be carried out by an organization that meets the veterinary drug testing conditions specified in Article 88 of this Law.

Article 85. Issuance of Veterinary Drug Testing Permit

1. The application dossier for the Veterinary Drug Testing Permit includes:

a) Registration form;

b) Documents proving compliance with the requirements specified in Article 88 of this Law;

c) Technical documents of the veterinary drug.

2. Procedure for issuing a Veterinary Drug Testing Permit:

a) Organizations or individuals submit the application dossier for the Veterinary Drug Testing Permit to the Department of Animal Health;

b) Within 25 days from the date of receipt of a valid dossier, the Department of Animal Health shall evaluate the dossier and issue the Veterinary Drug Testing Permit if the dossier meets the requirements; in case of refusal, a written explanation stating the reasons must be provided.

3. The Veterinary Drug Testing Permit is valid for a period of 5 years.

Article 86. Re-issuance of Veterinary Drug Trial Permit

1. The veterinary drug trial permit shall be re-issued in cases of loss, errors, damage, or changes in the name of the veterinary drug, or information of the organization or individual registering for veterinary drug trials.

2. The re-issuance application dossier includes:

a) Reissuance application;

b) The previously issued veterinary drug trial permit, except in cases of loss.

3. Procedures for re-issuing the veterinary drug trial permit:

a) Organizations or individuals submit the re-issuance application dossier to the Department of Animal Health;

b) Within 5 working days from the date of receiving a valid dossier, the Department of Animal Health shall appraise the dossier and re-issue the veterinary drug trial permit if the dossier meets the requirements; in cases of refusal, a written response stating the reasons must be provided.

Article 87. Revocation of Veterinary Drug Trial License

1. The veterinary drug trial license shall be revoked in the following cases:

a) The content has been erased or corrected;

b) Discovery of false documents, papers, or untruthful information in the application dossier for the veterinary drug trial license;

c) The veterinary drug poses a risk of adversely affecting human health, animal health, or the environment according to the regulations of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

2. The Department of Animal Health shall revoke the veterinary drug trial license.

Article 88. Requirements for Veterinary Drug Trial Organizations

1. The technical manager of the trial organization must have a Veterinary Practice Certificate.

2. Employees must have appropriate professional qualifications and have been trained in veterinary drug trials.

3. Must not directly register or be authorized to register veterinary drugs in Vietnam.

4. Must have facilities and technical conditions that ensure the proper conduct of veterinary drug trials.

Article 89. Rights and obligations of veterinary drug testing organizations

1. Veterinary drug testing organizations have the following rights:

a) To be provided with information related to veterinary drug testing issues;

b) To collect fees for veterinary drug testing in accordance with regulations;

c) To appeal decisions of competent state agencies.

2. Veterinary drug testing organizations have the following obligations:

a) To ensure objectivity, accuracy, and honesty in testing;

b) To comply with standards, technical procedures, and testing requirements;

c) To be responsible before the law for testing results;

d) To keep documents related to the testing process for at least 5 years from the date of testing completion;

e) To comply with inspections, examinations, and supervision of testing activities by competent state agencies;

f) To compensate for damages according to the provisions of the law.

Section 3. PRODUCTION, TRADING, IMPORT, AND EXPORT OF VETERINARY MEDICINES

Article 90. Conditions for veterinary medicine production

Organizations and individuals producing veterinary medicines must ensure the following conditions:

1. Have a Business Registration Certificate;

2. Have a location, workshop, and drug warehouse that ensure sufficient area and safe distance for people, animals, and the environment;

3. Have equipment suitable for the scale of production and quality control for each type of veterinary medicine;

4. Have a wastewater and waste treatment system that meets veterinary hygiene requirements and complies with environmental protection laws;

5. Persons directly managing the production and testing of veterinary medicines must have a veterinary practice certificate in production and testing of veterinary medicines;

6. Persons directly producing veterinary medicines must receive appropriate professional training;

7. Have a Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Medicine Production.

Article 91. Rights and obligations of veterinary medicine production establishments

1. Veterinary drug manufacturing establishments have the following rights:

a) Manufacture veterinary drugs that have a Veterinary Drug Circulation Certificate in Vietnam;

b) Import veterinary drugs and veterinary drug ingredients for production, re-export under contracts with foreign organizations and individuals; sublicense under contracts;

c) Provide information and advertise veterinary drugs in accordance with the provisions of advertising law;

d) Other rights as prescribed by relevant laws.

