DECIDES:

Article 1.- To establish the Department for Management of Food Quality, Hygiene and Safety under the Ministry of Health to assist the Minister of Health in performing the function of State management over food quality, hygiene and safety throughout the country.

The Department for Management of Food Quality, Hygiene and Safety has the legal person status, its own seal and bank account(s); its operation fund shall be allocated by the State budget. The Department�s head office is located in Hanoi city.

Article 2.- The Department for Management of Food Quality, Hygiene and Safety has the following principal tasks and powers:

1. To compile or take part in the compilation of legal documents on food quality, hygiene and safety, in order to assist the Minister of Health in promulgating them according to his competence or proposing them to the Government and the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

2. To elaborate or take part in the elaboration of food quality standards, the technical processes and norms for ensuring food quality, hygiene and safety, which shall be promulgated by the Minister of Health or by the competent agency at its proposal.

To promulgate according to its competence documents guiding the implementation of technical and professional standards, processes and norms on food quality, hygiene and safety; and grant certificates to the establishments that are fully qualified for ensuring food hygiene and safety .

3. To formulate the list of foods subject to the quality registration, so that the Minister of Health can promulgate it and organize the food quality registration.

To grant and withdraw quality registration papers and food hygiene and safety certificates according to its competence for home-made foods, including those produced industrially.

4. To organize the control and inspection of the observance of the law provisions on food quality, hygiene and safety.

To organize the inspection of quality, hygiene and safety of imported foods according to provisions of law.

5. To join and coordinate with the concerned agencies in the prevention of and combat against the production and circulation of foods not up to the prescribed food quality, hygiene and safety.

6. To coordinate with the relevant organizations of the Ministry of Culture and Information in the management of information and advertisement on foods for children, sick and elderly people, pregnant women and foods subject to special management; and organize the propaganda and popularization on the food quality, hygiene and safety.

7. To undertake the international cooperation in the field of food quality, hygiene and safety as assigned by the Ministry of Health.

8. To manage the personnel organization, public employees, property and operation fund assigned to it according to the provisions of law and power authorization by the Minister of Health.

Article 3.- The Department for Management of Food Quality, Hygiene and Safety shall have its Director and a number of Deputy Directors appointed by the Minister of Health.

The Director shall be answerable to the Minister of Health for all activities of the Department. The Deputy Directors shall assist the Director and be answerable to the Director for their assigned tasks.

The Minister of Health shall have to specify the tasks, organizational structure and personnel staff of the Department for Management of Food Quality, Hygiene and Safety after consulting the Minister-Head of the Government Commission for Organization and Personnel.

Article 4.- The task of managing food quality, hygiene and safety in the localities shall be performed by the provincial/municipal Health Services.

Article 5.- This Decision takes effect 15 days after its signing. All the previous stipulations which are contrary to this Decision are now annulled.

The Minister of Health, the ministers, the heads of the ministerial-level agencies, the heads of the agencies attached to the Government and the presidents of the People�s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities shall have to implement this Decision.

Prime Minister