Circular No. 03/2000/TT-BTS guiding the implementation of the Prime Ministers Decision No. 178/1999/QD-TTg issuing the Regulation on the labelling of domestically-circulated goods as well as export and import with regard to aquatic goods

THE MINISTRY OF AOUA TIC," RESOURCES CIRCULAR No. 03/2000YTT-BTS OF SEPTEMBER 22, 2000 GIJIDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S DECISION No~ 178/1999/QD TTg OF AUGUST 30, 1999 ISSUING THE REGULATION ON THE LABELING OF DOMESTICALLY-CIRCULATED GOODS AS WELL AS EXPORT AND IMPORT GOODS WITH REGARD TO AQUATIC GOODS On August 30, 2000, the Prime Minister issued the Regulation on the labeling of domestically circulated goods as well as export and import goods together with Decision No. 178/1999/QD-TTg. On August 15, 2000, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 95/2000/QD-TTg adjusting and supplementing a number of contents of the Regulation on the labeling of domestically-circulated goods as well as export and import goods. Clause 2, Article 19 of the Regulation stipulates "The specialized branch-managing ministries shall base themselves on their respective management functions and concrete requirements regarding the use and preservation of particular goods items in the branches under their management to provide detailed guidance on the labeling of such particular goods ... " In furtherance of the Regulation on the goods labeling, the Ministry of Aquatic Resources hereby guides in detail the uniform labeling of aquatic goods as follows: I. GENERAL PROVISIONS 1. The labeling of domestically-circulated aquatic goods as well as ex-port and import aquatic goods shall comply with the general provisions of the Regulation on the labeling of domestically-circulated goods as well as ex'Port and import goods (hereinafter called the Regulation for short) issued together with the Prime Minister'sDecisionNo. 178/1999/QD-TTgofAugust 30, 1999 and Decision No. 95/2000/QD-TTg of August 15, 2000 and the Trade Ministry's Circular No. 34/ 1999/TT-BTM guiding the implementation of the Prime Minister's Decision No. 178/1999/QD-TTg of August 30, 1999 (hereinafter called Circular No. 34 for short). 2. Scope of reJ,,rulation The following groups of aquatic goods with commercial packings shall be labeled according to the provisions of this Circular before being put into circulation: a/ Processed foodstuffs of aquatic animal or plant origin or composed of typical constituents being aquatic animals or plants (hereinafter called as aquatic foodstuffs for short). b/ Aquatic animal breeds and plant varieties (including parental breeds and varieties). c/ Aquatic raw materials for production of feeds and industrially-processed feeds used for aquaculture (hereinafter called raw materials and feeds for short). di Drugs, chemicals and bio-preparations used for aquatic animals and plants (hereinafter called drugs, chemicals and bio-preparations). e/ Fishing nets (including nets, net-weaving yam and net-fixing ropes (hereinafter called fishing nets for short). 3. For goods being export aquatic foodstuffs, the labeling applicable to the following compulsory contents may be negotiable according r.o the requirements of the importing markets: a/ The composition. b/ The preservation duration. the expiry date. c/ Preservation and use instructions. II. CONTENTS OF GOODS LABELS A. COMPULSORY CONTENTS 1. Aquatic foodstuffs: 1.1. Goods appellation: a/ The way of inscription shall comply with the general provisions in Clauses 1, 2 and 3, Article 6 of the Regulation and the branch's standards. b/ For products prescribed in Clause 4, Article 6 of the Regulation, their goods appellations must truly describe the packed aquatic foodstuffs, including the following contents: The name of the aquatic animal species or plant (for example, frozen dong co fish in fillets ) or the names describing the characteristics and utilities of the goods (for example, Frozen crab rolls ... ). The goods processing technology: Frozen, dried, canned, ... for example, Frozen dong co fish in fillets. The goods' processing form: Not shelled (HOSO), shelled (PUD, PD), in fillets, slices, rolls, ... For example: frozen crab rolls. 1.2. Names and addresses of the traders responsible for the goods: a/ Being the names and addresses inscribed in their business operation registration. b/ For aquatic foodstuff-manufacturing establish ments, the <.:ontent to be inscribed shall be: Manufac tured at (name and address of the establishment), or: Product of (name and address of the establishment). c/ For aquatic foodstuff-importing establishments or establishments acting as sale agents for foreign countries, the content to be inscribed shall be: Importing trader (name and address of the establish-ment) or: Agent trader (name and address of the establishment). di For establishments repacking aquatic foodstuffs for sale, the content to be inscribed shall be: Product of (name and address of the establishment), packing establishment (name and address of the establishment). or: Product of (name and address of the establishment), packed at (name and address of the establishment). 1.3. Goods quantification: The way of inscription shall comply with the provisions in Article 8 of the Regulation and Section II.A.3 of Circular No. 34. 