2. Veterinary drug manufacturing establishments have the following obligations:

a) Manufacture veterinary drugs according to the establishment standards announced by the veterinary drug manufacturing establishment;

b) Comply with regulations on testing, storage, distribution of veterinary drugs, and good manufacturing practices;

c) Be responsible for the quality of veterinary drugs caused by their establishment and only allow veterinary drugs that meet quality standards to circulate on the market;

d) Keep samples of veterinary drugs for each production batch for at least 06 months from the expiration date of the veterinary drugs;

đ) Monitor the veterinary drugs produced by their establishment, and when detecting drugs that do not meet requirements according to regulations, immediately notify and recall all such veterinary drugs circulating on the market;

e) Compensate for damages caused by the fault of their establishment in accordance with the provisions of law;

g) Provide necessary documents for inspection, examination, and evaluation of all veterinary drug production activities in accordance with the law.

h) The owner of a veterinary drug manufacturing facility must organize training, provide guidance on use, and prevent adverse effects caused by veterinary drugs during use; provide professional training and retraining for personnel directly involved in veterinary drug production;

i) Comply with and implement other legal regulations on fire prevention, chemical safety, labor safety, and environmental protection.

Article 92. Conditions for trading veterinary drugs

Organizations and individuals trading veterinary drugs must ensure the following conditions:

1. Have a Business Registration Certificate or Enterprise Registration Certificate;

2. Have a suitable location, facilities, and technical equipment;

3. The manager and personnel directly selling veterinary drugs must have a veterinary practice certificate;

4. Have a certificate of eligibility for trading veterinary drugs.

Article 93. Rights and obligations of organizations and individuals trading veterinary drugs

1. Organizations and individuals trading veterinary drugs have the following rights:

a) Trading veterinary drugs with a Certificate of Circulation of Veterinary Drugs in Vietnam;

b) Providing information and guidance related to veterinary drugs;

c) Participating in training on safety in the use, storage, transportation, and prevention of adverse effects caused by veterinary drugs.

2. Organizations and individuals trading veterinary drugs have the following obligations:

a) Selling the correct type of veterinary drugs according to prescriptions for prescription veterinary drugs or according to the buyer's request for non-prescription veterinary drugs;

b) Posting the sale price, selling at the posted price, and keeping a record of the purchase and sale of veterinary drugs;

c) Complying with the storage conditions of veterinary drugs stated on the label and providing instructions for using veterinary drugs to buyers according to the content of the veterinary drug label;

d) Compensating for damages caused by the fault of their establishment, as prescribed by law;

d) When discovering that the veterinary drugs of their trading establishment do not meet the regulated requirements, they are responsible for notifying the direct agent or the production facility that supplied the veterinary drugs to immediately recall all such veterinary drugs circulating in the market; participate in the recall of veterinary drugs that have been sold.

Article 94. Conditions for importing veterinary drugs

Organizations and individuals importing veterinary drugs must ensure the following conditions:

1. Meet all conditions for trading veterinary drugs as stipulated in clauses 1, 2, and 3 of Article 92 of this Law;

2. Have a warehouse meeting conditions for drug preservation;

3. Have a Certificate of Circulation of Veterinary Drugs in Vietnam or an import license for veterinary drugs as prescribed;

4. Have quality control dossiers and monitor the export and import for each type of drug;

5. Have a Certificate of Eligibility for importing veterinary drugs.

Article 95. Rights and obligations of organizations and individuals importing veterinary drugs

1. Organizations and individuals importing veterinary drugs have the following rights:

a) To be protected by law regarding the goods' brand;

b) To file complaints and denunciations in accordance with the law;

c) To be compensated for damages in accordance with the law;

d) Other rights as prescribed by law.

