MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT | SOCIAL REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM |
No.: 3824/QD-BNN-TCTS | Hanoi, September 06, 2014 |
DECISION
PROMULGATING THE PRINCIPLES OF VIETNAMESE GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (VIETGAP)
THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Pursuant to the Law on food safety dated June 17, 2010;
Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 199/2013/ND-CP dated November 26, 2013 providing for functions, missions, powers, and structures of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;
At the proposal of the Director General of Aquaculture;
DECISION:
Article 2. This Decision replaces Decision No. 1503/QD-BNN-TCTS dated July 05, 2011 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, promulgating the principles of Vietnamese good agricultural practices (VIETGAP), and shall take effect from the signing day.
Article 3. Chief of the Ministry Office, Director General of Aquaculture, Heads of units affiliated to Ministries, Director of Agriculture and Rural Development of provinces and central-affiliated cities, and related organizations or individuals shall be responsible to implement this Decision./.
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REGULATION
VIETNAMESE GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (VIETGAP)
(Enclosed with the Decision No. 3824/QD-BNN-TCTS dated September 06, 2014 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development)
Chapter I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
1. Scope and regulated entities
1.1. Scope: This document provides for principles and requirements applied to aquaculture processes including preparation, breeding and harvesting.
1.2. Regulated entities: This document is applicable to domestic or international organizations or individuals who involve in aquaculture (regardless objects and forms of aquaculture); consultancy, inspection, and recognition of VietGAP in aquaculture (inapplicable to ornamental fish) .
2. Definitions
For the purpose of this document, terms herein shall be construed as follows:
2.1. Vietnamese good agricultural practice (hereinafter referred to as VietGAP) means the documents providing for principles and requirements applied in aquaculture in order to ensure food safety, reduction of ecological impacts , effectively control of health of aquatic animals, provision of social benefits and personal protective equipment for workers, and tracing of product origins.
2.2. Aquaculture facility means the place in which aquaculture is carried out by an organization or an individual.
2.3. Aquaculture unit means 01 (one) pond/cage/tank/raft/open net/mudflat, lake in which the aquaculture takes place.
2.4. Aquaculture area means an area that contains one or several aquaculture units of the same aquaculture facility.
2.5. Threats are physical, chemical and biological agents that threaten food safety, harm human’s health and aquatic animals, or cause environmental pollution.
2.6. Experts are people who are trained in aquaculture or aquatic disease with a college or higher degree.
2.7. Feeds are fresh, raw or processed foods used to raise aquatic animals.
2.8. Environmental remediation products are substances derived from minerals, chemicals, animals, plants, microorganism, and preparations thereof, which are used to adjust physical, chemical, and biological nature of the aquaculture environment.
2.9. Drug means substances or compounds derived from animals, plants, microorganism, mineral, and chemicals including antibiotics, vaccines, bio-products, chemicals used in aquatic disease prevention and treatment.
Chapter II
PRINCIPLES AND REQUIREMENTS
1. General requirements
Clauses | Inspection contents | Requirements | |
1.1 | Legal requirements | Legal requirements | |
1.1.1 | Location | The aquaculture area is located within the area reserved for aquaculture according to the local planning. |
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| Aquatic animals are raised in areas bearing low influence of pollution or areas in which nearby pollution sources have been under control. |
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| The aquaculture area is not located within any domestic or international conservation areas as prescribed from section I to IV of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Aquaculture facilities located in areas in section V or VI of IUCN must be approved in writing by the supervisory authority of the conservation area. |
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| The aquaculture areas built after May of 1999 must be located outside of wetlands specified by Ramsar convention (hereinafter referred to as “RAMSAR areas”). |
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1.1.2 | Land/ Water surface use rights | The aquaculture facility has the rights to use land/ water surface for aquaculture operation as per law. |
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1.1.3 | Operation Registration | The aquaculture facility has been granted registration by a competent authority as per law. |
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1.2 | Infrastructures and safety warnings | Infrastructures and safety warnings | |
1.2.1 | Infrastructures | Infrastructure of every aquaculture area is designed, operated, and maintained to ensure food safety, epidemic safety and safety. |
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| There must be notice signs at each aquaculture unit, auxiliary works that match those in the floor plan. |
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1.2.2 | Safety warnings | There must be warning signs where there are threats to food safety or occupational safety. |
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1.3 | Aquatic product movement tracking and identification of VietGAP products | Aquatic product movement tracking and identification of VietGAP products | |
1.3.1 | Aquatic product movement tracking | Movement of aquatic products to and from the facility or between aquaculture units are recorded throughout the processes including breeding, harvesting and sale. |
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1.3.2 | Identification of VietGAP products | The aquaculture facility has a system to identify which aquatic organisms apply VietGAP and which do not (This includes locating the aquaculture area according to the national references and coordinates systems VN-2000) |
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1.4 | Workforce requirements | Managers of aquaculture areas must be trained in threat analysis, prevention methods, and threat control in aquaculture. |
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| Workers at the aquaculture area must be trained in order to correctly apply aquaculture and occupational safety practices as per guidance. |
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1.5 | VietGAP documents | The aquaculture facility must develop, implement, maintain and update aquaculture practices. |
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1.6 | VietGAP documents | The aquaculture facility must prepare and retain documents about previous aquaculture operations. Documents relevant to aquatic products must be stored for at least 24 months after the harvest is done. Legal, workforce and environment documents must be stored until any change is made. |
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2. Food Safety
Principle: Aquaculture activities must be under control in order to ensure food safety by following current regulations of Vietnam and Guidance from FAO/WHO Codex.