1 .4. Constituents: a/ For aquatic foodstuffs not prepared with other mixtures nor using processing additives, their constituents shall not be compulsorily inscribed. bl For aquatic foodstuffs prepared with constituents other than aquatic products, their principal constituting raw materials used in the technologies to produce such aquatic foodstuffs must be inscribed (aquatic raw materials, other mixed constituents}. c/ For aquatic foodstuffs using processing additives, the names of the additives' groups and the names or international codes (in brackets) of the additives must be clearly inscribed. Particularly for additives being "spices", ·'sweeteners", "colorings", their names must be clearly added with "natural", "astificial" or "synthetic'. di For aquatic foodstuffs manufactured with the genetic technology or having one of their constituting raw materials created with the genetic technology, the Vietnamese n-ords ·'Co su dung cong nghe gen" (With the use of genetic technology) must be inscribed on their labels. e/ For aquatic foodstuffs or one of their constituting raw materials manufactured, processed and/or preserved with radiation techniques, the Vietnamese words "Thuc pham chieu xa" (Radiated foodstuffs) or a sign indicating radiated foodstuff according to international regulations that Vietna.m has announced for application must be inscribed on their labels. 1.5. Principal quality criteria The way of inscription shall comply with the general provisions in Article 10 of the Regulation and Section lI.A.5 of CircuJar No. 34. l.6. Production date. preservation duration and expiry date The way of inscription shall comply with the provisions in Article 11 of the Regulation and Section IJ.A.6 of Circular No. 34. 1.7. Preservation and use instructions a/ The contents to be inscribed shall comply with the general provisions in Article 12 of the Regulation. In addition, a number of the following contents must be additionally inscribed: Special users (for example, for use by dieters). and the usage (for el{ample, instant or cooked before setYing). b/ For aquatic foodstuffs requiring certain preservation conditions. the contents to be inscribed shall be criteria that affect the utilities, quality and safety of such products. For example: For dried goods, ''keep in cool place" shall be inscribed. l. 8. Goods· origin: For export and import aquatic foodstuffs, the names of countries of origin must be clearly inscribed on their labels according to the provisions in Article 13 of the Regulation. 2. For aquatic animal breeds and plant varieties: 2.1. Goods appellation: a/ The way of inscription shall comply with the general provisions in Article 6 of the Regulation and the branch's standards or scientific names. b/ The names of the species of aquatic animal breeds or plant varieties must include their commercial names and scientific names. For example: - For tom su, their appellation shall be inscribed as: Tom su (Penaeus nionodon). For rong cau chi vang, their appellations shall be inscribed as: Rong cau c11i vang (Gracilaria asiatica). cl Particularly for cross-bred animal breeds, their appellations must clearly state their cross-bred lines: For examples: The name of the cross-bred animal breed: Carp VI Cross-bred lines: Hungarian carp, Indonesian yellow carp and Vietnamese white-scale carp. 2.2. Names and addresses of the traders responsible for the goods a/ Being the names and addresses inscribed in the business operation registration.. b/ For breeding establishments or hatcheries, the content to be inscribed shall be: Manufactured at (name and address of the establishment), or: Product of(name and address of the establishment). cl For establishments collecting or netting natuml breeds and/or varieties for sale, the content to be inscribed shall be: Packing establishment (name and address of the establishment), or: Packed at (name and address of the establishment). In addition, for establishments netting natural breeds and/or varieties, the following detail must be added: Place of netting natural breeds or varieties. 2.3. Goods quantification: a/ For aquatic animal breeds, the content to be inscribed shall be: Quantity of individuals (animals). b/ For Artemia eggs, the content to be inscribed shall be: Weight (g). cl For unicellular plant varieties, the content to be inscribed shall be: Quantity of cells (cell). di For pluricellular plant varieties, the content to be inscribed shall be: Weight (kg). 2.4. Principal quality criteria: a/ For aquatic animal breeds, the contents to be inscribed shall be: Number of age days and length (mm orcm). b/ For parental aquatic animals, the contents to be ip.scribed shall be: Weight (g) and breeding period. d For Artemia eggs, the contents to be inscribed shall be: Number of eggs/g and the hatching percentage (%). di For aquatic plant varieties, the contents to be inscribed shall be: Length ( cm), diameter of principal stem, and development period. 