2. Organizations and individuals importing veterinary drugs have the following obligations:

a) To provide import dossiers that match the registered content;

b) To comply with regulations on drug storage conditions;

c) To supply drugs that ensure quality according to the registered content;

d) To retain documents related to each batch of veterinary drugs for at least 06 months from the expiration date of the drugs;

e) To be subject to the management and supervision of competent state agencies; to provide complete documents related to sampling, inspection, and examination upon request;

e) Reimburse processing costs and compensate for damages caused by violations of regulations on the import of veterinary drugs in accordance with the provisions of law.

Article 96. Procedures for granting, re-granting, and revoking the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Production

1. The dossier for registering to be granted a Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Production includes:

a) Registration form;

b) A detailed explanation of the facilities and techniques as prescribed in Article 90 of this Law; a list of types of veterinary drugs produced;

c) Business registration certificate;

d) Veterinary practice certificate;

đ) A copy of the approval document of the environmental impact assessment report from the competent state authority.

2. Procedures for granting the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Production:

a) Organizations and individuals producing veterinary drugs submit the registration dossier to be granted the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Production to the Department of Animal Health;

b) Within 15 days from the date of receiving a valid dossier, the Department of Animal Health shall inspect the conditions of the production facility. If the conditions are met, within 05 working days from the date of completion of the inspection, it must issue a Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Production; in case of non-issuance, a written response stating the reasons must be provided.

3. Dossier, procedures, and processes for re-issuance of the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Production in case of loss, error, damage; or changes in information related to the registering organization or individual:

a) The dossier for re-issuance includes a re-issuance application; documents proving the changes in case of changes in information related to the registering organization or individual; the previously issued Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Production, except in cases of loss.

b) Organizations and individuals submit the application for reissuance of the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Production to the Department of Animal Health; within 05 working days from the date of receiving a valid application, the Department of Animal Health shall reissue the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Production; in case of refusal, a written response must be provided clearly stating the reason.

4. The Department of Animal Health shall revoke the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Production of organizations and individuals producing veterinary drugs in the following cases:

a) The Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Production is erased or its contents are altered;

b) Violation of the law that results in three or more administrative penalties within a year or three consecutive administrative penalties for a single violation in the field of veterinary drug production;

c) No longer engaged in veterinary drug production;

d) There are other violations for which the law requires the withdrawal of the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Production.

Article 97. Procedures for granting, re-granting, and revoking the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Trading

1. The application file for granting the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Trading includes:

a) Registration form;

b) A detailed explanatory report on facilities and technical aspects;

c) Enterprise registration certificate or business registration certificate;

d) Veterinary practice certificate.

2. Procedures for granting the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Trading:

a) Organizations or individuals trading veterinary drugs submit the application for the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Trading to the provincial specialized veterinary management authority;

b) Within 5 working days from the date of receiving a valid dossier, the provincial specialized veterinary management authority shall inspect the conditions of the veterinary drug trading establishment. If the conditions are met, within 3 working days from the date of completion of the inspection, it must issue the Certificate of Sufficient Conditions for Veterinary Drug Trading; in case of non-issuance, a written response stating the reason must be provided.

3. Dossier, order, and procedure for reissuing the Certificate of Sufficient Conditions for Veterinary Drug Trading in case of loss, error, damage; change of information related to the registered organization or individual:

a) The dossier for reissuance includes a reissuance application; documents proving the content of changes in case of changes in information related to the registered organization or individual; the Certificate of Sufficient Conditions for Veterinary Drug Trading that has been issued, except in cases of loss;

b) Organizations and individuals submit the application for reissuance of the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Trading to the provincial veterinary authority; within 5 working days from the date of receiving a valid application, the provincial veterinary authority shall reissue the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Trading; in case of refusal, they must respond in writing and clearly state the reasons.

