RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/ACC/VNM/11/Rev.1
5 December 2001
(01-6198)
Working Party on the
Accession of Viet NamOriginal:  English
ACCESSION OF VIET NAM
Action Plan for the Implementation of the SPS Agreement in 2002 and 2003
Revision
The Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam has submitted the following revised
Action Plan for the Implementation of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement, with the request
that it be circulated to the members of the Working Party.
_______________WT/ACC/VNM/11/Rev.1
Page 2Plan of Action for the Implementation of the SPS Agreement
No Current status 2002-2003
1. Viet Nam has issued new standards,  regulations on animal health and food safety in conformity with SPS
Agreement principles.
Plant inspection:
Viet Nam issued the Ordinance on plant protection and inspection, which came into effect on 15/2/1993;
Regulations on plant protection and inspection attached with Decree No 92/CP on 27/11/1993 and decisions byMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development guiding the implementation of the Ordinance and Regulations.These legal documents have been drafted on the basis of the international Convention on plant protection and the
disciplines of APPPC.
Viet Nam recently issued the amended Ordinance on plant protection and inspection on 25/7/2001 which came
into effect on 1/1/2002.
Viet Nam just amended and issued Viet Nam standards: Plant inspection - Terms and Definitions (TCVN 3937-
2000) on 3/4/ 2000.
Animal inspection:
Viet Nam has promulgated the Ordinance on Veterinary which came into effect  on 15/2/1993; Decree No 93/CP
on 27/11/1993 for implementation of this Ordinance; Regulations on animal protection and inspection attachedwith Decree No 93/CP; Decision No 389 NN-TY/QD and No 607 NN-TY/QD providing details for theimplementation of the Ordinance.
Merchandise inspection (food and foodstuff)
Viet Nam has promulgated Decree No 41/1998/ND-CP providing regulation on the border medical inspection.
This Regulation has been set out on the basis of  Regulation on  international medical inspection of WHO.
Viet Nam is drafting an Ordinance on food and foodstuff to be submitted to the Standing  Committee of National
Assembly for approval.Viet Nam shall fully notify the latest changes
to the WTO Members
Viet Nam shall consider to amend Regulations
on plant inspection to implement the amendedOrdinance on plant protection and inspectionso that they will conform to internationalstandards.
Viet Nam shall promulgate Viet Nam’s
standards on  plant inspection on the basis ofcurrent international standards.
Viet Nam shall draft and promulgate the
amended Ordinance on Veterinary and theRegulations guiding the implementation of
this Ordinance, including technical process
and procedures of animal inspection.
Ordinance on food and foodstuff shall be
approved.
2. Transparency: Viet Nam ensures that transparency obliga tions are met on the ongoing basis. (under Article 7 and
Annex B, and G/SPS/7 of SPS Agreement)
Viet Nam has not established and put into operation any inquiry point(s) providing information concerned SPS
inspection.Viet Nam shall notify the inquiry point who is
responsible for providing information  on SPSinspection to the WTO Members as soon aspossible.
3. Necessity: Inspection measures of Viet Nam are only app lied to the extent necessary with a view to protecting
human, animal and plant resources of Viet Nam from infection of contaminants, which were not available before
or appeared in the limited areas  (under Article 2.2 of SPS Agreement)Viet Nam shall fully notify the latest changes
to the WTO Members.
Viet Nam shall concretise the suitable level of
protection related to inspection measures inViet Nam.WT/ACC/VNM/11/Rev.1
Page 3No Current status 2002-2003
4. Regulations based on scientific evidence: Viet Nam fully conforms to the obligation of the Agreement, based on
scientific evidence to issue regulations governing animal and plant health and food safety (under Article 2.2, 3.3,
and 5.2 of  SPS Agreement)
Regarding genetically modified organism (GMO) products: Viet Nam should formulate compulsory standards on
products using of GMO technology on the basis of specific evidence or the appearance of the GMO labeling as“products using GMO technology ”Viet Nam shall fully notify the latest changes
to the WTO Members.