2.5. Production date, preservation duration and expiry date: a/ For aquatic animal breeds and plant varieties: The production date shall be understood as the delivery date or the sale date, abbreviated to "NSX''. For example: For those sold on April 2, 2000, their production date shall be inscribed as: NSX 020400. The expiry date and preservation duration shall not be compulsorily inscribed. b/ For Artemia eggs: The production date shall be understood as the date the products are canned, abbreviated to "NSX''. For example: For those canned on May 3, 2000, their production date shall be inscribed as: NSX 030500. The preservation duration, abbreviated to "HBQ". For example: The preservation duration until May 10, 2000 shall be inscribed as: HBQ 100500. The expiry date shall not be compulsorily inscribed. 2.6. Preservation and use instructions: a/ For aquatic animal breeds and plant varieties, there must be guidance for users on the codes of the branch's standards or titles of the already-publicized technical documents on the way of transporting and stocking breeds or varieties. b/ For Artemia eggs, the contents to be inscnbed shall include: Egg preservation conditions (temperature, humidity), brief instructions on the egg brooding and hatching. 2.7. Goods' origin: For export and import aquatic animal breeds and plant varieties, the names of countries of origin ijlust be clearly inscribed on their labels according to the provisions in Article 13 of the Regulation. 3. Raw materials and feeds: 3. 1. Goods appellation: The way of inscription shall comply with the general provisions in Article 6 of the Regulation and the branch's standards. Besides, the names of the gq,ods items' groups must clearly state the target users. For example: Mixed feeds in pellets for shrimp, Feed for ornamental fishes, Feed for prawn larva ... 3 .2. Names and addresses of the traders respo~ible for the goods: a/ Being the names and addresses inscribed in the business operation registration. b/ For establishments manufacturing raw materials .and feeds, the content to be inscribed shall be: Manufactured at (name and address of the establishment), or: Product of (name and addre~s of the establishment). cl For establishments importing raw mater:lalsi and feeds or establishments acting as sale agents for foreign countries, the content to be inscribed shall be: Importing trader (na1 11e and address of the establishment), or: Agent trader (name and address of the establishment). di For establishments repacking raw materials and feeds for sale, the contents to be inscribed shall be: Product of (name and address of the establishment), packing establishment (name and address ofl the establishment), or: Product of (name and addrets of the establishment), packed at (name and address of the establishment). 3.3. Goods quantification: a/ For raw materials and feeds in form of powder, bits or pellets, the content to be inscribed shall be: Weight (g or kg). b/ For raw materials and feeds in liquid follI\ the content to be inscribed shall be: Capacity (ml or liter). 3.4. Constituents: a/ The contents shall be inscribed according to the general provisions in Article 9 of the Regulation. bl The principal raw material constituents used in the technology to manufacture such goods (for example: fish powder, shrimp powder. squid liver oil..). cl If the feeds contain non-nutritious substances for disease prevention and cure, the constituents of such non-nutritious substances must be also inscribed. di If one of the raw materials has been radiated, or created with the genetic technology, such must be inscribed on the goods labels according to international regulations that Vietnam has announced for application. 3 .5. Principal quality criteria: a/ The way of inscription shall comply with the general provisions in Article 10 of the Regulation and Section II.A.5 of Circular No. 34. bl A number of principal quality criteria decisive to the quality of raw materials and feeds shall be inscribed together with their quantities: For synthetic materials and feeds, the contents of the criteria of protein, lipid, ash, fiber, humidity and dissolubility, must be inscribed. For supplementary feeds, the quality criteria of supplemented substances shall be inscribed. For example: For feeds supplemented with vitamins and minerals. a number of major vitamin and mineral criteria must be inscribed. 3.6. Production date, preservation duration and expiry date: The way of inscription shall comply with the provisions in Article 11 of the Regulauon and Section II.A.5 of Circular No. 34. 3.7. Preservation and use instructions: al The contents to be inscribed shall be: preservation conditions (temperature, humidity, light) and way of feeding. bl For feeds the use of which is required to be discontinued before gathering reared animals, the time for such discontinuation must be specified. 3.8. Goods' origin: For export and import ra,v materials and feeds. the names of countries of origin must be clearly inscribed on the goods labels according to Article 13 of the Re1,111lation. 