Terms | Inspection contents | Requirements | |
2.1 | Quality of water | Water used in aquaculture must be suitable for each type of aquatic organisms and must satisfy effective regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. | |
2.2 | Feeds, drugs, environmental remediation products | Feeds, drugs, environmental remediation products | |
2.2.1 | Feeds, drugs, environmental remediation products in storage | There is a list of feeds, drugs, and environmental remediation products in storage and perform stocktaking monthly. |
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2.2.2 | Usage | Only food, drugs, and environmental remediation products that are permitted in Vietnam are used as per guidance of experts or producers. |
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| Banned chemicals, antibiotics on the list issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development are not used. |
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| Ingredients and origins of internally produced feeds (if used) must be recorded. |
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2.2.3 | Preservation | The aquaculture facility must preserve feeds, drugs, environmental remediation products as per guidance of producers. |
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2.2.4 | Handling of expired products | The aquaculture facility must discard and treat feeds, drugs, and environmental remediation products that are expired and have poor quality. |
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2.2.5 | Documentation | Aquaculture facilities must create, update, and retain documents about storage, usage, and preservation of feeds, drugs, environmental remediation products. |
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2.3 | Hygiene | Hygiene | |
2.3.1 | Waste collection, sorting, and treatment | The aquaculture facility must promptly collect, sort, and treat ordinary solid wastes, hazardous wastes that are produced during daily life and aquaculture as per law. |
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| The aquaculture facility must prepare, update and retain documents about hazardous waste treatment. |
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2.3.2 | Hygiene at aquaculture areas | The aquaculture facility must ensure hygiene at aquaculture areas, working areas and rest areas in order to prevent threats to food safety. |
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2.3.3 | Personal hygiene | Workers at the aquaculture facility and visitors must obligate facility’s regulations on hygiene in order to prevent environmental pollution or infection in aquaculture areas. |
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2.4 | Harvesting and transporting | The aquaculture facility must harvest aquatic products at the appropriate time and methods to ensure food quality. |
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| The aquaculture facility must apply transport conditions in order to ensure food quality if the products are transported by the aquaculture itself. |
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| The aquaculture facility must prepare and retain documents about product harvesting and transporting. |
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3. Management of aquatic health
Principle: Aquaculture is carried out in order to ensure health of aquatic animals by maintaining good environment for aquatic products at stages of the production process as well as reducing threats of infection.
Terms | Inspection contents | Requirements | |
3.1 | Plans for management of aquatic health | The aquaculture facility must develop an aquatic animal health management with consultancy of experts. | |
3.2 | Aquatic breeds | Aquatic breeds | |
3.2.1 | Origin of breeds | The breeds have clear origin or are produced by qualified breeding facility. |
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3.2.2 | Quality of breeds | Quality of aquatic breeds must satisfy corresponding National technical regulations (hereafter abbreviated as QCVN), and the National Standards (hereafter abbreviated as TCVN) and other regulations of competent agencies. |
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| The aquaculture facility must prepare and retain documents about purchase and use of aquatic breeds, including the certificate of quarantine. |
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3.3 | Feeding regime | The aquaculture facility must determine and apply feeding regime suitable for nutrition requirements and age of aquatic animals. |
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| Hormone or growth stimulants are not used during aquaculture . |
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| The aquaculture facility must create, update and retain documents about feeding regime. |
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3.4 | Monitoring health of aquatic animals and preventing infection | Monitoring health of aquatic animals and preventing infection | |
3.4.1 | Heath monitoring | The aquaculture facility must regularly monitor all signs of shock or diseases from aquatic animals and shall perform necessary actions to prevent the spread of diseases. |
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| The aquaculture facility must periodically check the average weight, death rate, and total biomass of each unit. |
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| The aquaculture facility must create, update and retain documents about health of aquatic animals. |
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3.4.2 | Isolation and prevention of infection | When diseases are detected, the aquaculture facility must perform the isolation and prevention of infection between aquaculture units and between the aquaculture area and the outside. |
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3.4.3 | Monitoring and management of water quality | Water quality for each type of aquatic products needs to be monitored and managed regularly and related documents shall be created, updated and archived. |
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3.4.4 | Infection treatment and warning | When a disease in the list of aquatic epidemics is detected, the aquaculture facility must inform the nearest aquaculture or veterinary medicine authority , which will implement appropriate measures and carry out disinfection where the disease occurs. |
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3.4.5 | What to do with dead aquatic animals | Dead aquatic animals must be properly dealt with to prevent environmental pollution and outbreak of epidemics. |
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3.5 | Antibiotics usage | Antibiotics, if necessary, are used in accordance with prescription or treatment regimen from experts. |
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| The aquaculture facility must stop using antibiotics before the harvest as per recommends of producers or management agencies. |
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| The aquaculture facility must prepare, update and retain documents about use of antibiotics. |
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3.6 | Post-harvest treatment at aquaculture areas | The aquaculture facility must ensure rest time between 02 crops, disinfect and improve aquaculture areas before new crops and make prepare documents about aforementioned activities. |
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4. Environmental protection
Principle: Aquaculture activities must be carried out according to a plan and in a manner that does not harm the environment as per law and international treaties.