4. The provincial veterinary authority shall revoke the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Trading of organizations and individuals in the following cases:

a) The Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Trading has been erased or its contents altered;

b) Violations of the law resulting in administrative penalties three times or more within a year, or being subject to three consecutive administrative penalties for a single violation in the field of veterinary drug trading;

c) No longer engaged in veterinary drug trading activities;

d) Having other violations as prescribed by law that require the revocation of the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Trading.

Article 98. Procedures for granting, reissuing, and revoking the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Import

1. The application file for granting the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Import includes:

a) Registration form;

b) A detailed explanatory report on facilities and technical aspects;

c) Enterprise registration certificate or business registration certificate;

d) Veterinary practice certificate.

2. Procedures for granting the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Import:

a) Organizations or individuals importing veterinary drugs shall submit the application file for granting the Certificate of Eligibility for Veterinary Drug Import to the Department of Animal Health;

b) Within 10 days from the date of receiving a valid dossier, the Department of Animal Health shall inspect the conditions of the veterinary drug importing establishment; if conditions are met, within 03 working days from the date of completion of the inspection, it must issue a Certificate of Eligibility for Importing Veterinary Drugs; in case of refusal, it must respond in writing and clearly state the reason.

3. Dossiers, procedures, and processes for re-issuing a Certificate of Eligibility for Importing Veterinary Drugs in the case of loss, errors, damage, or changes in information related to the registered organization or individual:

a) The re-issuance registration dossier includes a re-issuance registration application; documents proving the content of change in case of changes to information related to the registered organization or individual; the previously issued Certificate of Eligibility for Importing Veterinary Drugs, except in case of loss;

b) Organizations and individuals submit the application for reissuance of the Certificate of Eligibility for Importing Veterinary Drugs to the Department of Animal Health; within 5 working days from the date of receiving a valid application, the Department of Animal Health shall reissue the Certificate of Eligibility for Importing Veterinary Drugs; in cases of refusal, a written response must be provided stating the reasons clearly.

4. The Department of Animal Health shall revoke the Certificate of Eligibility for Importing Veterinary Drugs of organizations and individuals importing veterinary drugs in the following cases:

a) The Certificate of Eligibility for Importing Veterinary Drugs is erased or its contents are altered;

b) Violation of the law resulting in administrative penalties three times or more in one year, or receiving administrative penalties three consecutive times for a single violation in the field of veterinary drug importation;

c) No longer conducting veterinary drug import activities;

d) Having other violations as prescribed by law that require the revocation of the Certificate of Eligibility for Importing Veterinary Drugs.

Article 99. Validity period of the certificate of eligibility for manufacturing, trading, and importing veterinary drugs

1. The certificate of eligibility for manufacturing, trading, and importing veterinary drugs is valid for a period of 05 years.

2. Within 03 months counted from the expiration date of the certificate of eligibility for manufacturing, trading, and importing veterinary drugs, organizations and individuals wishing to continue manufacturing, trading, and importing veterinary drugs must submit an application for renewal of the certificate. The procedures for renewing the certificate are carried out according to the provisions of Clause 2, Article 96, Clause 2, Article 97, and Clause 2, Article 98 of this Law.

Article 100. Importing and exporting veterinary drugs, veterinary drug raw materials

1. Veterinary drugs that have a Certificate of Sale of Veterinary Drugs in Vietnam are allowed to be imported, except for vaccines and microorganisms used in veterinary medicine, which require an import permit from the Department of Animal Health.

2. Veterinary drugs that do not yet have a Certificate of Sale of Veterinary Drugs in Vietnam can be imported in the following cases:

a) Prevention and control of emergency animal diseases, or to remedy the consequences of natural disasters;

b) Test samples, trials, circulation registration, participation in exhibitions, fairs, scientific research;

c) Treatment of animals temporarily imported for re-export, or in transit through Vietnamese territory;

d) Temporary import for re-export, processing for export according to contracts signed with foreign organizations or individuals;

de) Use in diagnosis, testing, and veterinary examination;

f) Aid from international organizations and other forms of non-commercial import.

3. Veterinary drug raw materials can be imported in the following cases:

a) Used to produce veterinary drugs that have a Certificate of Circulation for veterinary drugs in Vietnam;

b) Used in diagnosis, testing, and inspection in veterinary medicine as stipulated by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

4. Organizations and individuals importing vaccines, microorganisms specified in Clause 1 of this Article, and veterinary drugs, veterinary drug ingredients specified in Clauses 2 and 3 of this Article must submit an application for the import of veterinary drugs and veterinary drug ingredients to the Department of Animal Health. Within 5 working days from the date of receiving a valid application, the Department of Animal Health shall consider issuing an import license; in case of non-issuance, it must provide a written response stating the reasons.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall regulate the application dossiers for the import of veterinary drugs and veterinary drug ingredients.

5. Veterinary drugs and imported veterinary drug ingredients specified in Clause 1, Point a, Clause 2, and Point a, Clause 3 of this Article must be quality inspected upon import and can only be imported if they meet the quality standards.

6. The Department of Animal Health conducts quality inspection of imported veterinary drugs at the border according to the provisions of the law.

7. Organizations and individuals producing or trading veterinary drugs have the right to export veterinary drugs according to the provisions of the law.

Article 101. Testing of veterinary drugs

1. Veterinary drugs must be quality tested before being registered for circulation in Vietnam and must be performed at a designated veterinary drug testing facility.

2. Testing of veterinary drugs is carried out according to the quality standards of the registered manufacturing facility.

3. Conditions for veterinary drug testing facilities:

a) Having a location, infrastructure, and equipment that are suitable;

b) The manager or the person directly conducting the testing must have a veterinary practice certificate.

4. Rights and obligations of veterinary drug testing facilities:

a) The right to refuse to accept samples if they do not meet the requirements regarding quantity, preservation, or accompanying documentation;

b) To be provided with information related to the tested samples;

c) Responsible for the test results of the veterinary drug samples tested;

d) Only provide test results and testing documents when requested by competent state authorities;

e) Compensate according to the provisions of law for organizations or individuals harmed due to incorrect test results.

5. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall stipulate the details of this Article.

Article 102. Inspection of veterinary drugs

1. The inspection of veterinary drugs is carried out to reassess the quality of veterinary drugs.

2. Veterinary drugs are inspected in the following cases:

a) There are complaints or denunciations about the quality of veterinary drugs;

b) Upon request or inspection requisition by competent state authorities.

3. The competent state agency shall designate veterinary drug testing establishments to carry out the inspection of veterinary drugs as prescribed in Clause 2 of this Article.

Article 103. Veterinary drug labeling

Veterinary drugs circulating on the market must have labels that meet the following requirements:

1. The drug label must include instructions for use in Vietnamese;

2. Contain full information on the use of the veterinary drug;

3. The label must include the phrase "For veterinary use only";

4. Comply with legal regulations on product labeling;

5. Conform to the content of the label sample registered with the Department of Animal Health.

Article 104. Use of veterinary drugs

1. Veterinary drugs must be used according to the manufacturer's instructions, prescriptions of licensed veterinarians, or specialized veterinary management agencies.

2. Organizations and individuals using veterinary drugs have the following rights:

a) To be provided with information and instructions on the use of veterinary drugs;

b) To request the veterinary drug selling establishments to provide instructions on the use of veterinary drugs as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article;

c) To be compensated for damages caused by the fault of veterinary drug trading establishments according to the provisions of law.

3. Organizations and individuals using veterinary drugs have the following obligations:

a) To use veterinary drugs according to the provisions in Clause 1 of this Article;

b) When discovering that veterinary drugs cause harm to animals, the environment, and human health, to stop using the drugs and immediately report to the commune-level People’s Committee or the local specialized veterinary management authority.

