Decision No. 14/2008/QD-TTg approving the master plan on biotechnology development and application in Viet Nam up to 2020

Issue no01/February2008 (COng Bao nos 91-94Ifebruary 2, 2IlOO) OFFICIAL GAZETTE THE PRIME MINISTER DECISION No. I4/2008/QD.TTg OF JANUARY 22, 2008, APPROVING THE MASTER PLAN ON BIOTECHNOLOGY DEVEWPMENT AND APPLICATION IN VIETNAM UP TO 2020 THE PRIME MINISTER Pursuant to the December 25, 2001 Law on Organization ofthe Government; Pursuant to the Prime Minister's Decision No. 18812oo5/QD-TTg ofJuly 22, 2005, promulgating the Government's program of action for implementation of Directive No. 50-cr/lW of March 4, 2005, of the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee, on stepping up biotechnology development and application for national industrialization and modemization; At the proposal ofthe Minister ofScience and Technology, DECIDES: Article 1.- To approve the master plan on biotechnology development and application in Vietnam up to 2020(below referred to as the master plan for short) with the followingprincipal contents: I. GUIDINGVIEWPOINTS 1. Biotechnology research, development and application must meet the requirement on developing a key scientific and technological orientation; biotechnology will be built and developed into an important spearhead econo technical industry in Vietnam effectively serving national industrialization and modernization. 2. Biotechnology development and application will focus mainly on agriculture-forestry-fishety, food processing industry, food hygiene and safety, medicine-pharmacy, human healthcare and environmental protection, while promoting the formation,development and effective operation of biotechnological production, business and service enterprises. 3. Biotechnology willbe developedcn thebasis of building and strongly promoting internal resourcesin combinationwith selectivelyreceiving and rapidly acquiring and mastering the world's advanced scientific and biotechnological achievements, while modernizing traditional teclmologies. 4. Biotechnologydevelopment need intensive investment and modern equipment and therefore, must be selected for proper, adequate and coordinated investment, keyand cssccielproducts will be selected for development investment. 5. To train scientific and technological hwnan resources for biotechnology which are adequate in quantity and high in quality constitutes One of the most important factors in the country's biotecImology development. II. DEVELOPMENT OIIJECfIVES 1.Overall objectives: To research, develop, and apply bioiechnology in a wide and effective manner to prodoc,tion and life; to build bio-industry into a hi-tech econnnric sector capable of producing key and essential products and greatly contributing to national economic growth; to concentrate resources on and diversify forms and theeffectivenessofinvestment inbiotecImology,form and develop a biotechnology market so that by 2020 thecountry's bioteeImology will reach the regional advanced level and some importantsectorswillreach intemationallevelaand standards. © VIETNAM LAW& LEGAL FORUM 10 OFFICIAL GAZETTE Issue nQ 01JFebruary 2008 (Gong BaD""91-94A'ebruary 2!2(08) 2. Specificobjectives foreach period: at Up-to-20W period: To receive, master, research and create a nwnber of important technologies; to apply in a wide and effective manner these technologies to agriculture-forestry-fishery. medicine-pharmacy, processingindustry,environmentalprotection, and defenseaJ"ld security. 'Ioresearch, create and intensively applynew products, including plant varieties, animal breeds, microorganisms. vaccines, industrially processed products, which are of high yield, quality, competitiveness and economic value, for consumpum and export. Tobuildandinitially increasethepotential of, biotechnOlogyresearchanddevelopmentagencies. Tobuildbioteehnologicalenterprises andform a favorable and open market for theseenterprises to conduct production, business and service activities ~ themost effectiveway. hlDun'ng2011-2015: To receive and master base technologies of the world's advanced and modern biotechnology and, on that basis. research and create valuable technologies serving production and life; to continue intensively applying biotechnology in different domains, practically serving socio economic development and environmental protection. To build biotechnology research and development tenters up toASEAN standards. To build a developed bio-industry capable of producing key products of high quality and competitiveness to meet domestic and export demands. cI Vision through 2020: To train scientific and technological human resources in the biotechnology domain which are adequate in quantity, high inquality andcreative at work and can master technologies, effectively serving socio-economic development, protection of human health and the environment To build advanced, modem and intemational standard biotechnology research and development centers. To strongly develop the bio-industry capable of producing key and essential products for the national economy. III. MAJOR TASKS 1.To research, developandapply