Terms | Inspection contents | Requirements | |
4.1 | Environmental protection commitment | The aquaculture facility must hold the environmental protection Commitment or evaluation reports on environmental impact as per law. | |
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| The aquaculture facility must perform environmental protection solutions. | |
4.2 | Use and discharge of water | Use and discharge of water | |
4.2.1 | Water use and discharge | The aquaculture facility must not use home water (tap water) to serve aquaculture purposes. |
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| Wastewater discharged into the environment must satisfy requirements of standards as per law. |
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| The aquaculture facility must prepare, update and retain documents about the amount of water used in each crop and wastewater check. |
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4.2.2 | Groundwater Use | Groundwater must be used in accordance with applicable laws. |
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4.2.3 | Saltwater intrusion at natural freshwater area | The aquaculture facility must be designed and managed to protect the surface and groundwater source and to reduce the saltwater intrusion at natural freshwater areas. Do not let the saline water into the natural freshwater source. When there is saltwater intrusion affecting the groundwater, local agencies and community must be informed. |
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4.3 | Pest control | Pest control | |
4.3.1. | Pest control on aquaculture | There must be solutions to prevent pest from entering the aquaculture facility or aquaculture unit while ensuring safety of other wild animals. |
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4.3.2 | Protection of species in Vietnam’s Red Book | The aquaculture facility must apply necessary solutions to protect species specified in Vietnam's Red Book that may appear nearby. |
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4.4 | Protection of aquatic resources | The aquaculture facility can only breed non-native species under the Government’s approval in accordance with law. |
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| The aquaculture facility must obligate related regulations in the Law on Aquaculture when exploiting wild breeds for commercial purposes. |
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| The aquaculture facility exploiting genetically modified animals must comply with current provisions |
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5. Economic - Social aspects
Principle: Aquaculture activities must be socially responsible, respectful towards local culture and community, in accordance with the Government’s provisions and other related agreements of the International Labor Organiztion (hereafter abbreviated as ILO) on the workers’ rights, and without bad affect to the livelihoods of workers and their communities.
Terms | Inspection contents | Requirements | Requirements | |||
5.1 | Employment of workers | Employment of workers | Employment of workers | |||
5.1.1 | Age of workers | The aquaculture facility is not allowed to hire workers under 15 years old. | The aquaculture facility is not allowed to hire workers under 15 years old. |
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| Regarding workers from 15 to 18 years old, the facility must ensure to cause no harm and bad affect to their health, study or their ability to receive knowledge. | Regarding workers from 15 to 18 years old, the facility must ensure to cause no harm and bad affect to their health, study or their ability to receive knowledge. |
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| The facility must keep workers' profiles. | The facility must keep workers' profiles. |
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5.1.2 | Rights and benefits of workers | Workers are allowed to establish or join legal unions or groups, without any interfere from the aquaculture facility, for protection of their benefits and shall suffer no consequences from this right. | Workers are allowed to establish or join legal unions or groups, without any interfere from the aquaculture facility, for protection of their benefits and shall suffer no consequences from this right. |
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| Workers have the rights to comment and complain to the aquaculture facility about issues related to workers’ rights and working conditions. The aquaculture facility must consider and settle workers’ issues and proposals. | Workers have the rights to comment and complain to the aquaculture facility about issues related to workers’ rights and working conditions. The aquaculture facility must consider and settle workers’ issues and proposals. |
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| Workers must not be discriminated on the ground of gender, religion, and ethnicity by employers or other workers. | Workers must not be discriminated on the ground of gender, religion, and ethnicity by employers or other workers. |
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| Workers work overtime and get paid under agreement with the employer and the overtime hours must not exceed the limits prescribed by law. | Workers work overtime and get paid under agreement with the employer and the overtime hours must not exceed the limits prescribed by law. |
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5.2 | Occupational safety and health | Occupational safety and health | Occupational safety and health | |||
5.2.1 | Working conditions | Working areas and rest areas of the aquaculture facility must ensure hygiene and safety for workers. | Working areas and rest areas of the aquaculture facility must ensure hygiene and safety for workers. |
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| Protective equipment must be provided free and is always available to prevent industrial accidents and diseases. | Protective equipment must be provided free and is always available to prevent industrial accidents and diseases. |
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5.2.2 | Healthcare for workers | The aquaculture facility must pay insurances and assist workers with Social insurance and health insurance according to the provisions of the Labor Law, the Law on Social Insurance and the Law on Health Insurance. | The aquaculture facility must pay insurances and assist workers with Social insurance and health insurance according to the provisions of the Labor Law, the Law on Social Insurance and the Law on Health Insurance. |
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| The aquaculture facility must promptly act when accidents occur and must keep records related to these accidents. The aquaculture facility must have plans to prevent same accidents. | The aquaculture facility must promptly act when accidents occur and must keep records related to these accidents. The aquaculture facility must have plans to prevent same accidents. |
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5.3 | Contract and salary (wage) | Contract and salary (wage) | Contract and salary (wage) | |||
5.3.1 | Probation and contract | Probation and contract | The aquaculture facility must ensure that the probation duration does not exceed the limit specified in the Labor Law. |
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| The aquaculture facility must sign a contract with workers, except for workers doing temporary works for less than 01 month. |
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| The aquaculture facility must have probation contracts and documents of probation payment. |
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5.3.2 | Wage and salary | Wage and salary | The aquaculture facility must fully pay wages and salary in cash or via the most convenient method for workers. |
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| When hiring workers less than 01 month, the aquaculture facility must pay full wages after the work is done. |
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| Monthly salary cannot be lower than the minimum salary range issued by the Government at the respectively timing and must be paid monthly. |
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| The aquaculture facility must have employment contracts, documents related to payments of wages or salaries to workers. |
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5.4 | Issues in the community | Issues in the community | The aquaculture facility must agree with nearby aquaculture facilities and community on plans to solve any conflicts that may occur. |
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| The aquaculture facility keeps the result of complaints or conflicts with nearby communities. |
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CRITERIA OF VietGAP IN AQUACULTURE
(Enclosed with the Decision No. 3824/QD-BNN-TCTS dated September 06, 2014 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development)
1. General requirements
Terms | Inspection contents | Requirements | Requirements | Criteria | Level | ||||
1.1 | Legal requirements | Legal requirements | Legal requirements | Legal requirements |
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1.1.1 | Location | Aquatic animals raised in areas reserved for local aquaculture. | Aquatic animals raised in areas reserved for local aquaculture. | Aquatic animals should be raised in areas planned for local aquaculture. | B |
