G/SPS/N/VNM/51  
 
2 September 2013  
(13-4635)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
1. Notifying Member: VIET NAM 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible: Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Ministry of 
Agriculture and Rural development 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): All genetically modified plants, which intended to be 
used as food, feed 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document: Circular on approval process of issuing and revocation 
of the certificate for genetically modified plants to be used as food, feed  Language(s): 
Vietnamese (with an unofficial English translation)  Number of pages: 26 
6. Description of content: This circular stipulates an approval process of genetically 
modified plants including the order, procedures  for issuing and revocation of a certificate 
of genetically modified plants that satisfy conditions to be used as food, feed. 
This circular applies to organizations, households and individuals in the country, 
overseas Vietnamese, foreign organizations and individuals carrying out activities of or 
related to the issuing and revocation of a certificate of genetically modified plants that satisfy conditions to be used as food, feed in territory of Viet Nam. The Circular includes 
4 Chapters, 16 Articles and 11 Annexes which describe in detail the requirement, form 
and context of the relevant documents when applying for registration of a certificate. 
7. Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text)  
1. Principles for the Risk Analysis of Foods Derived from Modern Biotechnology 
(CAC/GL 44-2003) 
2. Guidelines for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessments of Foods Derived from 
Recombinant-DNA Plants (CAC/GL 45-2003) 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    G/SPS/N/VNM/51 
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] None 
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
[X] Yes   [ ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:  
 The Decree No. 69/2010/ND-CP of 21 June 2010 on Biosafety of Genetically Modified 
Organisms, Genetic specimen and Products Derived from Genetically Modified 
Organisms, and the Decree No. 108/2011/ND-CP of 30 November 2011 of 
Government on correcting Decree No. 69/201 0/ND-CP on Biosafety of Genetically 
Modified Organisms, Genetic specimen and Products Derived from Genetically Modified Organisms (available in Vietnamese/ English version in BCH of Viet Nam) 
 The Decree No. 38/2012/ND-CP of 25 April 2012 of the Government on the 
regulations to implement Food safety law (available in Vietnamese/ English version in BCH of Viet Nam) 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : December 2013 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : December 2013 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : February 2014 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 1 November 2013 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [X] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
Viet Nam SPS Notification Authority and Enquiry Point 
2 Ngoc Ha Street, Hanoi, Viet Nam Tel: +(84 4) 3734 4764 
Fax: +(84 4) 3734 9019 
E-mail: spsvietnam@mard.gov.vn  
Website: http://www.spsvietnam.gov.vn  
13. Texts available from: [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Viet Nam SPS Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
2 Ngoc Ha Street, Hanoi, Viet Nam 
Tel: +(84 4) 3734 4764 Fax: +(84 4) 3734 9019 
E-mail: spsvietnam@mard.gov.vn  
Website: http://www.spsvietnam.gov.vn  
 
Link to download: 
Original Document: 
"http://www.spsvietnam.gov.vn/En glishSPS/Lists/Documents,n otification/Attachments/5
7/Thong%20tu%20Food_feed%20_VN_%20Gui%20VP%20SPS%20_1_.pdf " 
Unofficial English Translation: 
"http://www.spsvietnam.gov.vn/En glishSPS/Lists/Documents,n otification/Attachments/5
7/Thong%20tu%20food_feed_EN_Gui%20VP%20SPS_29Aug.pdf "