biotechnology in a wide and effective manner to production and life: aJ Agriculture-forestry-fishery and rural development: Agricultural plants: To concentrateonscientific research, development and application of gene technology (gene transfer technology and molecular indication method) inorder to create new plant varieties andgenetically modifiedplants with superior agronomical properties meeting market needs; to apply micro-multiplication technology for creating high-quality and disease-free saplings; to widely apply high technologies to optimize the yield and quality ofagricultural plants. Forestplants: To research, develop and widely apply cell technology and micro-multiplication technology for multiplying forest plant varieties with high growth speed and timber quality; to research, develop and apply gene technology in ordertocreateforest plants capable ofresisting pests and diseases. Animal breeds: To research and improve reproduction technologies, especially animal cell technology, in sperm andembryo freezing,zygote transplantation and in-vitro fertilization; to apply molecular indication method and gene transfer technology in selecting and creating new animal breeds of high productivity and quality; to apply © VIETNAM LAW & LEGAL FORUM Issue no01JFebruary 2008 (GOng BaD nos 91-941February 2, 2008) OFFICIAL GAZETTE 11 gene technology in determining the embryo gender of some important domestic animals; to research and improve the vaccine production capacity, ensuring sufficient animal vaccines, especially vaccines against avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease and other dangerous diseases. Microorganisms: To research, develop and apply microorganism technology and enzyme and protein technology in producing on an industrial scale microorganic preparations used in plant protection, soil rehabilitation, processing and preservationoffarm produceand foods, production of livestock feed, purification of daily-life water, and treatment of by-products and wastes from agricultural production and rural daily life. To effectively apply genetic technology in conserving, storing and rationally exploiting gene sources ofplants, animals and microorganisms for varietylbreed improvement. Aquaculture: To research, develop and apply biotechnology to sex control in order to produce on an industrial scale unisexual breeds; to create high-quality and disease-resistant aquatic anima1 breeds; to apply artificial reproduction methods to aquatic products ofhigh economic value for export; to conserveand effectively exploit gene sources of special aquatic species for breeding purposes; to produce biologicals for raising aquaculture yield and treating the aquaculture environment; to produce kits for quick diagnosis ofaquatic animal diseases; to research and apply molecular biology and immunization science and microorganism science to the prevention and treatment of dangerous aquatic animal diseases; to produce high quality aquatic feed for use as import substitutes. Aquatic product processing: To research, develop and apply enzyme and protein tedmology forraising the quality ofcommodities andcreating new commodities in theaquatic-productprocessing industry; to apply the molecular biology method in assuring hygiene and safety ofaquatic products; to apply biotechnology to treating wastes from aquatic product processing for environmental protection, and producing preparations for aquatic product preservation. hi Health sector and community healthcare: To research, develop and intensively apply biotechnology to medicine and pharmacy in order to create new medical and pharmaceutical products of high curative effect and hi-tech bealthcare services for effectively preventing andcontrolling dangerous epidemics. better meeting people's diversified healthcare needs. Health sector: + To research, develop and apply stem cell technology serving medical treatment; In expand the application of in-vitro fertilization technology to treat infertility problems; to develop cell monoclonal technology and apply if to disease diagnosis and treatment. + To research, develop and apply gene technology to disease diagnosis andtressmentand raising of the quality of the Vietnamese race. + To research and produce new-generation vaccines (cellular vaccines, recombinant 'Vaccines and ADN vaccines) to meet 80-90% Qfdomestic demand and for export. Pharmaceuticals: + To research bio-active substances from animals, plants and microorganisms for the production ofdrugs, cosmetics and functional foods on an industrial scale. + To research and produce antibiotics, vitamins, amino acids and proteins with microorganism fermentation and recombinant microorganism technology. + To research and apply cell technology in conserving and developing rare and valuable pharmaceutical material sources. d Environmental protection and sustainable © VIETNAM LAW& LEGALFORUM 12 OFFICIAL GAZETTE Issue no 01fFebruary 2008 (GOng 880 nos 91·941FebnJary 2/2008) development: Toresearch, developandapplybiotechnology forcreatingenvironmentally friendly technologies andproductsandproducingbio-fuels (biogas, bio petrol and bio-diesel, etc.) for cleaner production andenergysecurityassurance. Toresearch,developandapplybiotechnology for treating pollutant wastes, restoring and developingnaturaleco-systemsandprotectingthe environrrznt. TOI<$Cll'Ch, developandapply biotechnology for preserving, conserving and rationally using biodiversity resources, land, water and air for national sustainable development. dJProcessing industry: To research, develop and apply enzyme, protein and microorganism technologies for producing on an industrial scale amino acids, proteins, Organic acids, organic solvents and microorganic preparationsfor thefoodprocessing industry, productionof livestockfeed, bio-fuelsand medicines,andenvironmental pollutiontreatment To research and create biotechnology chains andequipment for the food processing industry. r:J Dejense and security: To research, develop and apply methods to prevent and combat bio-weapons. To study and establish a human gene bank for those who reed to bemanaged; to research, develop andapply biotechnology topreventing, combating and pursuing criminals and managing human resources for security and defense maintenance. 2. To build and develop biotechnological potential: aJ To build material and technical foundations and modernize machinery and equipment Toplan, and make concentrated, adequate and coordinated investment in, modernizing the national network of biotechnology research institutes, universities and laboratories. To complete the construction of, and effectively operate, key national laboratories, and build and develop new biotechnological laboratories furnished with modern and synchronous machinery andequipment. To buildadvanced and modem regional, inter regional, branch and inter-branchbioteclmological centers for the performance of national, inter regional, inter-branch and specific tasks. To build key national biotechnological laboratories up to international standards and other standardized laboratories under the Vietnam Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (VIlAS). b/ Human resources training: To formulate and implement a planning on training scientific hU!11an resources to meet quantitativeandqualitalive requirements ofnational bioteclmology and bio-industry development To attach importance to training highly qualified experts with post-doctoral, doctoral or master degrees, teclmological engineers and technicians, and trainingbioteclmology research groups. To actively and regularly improve the quality of training of Vietnamese biotechnologists at all degrees. To encourage domestic and foreign organizations and individuals to participate in trainingVietnam's biotechnology human resources. To continue sending trainees for overseas graduate and postgraduate training with state budget funds. Toencourageself-financedgraduate, postgraduate and doctoral training in biotechnology To provide retraining in biotechnology for scientific and technical workers who are currently engaged in biotechnology but were previously not yet intensively trained in bioteelmology, along with organizing training courses on transfer of technologies and scientific advances in biotechnology for production establishments and © VIETNAM LAW& LEGAL FORUM Issue nQ 01IFebruary 2008 (GOng Bao nos 91-9~ary 2,2008) OFFICIAL GAZETTE '3 localities. To combine postgraduate training with scientific research and technological development to ensure that ministerial- and state-level research subjects cancontribute to training biotechnologists with high qualifications. In the 2006-2010 period: To trainmore than 8,000 scientific workers to obtain graduate and postgraduate degrees in biotechnology, including 200 doctors, 800 masters, around 100 turns of people to be trainedoverseas and 3,CXX) technicians to be trained at home. In the 2011-2015 period: To train more than 12,000 scientific workers in charge of biotechnology of graduate and postgraduate degrees, including 300 doctors, 1,200 masters, around 300 turns of people to be trained overseas and 4,500 technicians to be trained at home. 3.To build and develop bio-industry: afTo formulate a master plan on bio-industry development in Vietnam up to 2020, attaching importance to agricultural-forestry-fishery product processing and medicine-pharmacy, with viewpoints, objectives, tasksand solutions suitable to national conditions. bl To form and develop bio-industrial production, business and service enterprises engaged in processing of agricultural, forestry, fishery and aquatic products; production ofliquor, beer, beverages and sauces; production of amino acids, organic acids, industrial enzymes and food additives; production of plant varieties, animal breeds, fisheries breeds, fertilizers, bio-tnsecticides, animal vaccines, vaccines forexpanded vaccination of children, avian influenza vaccines, curative medicines, antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals; production of microorganic preparations for disposal of garbage, wastewater and exhaust gas, purifying daily-life water and responding to environmental incidents. cI To establish an