DECISION

ON PROMULGATION OF TEMPORARY REGULATIONS ON THE LIMIT OF CROSS CONTAMINATION BIS (2-ETHYLHEXYL) PHTHALATE IN FOODSTUFF

MINISTER OF HEALTH

Pursuant to Decree No. 188/2007/ND-CP dated December 27, 2007 prescribing the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

Pursuant to the Ordinance on Food Hygiene and Safety No. 12/2003/PL-UBTVQH11 dated July 26, 2003 of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and the Government's Decree No. 163/2004/ND-CP dated September 07, 2004 of Government detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Ordinance on food hygiene and safety;

At the proposal of the Director of Department of Food Hygiene and Safety,

DECIDES:

Article 1. Promulgating together with this Decision the “Temporary regulations on the limit of cross contamination bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in foodstuff”.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect from its signing date. In case the corresponding National Technical Regulation is promulgated, the maximum limit of cross contamination of DEHP in foodstuff shall comply with that National Technical Regulation.

Article 3. Mr/Mrs Chief of Office of Ministry of Health; Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Health; Directors of Departments: Legislation, Science and Training; Director of Department of Food Hygiene and Safety; Heads of units directly under the Ministry of Health; Director of the Service of Health of the centrally-affiliated provinces and cities are liable to implement this Decision. /.

TEMPORARY REGULATIONS

ON THE LIMIT OF CROSS CONTAMINATION BIS (2-ETHYLHEXYL) PHTHALATE IN FOODSTUFF
(Promulgated together with Decision No. 2204/QD-BYT dated June 29, 2011 of the Ministry of Health)

Article 1. Scope of adjustment and subjects of application

1. Scope of adjustment:

This temporary regulation (hereafter referred to as Regulation) prescribes the limit of DEHP in foodstuff (excluding bottled drinking water) domestically produced and imported.

2. Subjects of application:

a) This Regulation is applicable to organizations and individuals producing, processing, trading, export and import of foodstuff in Vietnam.

b) It is not applicable to any case of intentionally adding DEHP into foodstuff.

Article 2. Explanation of terms

In this Regulation, the following terms are construed as follows:

Cross contamination: is unintentional contamination directly into foodstuff product from environment, tool, packaging (direct contact with foodstuff) or indirect from other sources into foodstuff.

DEHP: a liquid, viscous, colorless, soluble in oil, insoluble in water organic compound. DEHP has its chemical name as (Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) and chemical formula as C6H4(C8H17COO)2.

Article 3. Maximum limit of DEHP in foodstuff

The maximum limit of DEHP in foodstuff is 1.5 mg/kg for solid foodstuff or 1.5 mg/l for liquid foodstuff.

Article 4. Method of determining DEHP content in foodstuff

Method of determining the DEHP content in foodstuff shall comply with UNITED STATES CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION Directorate For Laboratory Sciences Division of Chemistry (2010) "Test Method: CPSC-CH-C1001-09.3 standard Operating Proceduce for a Determination of phthalates" or equivalent testing methods.

Article 5. Responsibilities of businessman

To test the DEHP content in foodstuff as prescribed in the Article 4 of this Regulation and guidance of the Department of Food Hygiene and Safety;

To be permitted for production, processing, trading, importing foodstuff in Vietnam only when the test results meet the requirements specified in Article 3 of this Regulation.

Article 6. Responsibilities for organizing implementation of Regulation.

To assign the Department of Food Hygiene and Safety to coordinate with the National Institute for Testing Food Safety and Hygiene for organization and implementation of this Regulation.