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| Aquatic animals should be raised in areas bearing low influence of pollution or areas in which nearby pollution sources have been under control. | Aquatic animals should be raised in areas bearing low influence of pollution or areas in which nearby pollution sources have been under control. | The aquaculture facility must be located separately from residential area, factories, hospitals, chemicals producers and other area with high threats of pollution. When being located near above pollution sources, the aquaculture facility must have plans to control the pollution. | A |
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| The aquaculture facility should be located out of domestic or international conservation areas as prescribed from section I to IV of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Aquaculture facilities located in areas specified in section V or VI of IUCN must be approved in writing by management agencies of conservation areas. | The aquaculture facility should be located out of domestic or international conservation areas as prescribed from section I to IV of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Aquaculture facilities located in areas specified in section V or VI of IUCN must be approved in writing by management agencies of conservation areas. | Comply with requirements. | A |
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| Aquaculture areas built after May of 1999 must be located outside RAMSAR areas. | Aquaculture areas built after May of 1999 must be located outside RAMSAR areas. | Aquaculture facilities built after May of 1999 and located near RAMSAR areas must hold certificate issued by competent agencies. | A |
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1.1.2 | Land/ Water surface use rights | The aquaculture facility must have the rights to use land/ water surface for aquaculture activities as per law. | The aquaculture facility must have the rights to use land/ water surface for aquaculture activities as per law. | There must be one among these three types of documents: - Certificate of rights to use land/ water surface - Decision on allocation of land/water surface, or - Contract for lease of the rights to use land/water surface | A |
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1.1.3 | Operation Registration | The aquaculture facility must register their operation with competent authorities as per law. | The aquaculture facility must register their operation with competent authorities as per law. | If the aquaculture facility is organization or enterprise, there must be: - Certificate of business registration or enterprise registration, or - Certificate of investment in aquaculture If the aquaculture facility is an individual or household, there must be: - Certificate of aquaculture registration or approvals of competent agencies, or - Confirmation that the aquaculture facility is on the list of aquaculture households of the Commune People's Committee. | A |
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1.2 | Infrastructures and safety warnings | Infrastructures and safety warnings | Infrastructures and safety warnings | Infrastructures and safety warnings |
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1.2.1 | Infrastructures | Infrastructure of the aquaculture facility must be designed, operated, and maintained to prevent spread of diseases that threaten food safety, diseases and occupational safety. | Infrastructure of the aquaculture facility must be designed, operated, and maintained to prevent spread of diseases that threaten food safety, diseases and occupational safety. | The aquaculture area must be built, operated and maintained to prevent infection from workers, restroom wastes, domestic animals, machine oil/ fuel, collective kitchen, solid waste containing area, water transportation, and other infection sources to aquaculture area. | A |
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| There must be notice signs at each aquaculture unit, auxiliary work and those must match with the ones in the facility map. | There must be notice signs at each aquaculture unit, auxiliary work and those must match with the ones in the facility map. | - There must be signs at each construction item at aquaculture area such as aquaculture units, storages, restrooms, kitchens, etc. - There must be maps indicating location of each construction item or system of aquaculture units matching with actual signs. | A |
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1.2.2 | Safety warnings | There must be warning signs where there are threats to food safety or occupational safety. | There must be warning signs where there are threats to food safety or occupational safety. | There must be signs where: - There are threats to safety, such as: high voltage, dangerous depth, chemical containers, hazardous wastewater, and water containing chemical treatment, etc. - There are threats to food safety, such as: Isolation areas of infected aquatic animals, non-visitor area, and restricted area for water transportation, etc. | A |
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1.3 | Aquatic product transport tracking and distinction of products applying VietGAP standards | Aquatic product transport tracking and distinction of products applying VietGAP standards | Aquatic product transport tracking and distinction of products applying VietGAP standards | Aquatic product transport tracking and distinction of products applying VietGAP standards | Aquatic product transport tracking and distinction of products applying VietGAP standards | ||||
1.3.1 | Aquatic product transport tracking | Aquatic product transport tracking | The aquaculture facility needs to take note of aquatic products going in and out of the facility, or going between aquaculture units from breeding, harvesting, to selling. | All movements of aquatic products from breeding, harvesting, to selling at every aquaculture unit are recorded. The following information is compulsory: name of species, date, quantity and movement of aqua organisms of each unit. | A |
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1.3.2 | Distinction of VietGAP products | Distinction of VietGAP products | The aquaculture facility must have a system to recognize which aquatic organism apply VietGAP standards and which do not (This includes locating the aquaculture areas according to the national references and coordinates systems VN-2000) | There are documents to help distinguishing aquaculture areas and aquatic products that apply VietGAP standards from those that do not. | A |
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| There are signs indicating which areas apply VietGAP and which do not. | A |
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1.4 | Workforce requirements | Workforce requirements | Managers of aquaculture areas are trained in risk analysis, prevention methods, and risk control in aquaculture. | Managers of aquaculture site have the certificate of the training of risk analysis, prevention methods, and risk control in aquaculture. | A |
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| Employees of aquaculture areas must be trained in order to correctly apply aquaculture and occupational safety practices as per guidance. | - Workers whose name is in the training list in good aquaculture practices and occupational safety organized by managers of aquaculture site or persons assigned by the General Directorate of Aquaculture. - Knowledge of workers shall be evaluated through interviews, documents and practical activities. | A |
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1.5 | VietGAP documents | VietGAP documents | The aquaculture facility must develop, implement, maintain and update practical practices in aquaculture. | Guidance of practices of aquaculture created by the aquaculture facility shall comprise: i) Risk analysis, prevention and control methods of unsafe risks of food, pandemic, environment, workers in aquaculture, ii) Fisheries health management plan, iii) Test of quality of breeding water, iv) Harvesting and process of post-harvest; viii) measures to prevent the entry of animals in the Red Book and pests; ix) use of chemicals in the restricted list and antibiotics; x) No discrimination on the ground of gender, religion or ethnicity. This guidance is suitable for conditions and is convenient for reference and application at aquaculture areas. | A |
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1.6 | VietGAP documents | VietGAP documents | The aquaculture facility must create, maintain and keep documents of past activities in aquaculture available. Documents relevant to aquatic products must be stored at least 24 months after the harvest. Legal documents, workforce and environment documents must be stored until any change is made. | Following documents must be available: 1. Legal documents; 2. Training document of managers and workers; 3. Documents on environmental protection as per regulations in section 4; 4. Documents of work force, safety and health of workers, salary or wage and other community issues as per regulations in section 5; 5. Document about control of aquatic products in circulation; 6. Documents on food safety as per regulations in section 2; 7. Documents on aquatic products health as per regulations in section 3. 8. Notes and purchase orders and invoices (if any) Documents from (1) to (4) must be archived until any change is made. Documents from (5) to (8) must be archived at least 24 months after the harvest. | A |
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2. Food Safety
Principle: Aquaculture activities must be under control in order to ensure food safety by following current provisions of Vietnam and Guidance from FAO/WHO Codex.