Viet Nam has been drafting Regulations on
safety management for genetically modifiedorganism and products thereof.
5. Harmonization: Viet Nam sets out SPS measures on the basis of international standards, guidelines, and
recommendations. (under Article 3.1, 3.3 and 3.4 of SPS Agreement).
Plant inspection:
Viet Nam is now reviewing its legislation on plant inspection on the basis of comparison with the SPS
Agreement, International Convention on plant protection and other international standards to harmonize plantinspection measures in ASEAN and WTO in the coming time in order to facilitate international trade.
Animal inspection:
Inspection measures and standards on veterinary rega rding animal and animal products of Viet Nam are
established on the basis of production status of Viet Nam and in consistent with regulations of other international
organizations named as CODEX, OIE, ASEAN.
Viet Nam has signed agreements on animal and animal products inspection with the United States of America,
Argentina, Holland, France, Russia, etc.Viet Nam shall fully notify the latest changes
to the WTO Members.
Viet Nam, along with its ASEAN members,
is developing a harmonization model of plant
inspection measures for the first ten kinds ofagricultural products.
Viet Nam shall complete animal trading
measures, veterinary standards  on the basis ofthe Ordinance on Veterinary and reality in
Viet Nam, corresponded with regulations of
OIE, CODEX and ASEAN.
Viet Nam shall sign agreements with other
countries, such as Korea, Mongolia, etc.
6. Equivalence: Viet Nam agrees to accept SPS measures from other countries, where these SPS measures are
proved to be at the same level of necessary protection as  Viet Nam requires (under Article 4 of SPS Agreement).
Plant inspection:
Viet Nam recognizes the certificate of plant inspection by  other countries that follow the form specified in the
amended international Convention on plant protection in the year of 1997.
Animal inspection:
Viet Nam has fully prepared professional data and information on animal inspection related to the SPS
Agreement.Viet Nam shall fully notify the latest changes
to the WTO Members
7. Risk Assessment: SPS inspection measures are applied unifo rmly from the central government to local grassroots
on the scientific basis and international standards (under Article 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 of SPS Agreement).
Viet Nam is now facing many difficulties in the program for risk analysis (PRA). Viet Nam is looking for training
assistance and experts on PRA training.Viet Nam shall fully notify the latest changes
to the WTO Members.
Viet Nam wishes to receive the support and
assistance from international organizations
regarding PRA training.WT/ACC/VNM/11/Rev.1
Page 4No Current status 2002-2003
8. Regional conditions: Viet Nam shall conform to the obligations of the Agreement, taking into account the
regional characteristics such as the following elements: current level of epidemic, the existence of control and
prevention program, criteria or suitable instruction enacted by related international organisations (under Article 6
and Annex A.6 and A.7 of SPS Agreement).
Viet Nam has been a full member of the Asia-Pacific Plant Protection Council (APPPC),  a FAO’s regional
organisation. At the same time, Viet Nam is actively participating in the harmonization process of plantinspection measures of ASEAN for AFTA implementation.Viet Nam shall fully notify the latest changes
to the WTO Members.
9. Non-discrimination: Viet Nam ensures that its SPS measures do not arbitrarily or unjustifiably discriminate
among different members under the same condition or between domestic and foreign suppliers. SPS measures
should not be applied to create disguised restrictions on international trade (under Article 2.3 and Annex C.1 (a)
and (d) of  SPS Agreement).
Disciplines on Veterinary sanitary for animal, animal imported to Viet Nam are based on the standards of
international organisations such as CODEX, OIE, and ASEA N. This shall not be unjustifiable restriction on trade.Viet Nam shall fully notify the latest changes
to the WTO Members.
Viet Nam shall continue researching to prove
the justification of its inspection measures andwish to further co-operate with other membersin this area.
10. Control, inspection and approval procedures: Viet Nam fully conforms to this obligation of the Agreement to
ensure that procedures of control and inspection, includ ing systems for approval of the use of SPS measures will
comply with SPS Agreement (under Article 8 and Annex C).Viet Nam shall fully notify the latest changes
to the WTO Members.
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