4. Drugs, chemicals and bio-preparations: 4.1. Goods appellation: The way of inscription shall comply with the general provisions in Article 6 of the Regulation and t~ branch's standards. Besides, the goods appellations must include the names of the drugs, chemicals and main active substances. For example: The drug's name: IEM-55. main active substance: Erythomvcine. · 4.2. Names and addresses of the traders responsible for the goods: a/ Being the names and addresses inscribed in the business operation registration. b/ For establishments manufac~uring drugs, chemicals and/or bio-preparations, the content to be inscribed shall be: Manufactured at ( 11ame and address of the establishment), or: Productof(name and address of the establishment). cl For establishments importing drugs, chemicals and/or bio-preparations or establis\ments acting as sale agents for foreign countries, the content to be inscribed shall be: Importing trader (name and address of the establishment), or: Agent trader (name and address of the establishment). di For establishments repacking drugs, chemicals and/or bio-preparations for sale, the co,1tent to be inscribed shall be: Product of (name and address of the establishment), packing establishment (name and address of the establishment), or: Product of (name and address of the establishment), paoked at (name and address of the establishment). 4.3. Goods quantification: al For drugs in form of pellets, the contents to be inscribed shall be: quantity (pellets), weight of 1 pellet (mg). bl For drugs and bio-preparations in form of powder, the content to be inscribed shall be: Weight (mg, g or kg). cl For drugs; chemicals and bio-preparations in the liquid form, the content to be inscribed shall be: Capacity (ml or liter). di For gonadotrophic drug for spawning fish (HCG), the content to be inscribed shall be in international unit (VI). 4.4. Constituents: The chemical formulae and composition (excluding HCG) and other contents shall be inscribed according to the general provisions in Article 9 Jfthe Regulation. 4.5. Principal quality criteria: The way of inscription shall comply with the general provisions in Article 10 of the Regulation and Section II.AS of Circular No. 34. 4.6. Production date, preservation duration and expiry date: The way of inscription shall comply with the general provisions in Article 11 of the Regulation and Section II.A.6 of Circular No. 34. 4.7. Preseniation and use instructions: a/ The contents to be inscribed shall include: preseffation conditions (temperature, humidity, light) and the usage ( dosage, concentration, time, to be used under what circumstances and for what objects. way of spraymg ... ) . bl For drugs the use of which is required to be discontinued before gathering reared animals, the time for such discontinuation must be specified. 4.8. Goods' origin: For export and import drugs, chemicals and bio preparations used in aquaculture, the names of countries of origin must be clearly inscribed on their labels according to the proYisions in Article 13 of the Regulation. 5. Fishing nets 5.1. Goods appellation The way of inscription shall comply with the general provisions in Article 6 of the Regulation and the branch's standards. For :>"ample: nets, yam ropes. 5.2. Names and addresses of the traders responsible for the goods: a/ Being the names and addresses inscribed in the business operation registration. b/ For establishments manufacturing fishing nets, the content to be inscribed shall be: Manufactured at (name and address of the establishment), or: Product of (name and address of the establishment). cl For establishments importing fishing nets or establishments acting as sale agents for foreign countries, the content to be inscribed shall be: Importing trader (name and address of the establishment), or: Agent trader (name and address of the establishment). di For establishments repacking fishing nets for sale, the content to be inscribed shall be: Product of (name and address of the establishment), packing establishment (name and address of the establishment). or: Product of ( name and address of the establishment), packed at (name and address of the establishment). 5.3. Goods quantification: a/ For n<;ts, the co.ntents to be inscribed shall be: Size of stretched length and stretched width (m or number of meshes), weight (g or kg). b/ For ropes, the contents to,be inscribed shall be: Weight (kg) and length (m). c/ For yarn, the content to be inscribed shall be: Weight (g or kg), 5 .4. Constituents: The way of inscription s11all comply with the general provisions in Article 9 of the Regulation. For example, Nylon yarn, catgut yarn, PE yam ... 5.5. Principal quality criteria: a/ For nets, the contents to be inscribed shall be: color, crudeness (tex), dry durability (N-newton) and size of mesh 2a (mm). b/ For yarn and ropes, the contents to be inscribed shall be: Diameter (mm). crudeness (tex), dry durability (N-ne\\ton) and twistedness (twists/m). 5.6. Production date. presef\'ation duration nnd expiry date: The way of inscription shall comply with the general provisions in Article 11 of the Regulation und Section II.A.6 of Circular No. 34. 5.7. Preservation and use instructions: a/ For goods being fishing nets, use instmctfons shall not be compulsorily inscribed. b/ The preservation instructions must clearly state presen,ation conditions (temperature, humidity, light). 