Section 4. WITHDRAWAL AND DESTRUCTION OF VETERINARY DRUGS

Article 105. Withdrawal of veterinary drugs from the market, handling of withdrawn veterinary drugs

1. Veterinary drugs are withdrawn in the following cases:

a) No veterinary drug circulation certificate in Vietnam, except in cases prescribed in Clause 2 and Clause 3, Article 100 of this Law;

b) Expired;

c) Does not ensure quality;

d) Veterinary drug labeling does not comply with the provisions of Article 103 of this Law.

2. When detecting veterinary drugs that must be recalled according to the provisions of Clause 1 of this Article, the manufacturing or importing establishments must notify the public via mass media about the batch of veterinary drugs to be recalled and are responsible for recalling all of those veterinary drugs; in case the manufacturing or importing establishments do not voluntarily recall, the competent authority shall issue a decision to enforce the recall.

3. Measures for handling recalled veterinary drugs include:

a) Re-export;

b) Recycle;

c) Destroy;

d) Correct labeling errors of veterinary drugs.

4. The authority to handle recalled veterinary drugs is prescribed as follows:

a) The Department of Animal Health decides the measures and deadlines for handling recalled veterinary drugs nationwide;

b) The provincial veterinary authorities decide on the measures and the deadlines for handling recalled veterinary drugs within the provincial area.

5. Production and import establishments that have recalled veterinary drugs must bear all costs of recall and handling.

Article 106. Disposal of veterinary drugs

1. Veterinary drugs are destroyed in the following cases:

a) No veterinary drug circulation certificate in Vietnam, except in cases prescribed in Clause 2 and Clause 3, Article 100 of this Law;

b) Not meeting quality standards, expired and cannot be recycled; containing prohibited active substances;

c) Counterfeit veterinary drugs, ownerless veterinary drugs, veterinary drugs with unclear origin.

2. Responsibilities for disposing of veterinary drugs:

a) Organizations and individuals with veterinary drugs must dispose of them in accordance with environmental protection laws and bear all costs;

b) The provincial People's Committee directs and allocates funds for the disposal of ownerless veterinary drugs;

c) The competent state agencies deciding on the disposal of veterinary drugs are responsible for supervising and confirming the disposal process.

Chapter VI. VETERINARY PRACTICE

Article 107. Types of Veterinary Practice

1. Vaccinating, treating diseases, performing surgery on animals; consulting on activities related to the veterinary field.

2. Examining, diagnosing, and testing animal diseases.

3. Trading veterinary drugs.

4. Producing, testing, trialing, exporting, and importing veterinary drugs.

Article 108. Conditions for Veterinary Practice

1. For individuals practicing veterinary medicine:

a) Have a veterinary practice certificate appropriate for each type of veterinary practice;

b) Have professional ethics;

c) Have sufficient health to practice.

2. For veterinary practice organizations:

a) Have individuals who meet the requirements specified in clause 1 of this Article;

b) Have facilities and technical equipment suitable for each type of veterinary practice as prescribed by law.

3. The government shall provide detailed regulations on this Article.

Article 109. Issuance and Renewal of Veterinary Practice Certificates

1. The authority to issue veterinary practice certificates is as follows:

a) The provincial veterinary management authority issues veterinary practice certificates specified in Clauses 1, 2, and 3 of Article 107 of this Law.

b) The Department of Animal Health issues veterinary practice certificates specified in Clause 4 of Article 107 of this Law.

2. The dossier for registering for the issuance of a veterinary practice certificate includes:

a) Registration form;

b) Diplomas, specialized certificates appropriate for each type of veterinary practice;

c) Health certificate;

d) Identity card or Citizen identification card. For foreigners, in addition to the regulations in points a, b, and c of this clause, a judicial record certified by a competent authority is also required.

3. Procedure for granting Veterinary Practice Certificate:

a) Individuals who need to be granted a Veterinary Practice Certificate submit their application to the veterinary management authority as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article;

b) Within 05 working days from the date of receiving a valid application, the receiving agency shall decide on the issuance of the Veterinary Practice Certificate; in case of non-issuance, a written response must be provided stating the reasons.

