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Strict quarantine for plant imports
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has drafted a law based on public opinion regarding imports of botanical goods to Viet Nam. Under the law, products must go through quarantine and testing to eliminate any risk of disease. Companies whose products fail to reach the required standards will be notified with a detailed explanation.
The law will replace outdated regulations that were put into place in 2001, while creating a better legal framework to control plant protection and quarantine activities in Viet Nam.
According to the ministry, Viet Nam's authorities conducted tests on over 540,000 batches of imported and exported botanical products each year.
However, current regulations were not strong enough to curb violations.
Also mentioned in the draft, Vietnamese farming products will be quarantined and tested carefully to ensure that exports satisfy the import criteria of other countries.
According to the ministry, the law would help to promote and maintain Vietnamese products in international markets and avoid losses.
Head of the ministry's Plant Protection Department Nguyen Xuan Hong said that the new regulations were in line with international standards and practices.
The draft also clearly stated that the application of advanced technology would help to detect disease risks, he said.
Former deputy head of the department Vuong Quoc Tuong said that stricter management of botanical products was necessary.
The draft also outlines the responsibilities of producers, saying they must carry out pro-active preventive measures to detect diseases and stop them from spreading.
The Government will encourage all economic sectors, individuals and organisations to join hands in plant protection and quarantine activities.
Regulations on international co-operation in this field are also introduced in the draft to help Viet Nam realise its commitments to international conventions including the International Plant Protection Convention and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Agreement.
The ministry expects to finalise the draft and submit it to the Government by December before it is submited the National Assembly next year.
vietnamnews
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