5.8. Goods' origin: For export and import fishing nets. the nam(ls of countries of origin must be clearly inscribed on tlheir labels according to the provisions in Article 13 of the Regulation. B. OPTIONAL CONTENTS Apart from the contents compulsorily inscribed on the goods labels, traders may inscribe thereon other contents (if any) according to the provisions in Article 14 of the Regulation, such as the product quality registration numbers, product quality standard codes. and in Section B of Circular No. 34. III. WAY OF DISPLAYING AND AFFIXING GOODS LABELS 1. The requirements and language for displ,4Ying goods labels for aquatic goods shall comply with the provisions in the Regulation and Circular No. JIL 2. Goods labels that are in hand-written or printed forms, drawings, images or signs shall be displayed as follows: 2.1. For goods without outside packings: Tile labels shall be imprinted or embossed directly on the containing packings or affixed, stuck or pinne:d ftrmly on the goods. 2.2. For goods with outside packings: a/ The goods labels shall be imprinted or embossed directly on the containing packings or affixed, stuck or pinned firmly on the goods. It is necessary to inscribe only the goods' appellations or the entire contents of the goods labels on the outside packings like on the containing packings. Or b/ Only a number of compulsory contents of the labels shall be inscribed on the containing packings While the remaining contents may be inscribed on the outside packings as prescribed at Point 3 below. 3. Where the goods are put up in small containing packings and their labels are not large enough for inscription of all compulsory contents, their labels shall be inscribed as follows: 3 .1. A number of key compulsory contents shall be inscribed on the goods labels such as the goods appelation, name and address of the trader responsible for the goods, the goods quantity, the expiry date and preservation duration. 3.2. The remaining compulsory contents and the optional contents (if any) must be inscribed on the outside packings or in the enclosed explanations. IV. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS 1. The Ministry of Aquatic Resources shall coordinate with the Ministry of Trade in exercising the State management over the goods labeling according to the Regulation. 2. The Science and Technology Department shall act as the key body assisting the Minister in performing the uniform State management over the labeling of aquatic goods nationwide and coordinate with the Aquatic Resour~e Protection Department and the Center for Control of the Quality and Hygiene of Aquatic Products in guiding, organizing and directing the implementation of this Circular. 3. The specialized inspectorate shall have to supervise and inspect the observance of legal documents on the goods labeling; detect, prevent and hand.le according to their competence or propose to the competent bodies to handle any violations of the labeling of aquatic goods. t This Circular takes effect for implementation as from January 1, 200 l. Any supplements and amendments to this Circular shall be considered and decided in writing by the Minister of Aquatic Resources. For the Minister of Aquatic Resources Vice Minister NGUYEN VIET THANG CIRCULAR No.04/2000/TT-BTS OF NOVEMBER 3, 2000 GUIDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NUMBER OF ARTICLES IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DECISION No.103/2000/QD-TTg OF AUGUST 25, 2000 ON A NUMBER OF POLICIES TO ENCOURAGE AQUATIC BREEDS DEVELOPMENT Pursuantto the Prime Minister's Dctcision No.103/ 2000/QD-Tig of August 25, 2000 Ol\ a number of policies to encourage aquatic breeds development, the Ministry of Aquatic Resources: hereby guides implementation as follows: L TO ENCOURAGE AND CREA 1'E FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR DOMESTIC ORGANIZATIONS, HOUSEHOLDS AND INDIVIDUALS OF ALL ECONOMIC SECTORS AS WELL AS FOREIGN INVE'SWRS TO INVEST IN THE FIELD OF AQUATIC BREEDS PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT. I. Localities must work out planning on breeding areas. Where exist more favorable breeding conditions, such advantages must be made fullest use of so as to produce high-quality breeds and reduce production costs to meet the market demand. Priorio/ should be given to the land allotment or long-term land lease to organizations, households and individuals inside and outside localities as well as foreign invc~stors for their investment in the field bf aquatic breeds development. For localities where breeding conditions are unfavorable but a big demand for breeds axists, they may rent or purchase land from other localities with more favorable conditions to organize the breed production to ensure the stable supply of breeds for their own localities. 2. Localities shall coordinate with thct Aquatic Resources Protection Department in re-deriermining grounds of parental sea shrimps (particularly black shrimp, green tiger prawn, lobster) and breeding grounds of grouper, Madras snapper, dwarf catfish, conger and breeds of other precious and rare aquatic species in order to impose the total ban or iseasonal ban on exploitation ( of blue-legged prawn, shore crab) or permit the restricted exploitation, and at the same time work out annual plans to additionally stock the areas with breeds (black shrimp, green tiger }>rawn), with a view to protecting and re-creating natural breeds. 3. The State encourages reseaxch institutions inside and outside the aquatic resources branch, companies and non-governmental organizations to invest in the field of aquatic breeds research and development.