Food safety and hygiene newsletter March 2025
This is an electronic newsletter updating regulations and laws on food hygiene and safety in domestic and international markets, March 2025 issue.
Vietnam
Draft Decree amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP dated February 2, 2018, of the Government detailing the implementation of a number of Articles of the Food Safety Law dated February 19, 2025.
After more than 6 years of implementing Decree 15/2018/ND-CP, several issues have arisen that need to be considered for amendment and supplementation to suit the practical requirements of food safety management in the context of administrative procedure reform and strengthening post-inspection measures to improve food quality, specifically:
-
Administrative Procedure Reform:
- Abolish the requirement for notarized translation of legal documents in English if they have been consular legalized.
- Accept electronic versions of legal documents.
- Allow the use of test results from GMP-certified production facilities.
- Limit the number of times and the duration for supplementing product announcement dossiers.
- Simplify procedures for importing charitable aid food.
- Remove certain documents from the registration dossier for advertising health protection foods.
- Abolish the requirement for GMP certification for domestically produced health protection foods.
- Develop a unified management software from central to local levels.
-
Decentralization and Delegation:
- Decentralize the issuance of Free Sale Certificates for exported foods.
-
Strengthening Post-Inspection:
- Strictly control organizations and individuals announcing products.
- Add a product formula explanation section to control quality.
- Require re-announcement when changing important product factors.
- Strengthen quality control of products after announcement.
-
Implementation of Government Inspectorate Recommendations:
- Require efficacy test reports for functional foods first introduced to the market.
- Amend regulations on scientific evidence in the announcement dossier.
-
Other Proposals:
- Clarify definitions of supplementary foods and health protection foods.
- Tighten regulations on self-announcement procedures.
- Amend regulations on the management of alcohol product groups.
Source: Food Safety Department.
For more details, please refer to: https://vfa.gov.vn/thong-bao-ke-hoach/du-thao-nghi-dinh-nghi-dinh-sua-doi-bo-sung-mot-so-dieu-cua-nghi-dinh-so-152018nd-cp-ngay-02022018-cua-chinh-phu-quy-dinh-chi-tiet-thi-hanh-mot-so-dieu-cua-luat-an-toan-thuc-pham.html
Circular No. 08/2025/TT-BYT dated March 7, 2025, of the Ministry of Health stipulating the dossier and procedures for granting certificates for exported food under the management of the Ministry of Health.
On March 7, 2025, the Minister of Health officially issued Circular No. 08/2025/TT-BYT. This Circular details the dossier and procedures for granting certificates for exported food under the management of the Ministry of Health.
Effective Date:
Due to being issued under simplified procedures, the Circular takes effect immediately from the date of signing.
Repeal of Old Regulations:
This Circular completely replaces Circular No. 52/2015/TT-BYT dated December 21, 2015. Repeal of item 1, section B, Appendix 6 of Circular No. 29/2020/TT-BYT dated December 31, 2020.
Scope of Application:
The Circular consists of 10 articles, applicable to export shipments or export food production facilities under the management of the Ministry of Health. Note: The Circular does not apply to the issuance of Free Sale Certificates (CFS). This is regulated by Decree No. 69/2018/ND-CP.
Objectives:
Facilitate businesses in the export process. Amend and supplement contents that are still inadequate, ensuring strict management. Contribute to perfecting mechanisms and policies, attracting investment, and promoting economic restructuring.
Dossier Required for Export Certificate Application:
Application for certificate issuance. Certificate of eligibility for food safety or one of the certificates: Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System, International Food Standard (IFS), Global Standard for Food Safety (BRC), Food Safety System Certification (FSSC 22000) or equivalent still valid (Certified copy by the exporting organization or individual), except as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 12 of Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP dated February 2, 2015, of the Government detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Food Safety Law. Food safety test results of the sample belonging to the export food product batch (for health certificates and other certificates related to the export shipment), with full information about the product name, food product batch issued by the designated testing laboratory or the laboratory accredited to ISO 17025 (Original or certified copy), meeting the requirements of the corresponding technical regulations (for products with technical regulations); or meeting the criteria according to regulations/technical requirements (for products without technical regulations). Confirmation of fee payment for the appraisal of the export food certificate issuance.
Notable New Points of Circular 08/2025/TT-BYT:
Simplification of Dossier:
Remove the requirement for Business Registration Certificate and product label sample. Instead, the enterprise code information is provided in the Application. Product labels are provided along with the Application according to the export shipment information. Supplement regulations on label content in languages other than Vietnamese and English must have a translation into Vietnamese.
More Flexibility with Importing Country Requirements:
If the importing country requires a certificate according to a specific template, businesses need to supplement appropriate documents to prove.
Clarification of Administrative Procedures:
Supplement confirmation of fee payment for the appraisal of the export food certificate issuance.
Download the content of Circular 08/2025/TT-BYT here: https://vfa.gov.vn/upload/files/25_7_308-TT-BYT-2025_signed.pdf
Source: Food Safety Department – Ministry of Health
Circular No. 52/2024/TT-BYT Promulgating National Technical Regulations and Regulations on Inspection and Supervision of Clean Water Quality for Domestic Use dated December 31, 2024.