Terms | Inspection contents | Requirements | Criteria | Level | ||
2.1 | Quality of water | Water used in aquaculture must be suitable for each type of aquatic products and must satisfy current regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development | - Proof showing that quality of the water has been tested before water is taken to the aquaculture unit. - There are descriptions of supply and drainage process in order to avoid polluting the water source. | A | ||
2.2 | Feeds, drugs, environmental remediation products | Feeds, drugs, environmental remediation products | Feeds, drugs, environmental remediation products |
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2.2.1 | Feeds, drugs, environmental remediation products in storage | The aquaculture facility must create a list of feeds, drugs, and environmental remediation products in storage and perform stocktaking monthly. | - There must be a description of feeds, drugs, environmental remediation products in storage and is usually updated. - There must be proofs that stocktaking is done monthly. | A |
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2.2.2 | Usage | The aquaculture facility can only use food, drugs, and environmental remediation products in circulation in Vietnam as per guidance of experts or producers. | - All requirements must be satisfied. - Do not use expired feeds, drugs, environmental remediation products or without labels. - The aquaculture facility must take notes and follow the timing to stop using chemical in the restricted use list before the harvest. - Take note of every use of drugs, and environmental remediation products at aquaculture areas with at least following information: name of products, volume (among the total volume of aquatic products), use purposes, date, expiry, and user. | A |
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| The aquaculture facility must not use banned chemicals or antibiotics in the list issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. | All requirements must be satisfied. | A |
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| When using internally produced feeds, the aquaculture facility must take note of components and origins of the ingredients. | Information of feeds components, volume of each ingredients, store and date of purchase. | A |
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2.2.3 | Preservation | The aquaculture facility must preserve feeds, drugs, environmental remediation products as per guidance of producers. | - Conditions to preserve feeds must follow guidance of producers. - Conditions to preserve drugs and environmental remediation products must ensure to avoid usage of unauthorized persons or misuse, degradation of quality or activity as per guidance from producers. | A |
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2.2.4 | Handling of expired products | The aquaculture facility must reject and handle feeds, drugs, and environmental remediation products that are expired and have poor quality. | - Evidence showing that drugs, and environmental remediation products are expired and have poor quality and need to be correctly handled. - Do not bury expired chemical or antibiotics. | A |
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2.2.5 | Document | Aquaculture facilities must create, update, and retain documents about storage, usage, and preservation of feeds, drugs, environmental remediation products. | - The aquaculture facility must not use banned chemicals, antibiotics in the list issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. - There must be documents of purchased drugs, feeds, environmental remediation products from producers or agencies. - There must be documents of drugs, feeds, and environmental remediation products. - There must be preservation information, including at least: date and name of shipper / receiver when putting in or taking out; name of products; name of producers, expire date; volume or weight of products in and out. - There must be notes of disposal and handle of feeds, drugs, and environmental remediation products that are expired and have poor quality, including at least: solutions, date of disposal or handle. | B |
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2.3 | Hygiene | Hygiene | Hygiene |
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2.3.1 | Waste collection, sorting, and treatment | The aquaculture facility must collect, sort, and promptly treat ordinary solid wastes, hazardous wastes in daily life and aquaculture as per law. | Collect hazardous waste and organic waste that can cause pathogens and keep them in tight area when detected to avoid leak of waste to the environment | A |
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| - Promptly remove ordinary solid waste or organic waste that can cause pathogens. Do not use or reuse packages that contain or directly exposed to chemicals or antibiotics. - Solutions to handle or demolish hazardous waste properly as per law. | A |
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| There must be receipt of monthly cleaning service from waste collecting unit or contracts with waste collecting unit or convenient and appropriate plans for the location and conditions of aquaculture areas. |
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| The aquaculture facility must create, update and retain documents about hazardous waste treatment. | There are records primary packages that are treated or returned, including at least: date of treatment / disposal / return, name and quantity / volume of packages treated/returned, treatment plan, receiving/treating person or unit. | A |
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2.3.2 | Hygiene at the aquaculture facility | The aquaculture facility must ensure hygiene at aquaculture areas, workplace, and rest places in order to prevent threats to food safety. | Home wastewater must not pollute aquaculture areas and the water supply system. | A |
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| No trash/ waste are allowed at aquaculture areas, work areas and rest areas. | A |
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2.3.3 | Personal hygiene | Workers at the aquaculture facility and visitors must obligate facility’s regulations on hygiene in order to prevent environmental pollution or infection in aquaculture areas. | There must be qualified restrooms for workers. | A |
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| Workers at the aquaculture facility and visitors must obligate facility’s regulations on personal hygiene. | A |
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2.4 | Harvesting and transporting | The aquaculture facility must harvest aquatic products at the appropriate time and methods to ensure food quality. | Follow guidance on harvesting method. | A |
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| The timing to harvest must follow guidance of producers or experts in order to ensure that there is no volume of chemicals and antibiotics in aquatic products and food safety is assured. | A |
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| Equipment must be clean during the harvest. The harvest should not make the products crushed or rumpled. | A |
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| The aquaculture facility must apply standards of transport in order to ensure food quality in case of self-transport of the products. | Do not use chemicals specified in the restricted-use list and antibiotics to preserve products during the transport. | A |
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| Iced cube used for transport must be created from clean water sources. | B |
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| The aquaculture facility must prepare and retain documents about product harvesting and transporting. | There must be records on the harvest at each aquaculture unit, at least including: Date of harvest, Code of aquaculture unit; output, sizes when harvesting; clients (name, address, purchased mass). | A |
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| There must be records on transport process, including at least: Date of transport; means and conditions of transport; quantity of goods transported; transporting person; Destination/ clients. | B |
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3. Management of aquatic health
Principle: Aquaculture is carried out in order to ensure health of aquatic animals by maintaining good environment for aquatic animals at stages of the production process as well as reducing threats of infection.