open and favorable market, develop more support industries and encourage enterprises ofall economic sectors to invest in bID industry development 4. To elaborate and improve legal documents, mechanisms and policies to promote biotechnology research and development and application in production and life: aI To develop and promulgate incentive mechanisms and policies to encourage biotechnology research and development, transfer and application to production and life, and investment in bio-industry development in Vietnam; incentive policies to encouragesmall-and medium-sizedenterprises, especially agricultural forestry-fishery product processing ones, to invest in biotechnology development; policies to attract and diversify investmentsources forbiotechnology development; policies to grant incentives to scientific and technical workers engaged in biotechnology and biotechnological talents. hI To formulate policies on biosafety management of genetically modified organisms, an importantchapter ofaLaw on Biodiversity, and decrees detailing and guiding the implementation of 1hischapter. cI To formulate, promulgate and implement incentive policies on tax, land loan, sufPOI1ing the transfer and import of technologies and technological know-how, technology market development, human resources~, etc., for enterprises investing in bio-industry research and development 5. International cooperation in biotechnology: aI To enter into bilateral and multilateral cooperation with countries that have advanced biotechnologies in order to learn experience, attract investmentandseekassistance forrapid, strongand steady development ofbiotechnology. © VIETNAM LAW & LEGALFORUM 14 OFFICIAL GAZETTE Issue no01/february 2008 (Gong BaD nos 91·941February 212008) b/ To formulate and implement cooperation schemes and projectson biotechnology research, development and application; to transfer biotechnological technologies, productionchains, machinery and equipment between research institutes and universities of Vietnam and other countries with advanced biotechnologies. 6. K~ programs, plannings, schemes and projects, To achieve the objectives and effectively implement the contents of this master plan, to formulate, approve and implement the following 10keyprograms,plannings, schemesandprojects: aIAstate-Ievelkey scientific and technological program on developmentand applicationof base technologies of biotechnology: The Ministry of Science and Technology is responsible for formulating, approving according to its competence, andorganizing theimplementationof, thisprogram. bl A key program on biotechnology development and application in agriculture and rural development up to 2020: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for formulating and submitting to the Prime Minister for approval, and organizing the implementation of this program (under the Prime Minister's Decision No. 1l/2006/QD-TIg of January 1'2, 2006). ciA schemeon biotechnology development and application in the processing industry up to 2020: The Ministry of Industry (now the Ministry of Industry and Trade) is responsible forforrnulating and submitting to the Prime Ministerfor approval, and organizing the implementation of this scheme (tmder the Prime Minister's Decision No. 1412007/ QD-TIg ofJanuary 25, 2(07). dIA scheme on bioteclmology development and application in the fisheries sector up to 2020: The Ministry of Fisheries (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) is responsible for formulating and submitting to the Prime Minister for approval, and organizing the implementation of this scheme (under the Prime Minister's Decision No. 9712007/QD-TIg ofJune 29,2(07). e/A schemeon biotechnology development and application in thehealthcare sectorup to 2020: The Ministry of Health is responsible for formulating and submitting to the Prime Minister for approval, and organizing the implementation of this scheme. fI Aschemeon bioteclmology development and application inenvironmental protection up to 2020: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is responsible for formulating and submitting to the Prime Ministerfor approval, and organizing the implementation of this scheme. gIA planning on training human resources for biotechnology and bio-industry development up to 2020: The Ministry of Education and Training is responsible for formulating and submitting to the Prime Minister for approval, and organizing the implementation of this planning. hi A planning On the network, and improving material and technical foundations, of biotechnological institutes, research centers and laboratories up to 2020: The Ministry of Science andTechnology is responsible for formulating and submitting to the PrimeMinisterfor approval, and organizing the implementation of this planning. if A master plan on bio-industry development in Vietnam up to 2020: The Ministry of Industry and Trade is responsible for formulating and submitting to the Prime Minister for approval, and organizing the implementationofthis master plan. jI A draft Law on Biodiversity, including a chapter on biosafety management