4. The Veterinary Practice Certificate is valid for 05 years.

5. Dossier, procedures, and procedures for renewing the Veterinary Practice Certificate:

a) Individuals who need to extend their veterinary practice certificate must submit their application to the veterinary management authority at least 30 days before the expiration, as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article. The application includes the extension registration form, the issued veterinary practice certificate, and a health certificate;

b) Within 03 working days from the date of receiving a valid application, the receiving authority shall decide on the extension of the veterinary practice certificate; in case of non-extension, a written response must be provided, specifying the reason.

Article 110. Reissuance of Veterinary Practice Certificate

1. The veterinary practice certificate shall be reissued in the following cases:

a) Lost, erroneous, or damaged;

b) There is a change in information related to the individual who has been issued the veterinary practice certificate.

2. The reissuance file of the veterinary practice certificate includes:

a) Reissuance application;

b) The issued veterinary practice certificate, except in case of loss.

3. Procedures and processes for reissuing the veterinary practice certificate:

a) Organizations and individuals applying for the reissuance of a veterinary practice certificate shall send their application to the specialized veterinary management authority according to the provisions in Clause 1, Article 109 of this Law;

b) Within 03 working days from the date of receiving a valid application, the agency receiving the application shall decide on the reissuance of the veterinary practice certificate; in cases where it is not issued, a written response must be provided, clearly stating the reasons.

Article 111. Cases Where Veterinary Practice Certificates Are Not Issued

Individuals shall not be granted a veterinary practice certificate in the following cases:

1. Lacking appropriate professional diplomas or certificates;

2. Currently under a prohibition to practice according to a court judgment or decision;

3. Currently under disciplinary action related to veterinary profession;

4. Currently being prosecuted for criminal liability;

5. Currently serving a criminal sentence imposed by a court; currently subject to administrative measures of being sent to a compulsory educational institution or a compulsory rehabilitation facility;

6. Having restricted or lost civil act capacity.

Article 112. Revocation of Veterinary Practice Certificate

1. The veterinary practice certificate shall be revoked in the following cases:

a) The content has been erased or corrected;

b) Discovery of forged documents or false information in the application dossier for issuance of the veterinary practice certificate;

c) Committing acts violating professional ethics and relevant legal provisions.

2. The competent authority prescribed in Clause 1, Article 109 of this Law shall revoke the veterinary practice certificate.

Article 113. Rights and obligations of organizations and individuals practicing veterinary medicine

1. Organizations and individuals practicing veterinary medicine have the following rights:

a) To practice according to the content recorded in the veterinary practice certificate;

b) To receive training and professional development in veterinary science and practice;

c) Be supported and encouraged by the State when participating in activities for the prevention and control of animal diseases at the local level.

2. Organizations and individuals practicing veterinary medicine have the following obligations:

a) Comply with the provisions of veterinary law and related laws in their practice; compensate for damages caused by their own faults in veterinary practice;

b) Provide relevant information to veterinary management authorities; comply with and participate in veterinary activities when requested by competent authorities.

Article 114. Veterinary Council

1. The Veterinary Council is established at the central and provincial levels.

2. The Veterinary Council works on a part-time basis and functions to advise the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on veterinary activities.

3. The composition of the Veterinary Council includes representatives of the specialized veterinary management agency, representatives of associations, unions, universities, research institutes, and experts in the veterinary field.

4. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall stipulate in detail the organization, functions, tasks, and powers of the Veterinary Council at all levels.

Chapter VII. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 115. Effectiveness

1. This Law shall come into effect on July 1, 2016.

2. Veterinary Ordinance No. 18/2004/PL-UBTVQH11 shall cease to be effective from the date this Law comes into effect.

3. Licenses, certificates, and credentials in the field of veterinary that were issued before the date this Law takes effect and have not yet expired shall remain valid until their expiration.

Article 116. Detailed regulations

The Government and competent authorities shall provide detailed regulations for the articles and clauses assigned in the Law.

This law was passed by the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 13th term, 9th session, on June 19, 2015.

CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Nguyen Sinh Hung