Terms | Inspection contents | Requirements | Criteria | Level | ||
3.1 | Plans for management of aquatic health | The aquaculture facility must develop an aquatic animal health management plan under consultancy of experts. | The aquaculture facility must develop a plan to manage health of aquatic animals under consultancy of experts. This plan should be carefully considered and adjusted when needed. The basic contents including at least: - Process of aquaculture; - Prevention and treatment towards diseases, including use of vaccine; - Common diseases and treatment regimens; - Measures to isolate aquaculture units suspected to be infected; - Measures to remove or to handle sick and dead aquatic animals; - Measures to response when there is a disease outbreak and processes to prevent infection. | A | ||
3.2 | Aquatic breeds | Aquatic breeds | Aquatic breeds |
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3.2.1 | Origin of breeds | Breeds must have clear origin or comes from qualified breeding facility. | All requirements must be satisfied. | A |
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3.2.2 | Quality of breeds | Quality of aquatic breeds must satisfy the National technical regulations (hereafter, abbreviated as QCVN), and the National Standards (hereafter, abbreviated as TCVN) respectively and other regulations of competent agencies. | All requirements must be satisfied. | A |
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| The aquaculture facility must prepare and retain documents about purchase and usage of aquatic breed, including certificate of quarantine. | - There must be purchase documents clearly stating names, addresses of breed seller, sizes and quality of breeds - There must be certificate of quarantine of breeds as per regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. | A |
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3.3 | Feeding regime | The aquaculture facility must determine and apply suitable feeding regime with nutrition requirements and age of aquatic animals. | There must be monitoring measures to ensure the feeds to meet the needs of aquaculture products. | A |
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| The size of feeds must be appropriate to the age of aquaculture products. | B |
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| No usage of hormone or growth stimulating drug during aquaculture. | All requirements must be satisfied. | A |
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| The aquaculture facility must create, update and retain documents about feeding regime. | There must be records on everyday feeding regime. | A |
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3.4 | Monitoring health of aquatic animals and preventing the infection | Monitoring health of aquatic animals and preventing the infection | Monitoring health of aquatic animals and preventing the infection |
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3.4.1 | Health monitoring | The aquaculture facility must regularly monitor all signs of shock or diseases from aquatic animals and shall perform necessary actions to prevent the infection. | All requirements must be satisfied. | A |
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| The aquaculture facility must periodically check the average weight, death rate and total biomass of aquatic products of each unit. | All requirements must be satisfied. | A |
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| The aquaculture facility must create, update and archive documents about health of aquatic animals. | - There must be records of average weight, alive rate, and total weight of aquatic animals - There must be records of shocked or sick aquatic animals, including at least: Date, Symptom; Volume/ Weight of aquatic animals - The record should also include solutions for each case to improve the aquatic animal health when they are sick or shocked. | A |
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3.4.2 | Isolation and prevention of infection | When diseases are detected, the aquaculture facility must perform the isolation and prevention of infection between aquaculture units and other area. | People, equipment, and tools should be used separately or cleaned, disinfected before and after doing the care. | A |
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| Pick up sick or dead aquatic animals and keep them in tight area when detected to avoid leak of waste to the environment. | A |
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3.4.3 | Monitoring and management of water quality | Water quality for each type of aquatic animal needs to be monitored and managed regularly and related documents shall be created, updated and archived. | Check, adjust the water quality in aquaculture in order to ensure aquatic animals' health. There must be records for each pond, including at least: Date and person in charge of the checking, environmental criteria, checking results, solutions. | A |
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3.4.4 | Infection treatment and warning | When a disease in the list of aquatic diseases is detected, the aquaculture facility must warn the nearest aquaculture or veterinary authority to disclose the diseases and perform treatment against the disease as well as disinfect where the disease occurred. | There must be warning to aquaculture or veterinary authority when there are diseases that can spread as epidemics. | B |
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| There must be coordination with competent agencies to treat the disease and to disinfect the areas in which diseases appear | A |
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| There must be records of date of diseases; treatment and disinfection date; Chemical and its dose | A |
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3.4.5 | Dead aquatic animals treatment | Appropriate treatment must be performed to prevent environmental pollution and infection. | Measures to handle dead or sick aquatic animals in the list of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development right after the detection to prevent infection in and outside of the aquaculture areas. | A |
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| There must be records of date of death of aquatic animals, handling date and methods. | B |
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3.5 | Antibiotics usage | Where it is compulsory that antibiotics are used, the aquaculture facility can only use the amount as per prescription or treatment regimen from experts. | There must be prescription or treatment regimen of experts matching each type of disease. | A |
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| There must be records of solutions used to treat diseases. | A |
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| The aquaculture facility must stop using antibiotics before harvest as per recommends of producers or management agencies. | All requirements must be satisfied. | A |
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| The aquaculture facility must prepare, update and retain documents about using antibiotics. | There must be records of each time using antibiotics, including: code of aquaculture unit; Causes/ Symptoms; Name of used antibiotic; Dose and usage; start and end date of treatment; rest time before the harvest; doer. | A |
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3.6 | Post-harvest treatment at aquaculture areas | The aquaculture facility must ensure to rest between 02 crops, disinfect and improve aquaculture areas before breeding out the new crop, make and archive related documents to aforementioned activities. | Wastewater and sludge after the harvest must be handled to ensure no leak and bad impacts to the environment. | B |
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| Disinfect and improve aquaculture areas after each crop with specific conditions. | A |
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| The rest time between 2 crops should be suitable for each type of products and specific conditions. | A |
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| There must records on treatment and disinfection of wastewater and sludge and intervals. | A |
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4. Environmental protection
Principle: Aquaculture activities must be carried out as with a plan and responsibility towards the environment as per law and international treaties.