of genetically modified organisms, and decrees detailing and guiding the implementation of this chapter: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment © VIETNAM LAW & LEGAL FORUM Issue no01IFebruarv 2008 (GOng &0 nos 91·941FebnJary 2, 2008) OFFICIAL GAZETTE 15 is responsible for drafting and submitting to the Government for comment for further submission to the National Assembly for passage, and organizing the implementation of this law. IV. MAJOR SOLUTIONS 1.To increase regular leadership and direction by Party committees and administrations at all levels of biotechnology development and application to production and life. To fonn a unified system for directing biotechnology development and application from the central to local level. To step up, and diversify fonns of, public information and dissemination of knowledge on biotechnology development and application; to continue widely disseminating the Directive of the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee, the Government's program of action and this master plan to all levels, branches, localities and communities for compliance. 2. To rapidly complete a legal framework, mechanisms and policies to create favorable, smooth and incentive conditions for biotechnology developmentandapplication and, at the same time, raise the capacity ofstate management ofresearch and development, application and use of biotechnological products in Vietnam. 3.To step up human resource training, increase material and technical foundations, machinery and equipment for biotechnology. To make concentrated, targeted and systematic investment in priority and key localities under national and local plannings to ensure the efficient use of invested machinery, equipment and laboratories. 4. To increase and diversify investment resources for biotechnology development and application. To select for priority and concentrated investment in, efficiently implement and closely manage biotechnology development and application programs, schemes and projects. To attach importance to raising investment capital from enterprises and producers for national biotechnology development. The State shall prioritize the allocation offunds for biotechnology research and development in total annual state budget funds for science and technology. The allocation of funds for key programs, plannings, schemes and projects under this master plan complies with the Stale Budget Law. 5.To restore and develop indigenous experience and, at the same time, rapidly apply advanced technologies in order to step up biotechnology development and application in restoring and developing traditional trades and forming newones fordeveloping a strong bio-industry 6. To enhance international cooperation in order to rapidly receive, decode and master important aspects of modem biotechnology. To procure foreign technologies and hire foreign experts in necessary biotechnology research and development cases. V.ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION 1.The Ministry of Science andTechnology shall assumetheprime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries, branches, localities and agencies in, organizing the effective and on schedule implementation of the contents of this master plan, and annually report implementation results to the Prime Minister. 2. The Ministries of Science and Technology; Agriculture and Rural Development; Health; Industry and Trade;Education and Training; and Natural Resources and Environment shall, according to their assigned tasks under the master plan, expeditiously formulate, evaluateand approve © VIETNAM LAW & LEGAL FORUM 16 OFFICIAL GAZETTE Issue no 01/February 2008 (Cong Baonos 91-94IFebruary 2/2(08) according to their competence or submit to competent authorities for approval, and organize the effective and on-schedule implementation of key programs, plannings, schemes and projects already assignedto them. 3. ProvinciaUrnunicipal People's Committees shall, based on this master plan, formulate biotechnology development programsandplansup to 2020 as a priority part of their local five-year andannualsocio-economic development plans. 4. The Ministry of Planning and Investment, theMinistryofFinanceandtheMinistry of Science andTechnology shallapportion, allocate, andguide the useof capitalfor theeffectiveandon-schedule implementation of approved contents, tasks, programs, plannings,schemes and projects under this masterplan. 5. Organizations and individuals that wish to participate in implementing the contents, tasks, programs.plannings, schemes orprojects under this master plan shall register with the aforesaid responsible ministries for consideration and settlement Article .2.- This Decision takes effect 15 days after its publication in "eDNG BAD." The Minister of Science and Technology, ministers, headsof ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, presidents of provincial/municipal People's Committees, and concerned organizations and individuals shall implement this Decision. Forthe Prime Minister DeputyPtime Minister NGUYEN THIEN NHAN © VIETNAM LAW & LEGAL FORUM