In the recent past, the agricultural and fishery sectors have made great efforts in implementing various programs to ensure food quality, hygiene and safety, control the residues of chemicals and antibiotics in aquatic and agricultural products, especially export products. However, the use of assorted chemicals, antibiotics and bio-preparations still fails to fully comply with specialized regulations on the production, preservation, preliminary processing and processing of products. Recently, a number of export goods lots have been detected to contain residues of chloramphenicol, insecticide,.. subject to destruction, thus causing economic damage and badly affecting the prestige of Vietnam�s aquatic and agricultural products on international market.

In order to ensure the quality, hygiene and safety of foodstuffs with animal origin, protect the consumers� health and maintain our exports� prestige on international market, the Prime Minister instructs the Ministers of Aquatic Resources; Agriculture and Rural Development; Health, concerned ministers and branches� heads, and the presidents of the provincial/municipal People�s Committees to immediately carry out the following:

1. To strictly prohibit the use of antibiotics and chemicals (especially chloramphenicol), which are on the list of those banned from use under the stipulations of the Ministry of Aquatic Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the production of breeds, feeds for livestock and aquatic animals, veterinary drugs and plant protection drugs, as well as in the tending, rearing, preservation, preliminary processing, processing, transportation and consumption of products.

2. Organizations and individuals engaged in the production of and/or trading in veterinary drugs, feeds for livestock and/or aquatic animals, plant protection drugs, chemicals and bio-preparations used for aquacultural and agricultural production shall have to publicize the product quality, bear responsibility for the quality of their products and label goods as prescribed by law; the products� labels must be clearly inscribed that such products are free from chloramphenicol and other banned chemicals and antibiotics.

3. The Ministry of Aquatic Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall assume the prime responsibility and coordinate with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, the Ministry of Health and concerned agencies in quickly revising for supplementation and amendment the regulations, use procedures, technical norms and measures applied to closely control the product quality and reduce the residues of toxic chemicals so as to suit international standards; enhance the coordination with localities in the work of planning and announcing safe raw material-production zones; guide and inspect production and/or business establishments regarding the conditions to ensure food hygiene and safety. Particularly, to guide farmers and fishermen not to use preparations containing chloramphenicol and other toxic chemicals and, at the same time, to build up safe rearing zones and clean production farms so as to ensure the quality, hygiene and safety of agricultural and aquatic foodstuffs.

4. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility and coordinate with the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and concerned ministries and branches in mobilizing EC agencies and EU member countries to help and support Vietnam in raising its capacity of controlling food quality and, at the same time, resolutely fight for EC to strictly comply with commercial commitments agreed upon by the two parties.

5. The presidents of the People�s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities shall direct local functional bodies to widely propagate this Directive and other relevant legal documents; personally direct the building of safe rearing zones and clean production farms; enhance the inspection of and strictly handle establishments engaged in the production of and trading in products and/or the provision of services for agricultural and aquacultural production, that violate law provisions on production and/or business conditions, food hygiene and safety and goods labeling.

6. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance shall coordinate with the Ministry of Aquatic Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and localities in working out budget allocation plans, so as to ensure funding for activities of controlling food safety and hygiene, including the upgrading of inspecting establishments and equipment and personnel training; the concerned ministries and branches shall, within the scope of their respective functions and tasks, have to coordinate with the Ministry of Aquatic Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in directing their units to well implement this Directive.

For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
NGUYEN CONG TAN