Terms | Inspection contents | Requirements | Criteria | Level | ||
4.1 | Environment protection commitment | The aquaculture facility must have the environment protection commitment or evaluation reports on environmental impact as per law. | All requirements must be satisfied. | B | ||
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The aquaculture facility must perform environmental protection solutions.
| There must be records of solutions used to protect the environment. | A | ||
4.2 | Use and dispose water | Use and dispose water | Use and dispose water |
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4.2.1 | Use and dispose water | The aquaculture facility must not use daily life water (tap water) to serve aquaculture purposes. | All requirements must be satisfied. | A |
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| Wastewater discharged to the environment must satisfy requirements of standards as per law. | There must be suitable solutions or wastewater technology during aquaculture process. | A |
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| Wastewater discharged to the environment must lie within the allowed limits as per regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development - For freshwater: NH3 ≤ 0,3 mg/l; PO43- < 10 mg/l; H2S ≤ 0,05 mg/l; BOD5 < 30 mg/l; Mineral oil: no unpleasant smell. - For salt water: NH3 ≤ 0,3 mg/l; PO43- < 10 mg/I; H2S ≤ 0,05 mg/l; NO2 < 0,35 mg/l; BOD5 < 30 mg/l; Mineral oil: no unpleasant smell. | A |
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| The aquaculture facility must prepare, update and retain documents about the amount of water used in each crop and waste water check. | Aquaculture must take note of total water in each crop | B |
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| There must be results of wastewater periodically check (weekly regarding crops < 04 months or monthly regarding crops > 04 months), date of water discharge | B |
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4.2.2 | Groundwater Use | Groundwater must be used as per law. | In areas in which there is frequent water shortage or drought, the aquaculture facility must prioritize the groundwater to serve aquaculture purposes. | B |
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| Date when the water is taken and capacity of groundwater taken each time must be taken note if the groundwater is used for aquaculture. | A |
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4.2.3 | Salinization at natural freshwater area | The aquaculture facility must be designed and managed to protect the surface and underground water source and to reduce the salinization at natural freshwater area. Do not let the saline water into the natural freshwater source. When there is saltwater intrusion affecting the groundwater, local agencies and community must be informed. | Do not let the saline water into the natural freshwater source. | A |
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| Notices to environmental management agencies and local community when detecting saltwater intrusion related to aquaculture. | B |
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| Waterproofing measures should be applied to ensure that saltwater would not blend into natural freshwater. | A |
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4.3 | Pest control | Pest control | Pest control |
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4.3.1 | Pest control on aquaculture | There must be solutions to prevent pest from entering the facility while still ensuring the safety of other wild animals. | Measures to kill harmful animals (mice, yellow snails, etc.) without polluting the environment and not causing harm to other animals and plants except for aquatic animals during pond preparation. | A |
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| Appropriate measures to prevent entry of harmful animals or domestic animals (dogs, cats, geese, ducks ...). | B |
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4.3.2 | Protection of species in Vietnam’s Red Book | The aquaculture facility must apply necessary solutions to protect nearby species specified in Vietnam's Red Book. | The aquaculture facility must apply necessary solutions to protect nearby species specified in Vietnam's Red Book. | A |
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| Require knowledge about species specified in Vietnam's Red Book that may appear around the breeding area. | A |
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4.4 | Protection of aquatic resources | The aquaculture facility can only feed exotic species subject to the Government in accordance with law. | All requirements must be satisfied. | A |
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| The aquaculture facility must obligate related regulations in the Law on Aquaculture when using wild breeds for commercial purposes. | Note of species, time, locations, types, sizes and volume of the aquatic animals. | B |
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| Aquaculture exploiting genetically modified aquatic animals must comply with current provisions | There must be a copy of Report on risk evaluation approved by competent agencies and Certificate of genetically modified organisms eligible to be used as food. | A |
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5. Economic - Social aspects
Principle: Aquaculture activities must be socially responsible, respectful towards local culture and community, in accordance with Government’s provisions and other related agreements of the International Labor Organization (hereafter abbreviated as ILO) on the workers’ rights, and without bad affect to the livelihoods of workers and their communities.
