Vietnam: Vietnam Publishes Circular Amending and Supplementing Existing Regulations Concerning the Quarantine of Terrestrial Animals and their Products

This report provides an unofficial translation of Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Circular 04/2024 dated April 1, 2024. This Circular amends and supplements existing Circulars concerning the quarantine of terrestrial animals and their products, and it will enter into force on May 16, 2024. Key amendments encompass testing for Salmonella spp. and E. coli O157:H7 in animal products, additional tests for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and Newcastle disease virus in bird and poultry products, a new process for testing and sampling during quarantine inspection of animal product shipments, elimination of quarantine and quality inspection provisions for animal feed and aqua feed of animal origin before customs clearance, and updated provisions on ruminant DNA testing and inspection of animal-derived meal for feed production to mitigate Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) risk.