On December 31, 2024, the Minister of Health issued Circular No. 52/2024/TT-BYT promulgating national technical regulations and regulations on inspection and supervision of clean water quality for domestic use. This Circular replaces Circular No. 41/2018/TT-BYT dated December 14, 2018, of the Minister of Health on the promulgation of national technical regulations and regulations on inspection and supervision of clean water quality, and Circular No. 26/2021/TT-BYT dated December 15, 2021, amending, supplementing, and abolishing a number of articles of Circular No. 41/2018/TT-BYT of the Minister of Health on the promulgation of national technical regulations and regulations on inspection and supervision of clean water quality for domestic use.
Contents of this Circular include:
Addition of Definitions:
- Internal inspection
- External inspection
- Inspection and supervision
- Water user unit
Supplementing Regulations on Internal Inspection, External Inspection, Inspection, and Supervision of Clean Water Quality for Domestic Use.
Regulations on the Frequency and Number of Samples to be Tested:
To encourage units in good water quality management, the frequency of internal inspections will be reduced. Specifically:
- Water supply units testing all parameters: if they pass consecutively in 2 periodic tests, the frequency of periodic testing is reduced from 3 to 5 years/time.
- Water supply units testing group B: if they pass consecutively in 2 tests, the frequency of testing is reduced from 6 months/time to 1 year/time.
Clear Regulations on the Time to Publicize Internal and External Inspection Results on the Unit's Website:
Within 3 working days, 5 working days, 20 days.
Changes in Testing Parameters:
- Group A includes 10 parameters (Total Coliforms, E.coli or thermotolerant coliforms, Color, Odor, pH, Turbidity, Arsenic, Free Residual Chlorine, Permanganate, Ammonium) which is 2 more parameters than QCVN 01-1:2018/BYT (Permanganate and Ammonium parameters).
- Group B includes the remaining 89 parameters. (Total 99 parameters similar to QCVN 01-1:2018/BYT).
Additionally, QCVN 01-1:2024/BYT updates new testing methods according to regulations.
Effective Date: July 1, 2025
Transition Period: No later than December 31, 2027
For details, see the attached link: https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van-ban/The-thao-Y-te/Thong-tu-52-2024-TT-BYT-Quy-chuan-ky-thuat-quoc-gia-chat-luong-nuoc-sach-muc-dich-sinh-hoat-638114.aspx
Japan
Amendment of MRLs for Pesticides and Veterinary Drugs in Food on February 27, 2025.
On February 27, 2025, Japan issued a document regarding the amendment of Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for 7 types of pesticides and veterinary drugs in certain food products. The amendments will take effect immediately upon publication. However, for some food products, the changes will be implemented one year after publication. The changes include:
- Amendment of MRLs for the following 6 substances in specific foods: Cartap Thiocyclam and Bensultap, Chinomethionat, Dibutylhydroxytoluene, Fluopyram, Imicyafos, 1-Naphthaleneacetic Acid.
- Establishment of a new MRL for 1 active ingredient: Fenpropidin.
Some examples of immediate MRL changes are shown in the table below:
|
Substance |
Food |
After Change (ppm) |
Before Change (ppm) |
|
Cartap Thiocyclam And Bensultap |
Grapes |
5 |
2 |
|
Livestock meat |
0.01 |
- |
|
|
Milk |
0.01 |
- |
|
|
Chinomethionat |
Pumpkin |
0.3 |
0.05 |
|
Other spices |
6 |
5 |
|
|
Honey |
0.05 |
- |
|
|
Dibutylhydroxytoluene |
Livestock fat |
0.2 |
0.04 |
|
Salmon |
100 |
10 |
|
|
Fluopyram |
Wheat |
0.2 |
- |
|
Corn |
0.02 |
- |
|
|
Potatoes |
0.2 |
0.1 |
|
|
Sugarcane |
0.08 |
- |
|
|
Mango |
1 |
- |
|
|
Imicyafos |
Carrots |
0.09 |
0.02 |
|
Honey |
0.05 |
- |
|
|
1-Naphthaleneacetic Acid |
Tea |
60 |
- |
|
Kavkaz |
- |
0.3 |
|
|
Fenpropidin |
Bananas |
10 |
- |
|
Honey |
0.05 |
- |
Some examples of changes that will be implemented one year after publication are shown in the table below:
|
Substance |
Food |
After Change (ppm) |
Before Change (ppm) |
|
Cartap Thiocyclam And Bensultap |
Cabbage |
0.5 |
0.7 |
|
Chestnuts |
0.02 |
0.03 |
|
|
Chinomethionat |
Cucumber |
0.4 |
0.5 |
|
Lemon |
0.2 |
0.7 |
|
|
Dibutylhydroxytoluene |
Edible parts of chicken |
0.2 |
3 |
|
Fluopyram |
Soybeans |
0.3 |
2 |
|
Okra |
- |
4 |
|
|
Apple |
0.8 |
1 |
|
|
Sesame seeds |
0.3 |
5 |
|
|
Imicyafos |
Eggplant |
0.2 |
0.3 |
|
1-Naphthaleneacetic Acid |
Grapefruit |
4 |
5 |
|
Kavkaz |
- |
0.3 |
For detail: https://www.ffcr.or.jp/tsuuchi/upload/3bfbfc8059a61af4929a2e62266a30382844da0d.pdf
|
This is an electronic newsletter updating regulations and laws on food hygiene and safety in domestic and international markets; Compiled by the Advisory Department of Eurofins Sac Ky Hai Dang based on government official pages of the countries, published every month. We encourage you to use this as a reference channel for information and exemption from liability related to making business decisions at your company or other similar activities. For detailed inquiries, please contact:
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