Terms | Inspection contents | Requirements | Criteria | Level | |||
5.1 | Employment of workers | Employment of workers | Employment of workers |
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5.1.1 | Age of workers | There is no worker under 15 years old. | There is no worker under 15 years old. | A |
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| Regarding workers from 15 to 18 years old, the facility must ensure no harm and bad affect to their health, study or their ability to receive knowledge. | - There must be employment contracts with signatures of representatives as per law. Contents of contracts should show: total working time not exceeding 8 hour per day, working and resting time should not impact workers' health and study. - There must be job descriptions. - Workers confirm that employers follow all contents of the employment contract. | A |
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| The facility must have workers' profiles. | There must be lists and documents proving workers' family records. | A |
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5.1.2 | Rights and benefits of workers | Workers are allowed to establish or to join legal unions or groups, without any interfere from the aquaculture facility, for protection of their benefits and shall suffer no consequences from this right. | All requirements must be satisfied. | A |
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| Workers have the rights to comment and complain to the aquaculture facility about issues related to workers’ rights and working conditions. Aquaculture must check, reply, or solve those advice or difficulties from the workers. | The facility must have appropriate forms to receive feedback from workers. | A |
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| - All proposals or complaints must be properly solved within 30 days from the receipt date and must be confirmed by workers who involve. - There must be a list of proposals and complaints, dates of proposals and complaints, and implemented solutions and proof. | A |
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| Workers must not be discriminated on the ground of gender, religion, ethnic by employers or other workers. | All requirements must be satisfied. | A |
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| Workers work overtime due to agreement with employers and the overtime hours must not exceed the maximum hours as per law. | - Workers certify overtime working hours following below requirements: + Agreement of workers + Not exceed allowed limits as per law; + Get paid as per law. - There must be overtime timekeeping board as per current regulations prescribed in employment contracts.0} | B |
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5.2 | Occupational safety and health | Occupational safety and health | Occupational safety and health |
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5.2.1 | Working conditions | Work and rest areas of the aquaculture facility must ensure hygiene and safety for workers. | Workplace, accommodation of workers must be safe and hygienic. Restrooms must be placed logically so workers can use them at aquaculture areas. | A |
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| Protective equipment must be provided free and is always available to prevent industrial accidents and diseases. | - There must be necessary personal protective equipment at aquaculture areas. - Necessary tools and equipment must be available to response to emergencies that may occur and to evacuate or save victims. | A |
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5.2.2 | Healthcare for workers | The aquaculture facility must pay insurances and enable workers to receive social insurance and health insurance benefits according to the provisions of the Labor Law, the Law on Social Insurance and the Law on Health Insurance. | - There must be proofs that the aquaculture facility pays social and medical insurances for the workers under employment contracts with indefinite term or a term of at least 03 months. - Workers must confirm whether they can have days off for medical treatment or sick leave or when there is a sick leave document from workers. | A |
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| The aquaculture facility must act promptly when accidents occur and keep records related to these accidents. The aquaculture facility must have solutions to prevent same accidents. | - There must be records of all accidents that occurred, specific solutions (including receipts of medicine, etc.) and other accident prevention plans - Workers must confirm whether the aquaculture facility promptly give emergency aid to workers in accidents. | A |
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5.3 | Contract and salary (wage) | Contract and salary (wage) | Contract and salary (wage) |
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5.3.1 | Probation and contract | The aquaculture facility must ensure that maximum days for probation do not exceed maximum probationary periods specified in the Labor Law. | Workers confirm that the aquaculture facility sign the employment contract right after the first probation period if they pass. The probation time shall not exceed the allowed limits as per the Labor Law. | A |
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| The aquaculture facility must sign a contract with workers, except for workers doing temporary works for less than 01 month. | Employment contracts shall be signed in writing for all regular workers and workers shall keep 01 copy. When workers are family members of the aquaculture facility, they do not need to sign employment contracts. | A |
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| The aquaculture facility must have probation contracts and documents on probation payment. | All requirements must be satisfied. | A |
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5.3.2 | Wages and remunerations | Aquaculture must fully pay wages and salary in cash or the most convenient method for workers. When hiring workers less than 01 month, the aquaculture facility must pay full wages after the work is done. | There must be documents proving that the facility fully pay the workers in cash at the end of their working months or when the temporary jobs with the term of less than 1 month are completed. | A |
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| Monthly salary cannot be lower than the minimum salary issued by the Government at the respectively timing and must be paid monthly. | Workers confirm that their actual salary is exactly as their bankroll. | A |
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| The aquaculture facility must have employment contracts, documents related to payments of wages or salaries to workers. | There must be employment contracts, bankroll stating salary or wages of workers002E | A |
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5.4 | Issues in the community | The aquaculture facility must agree with nearby aquaculture facilities and community on plans to solve any issue that may occur. | - The aquaculture facility must think in advance possible conflicts with nearby community and plans to solve these conflicts with other neighbor aquaculture facilities or community. - Meeting once per year or per unexpected issue to solve the conflicts with the community. | B |
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| The aquaculture facility keep the result of complaints or conflict with nearby community. | - There must be documents that keep all issues and complaints with specific day and time and responses. - There must be meeting minutes bearing signature of local competent representatives and at least one local organization or one reputable civil society organization when having a meeting with the community. | B |
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Note: Level A: Mandatory requirements; Level B: Optional requirements.
GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSMENT AND PROCESSING OF RESULTS:
- An aquaculture facility will be granted the VietGAP certification when it satisfies 100% of level A requirements and at least 90% of Level B requirements. A requirement that is already assessed will not be assessed again.
- The aquaculture facility composed of multiple members will be granted the VietGAP certification when 100% of the selected members satisfy VietGAP requirements.
- The requirements in Clause 5.1 to Clause 5.3 are not applied to aquaculture facilities that do not hire workers.
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