World Trade
Organization
G/SPS/N/VNM/09
18 September 2009
(##-####)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures / Original: English

NOTIFICATION

1. / Notifying Member: Viet Nam
If applicable, name of local government involved:
2. / Agency responsible:Viet Nam Environmental Administration, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
3. / Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable):
4. / Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: [specific regions or countries] or [x] all trading partners
5. / Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:
Title: The Decree on biosafety management of genetically modified organism and products thereof.
Language: Vietnamese
Number of pages: 30 pages
6. / Description of content:
The Decree consists of 8 chapters with44 articles and two annexes, detailed the following:
Chapter 1: General provision (three articles)
Chapter 2: Risk assessment and risk management (three articles)
Chapter 3: Scientific research and technology development (3 articles)
Chapter 4: Field trial and testing (14 articles)
Chapter 5: Safety Certificate (10 articles)
Chapter 6: Production and trading (6 articles)
Chapter 7: Information on GMO, products thereof. (4 articles)
Chapter 8: Implementation provision (1 article)
Annex 1: Requiring information in accordance with article 36 of Cartagena Biosafety Protocol (enclosed with this decree)
Annex 2:
  1. Risk assessment report attached to dossier for field trial
  2. Risk assessment report attached to the dossier for releasing into environment and biology.
  3. Risk assessment report attached to the application for granting human health safety certificate.

7. / Objective and rationale:
This decree stipulates biosafety management of risk assessment and risk management; scientific research and technology development; field trial; issuance of safety certificate; production and trading of genetically modified organism (GMO) and products thereof.
This decree shall not apply to pharmaceutical products derived from GMOs.
This decree applied to domestic and foreign organizations, individuals (hereinafter referred to as organizations, individuals) engaged to activities involving GMO, and products thereof within the Vietnamese territory.
[x] food safety [] 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 standard? If so, identify the standard:
[x] Codex Alimentarius Commission
[(e.g., title or serial number of Codex standard or related text)]
[] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)
[(e.g., Terrestrial or Aquatic Animal Health Code,chapter number)]
[] International Plant Protection Convention
[(e.g., ISPM N°)]
[] 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:
[x] Convention on Biological Diversity
[x] Cartagena Biosafety Protocol
9. / Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:
10. / Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy): November2009
Proposed date of publication(dd/mm/yy):November 2009
11. / Proposed date of entry into force (dd/mm/yy): [ ] Six months from date of publication
and/or [DATE: dd/mm/yy]
[ ] Trade facilitating measure
12. / Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification ([DATE])
or [DATE: dd/mm/yy] 20/10/2009
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: []National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
Vietnam Environmental Administration (VEA)
67 Nguyen Du, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
Tel: + 84 43 9412033
Fax: + 84 43 9429233
E-mail: ;
13. / Texts available from: [ ] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: