CIRCULAR

On prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases

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Pursuant to the Law on Animal Health dated June 19, 2015;

Pursuant to Decree No. 199/2013/ND-CP dated November 26, 2013, of the Government, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

At the request of the Director of the Department of Animal Health,

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development promulgates the Circular on prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases.

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation and subjects of application

1. This Circular provides for the prevention and control of diseases of farmed aquatic animals.

2. This Circular applies to domestic and foreign agencies, organizations and individuals involved in the prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases in the territory of Vietnam.

Article 2. Interpretation of terms

In this Circular, the terms below are construed as follows:

1. Aquaculture establishment means a place where aquatic animals are raised and kept, including any or several ponds, lagoons, lakes, farming cages, rafts and other types of farming conducted by any organization or individual.

2. New disease means any new aquatic animal disease in Vietnam, not yet specified on the List of aquatic animal diseases subject to epidemic announcement, capable of spreading rapidly on a large scale and killing many aquatic animals.

3. Diseased aquatic animals mean aquatic animals that are infected with pathogens confirmed by test results and show typical symptoms and lesions of the disease.

4. Aquatic animals showing signs of disease mean aquatic animals with typical symptoms and lesions of the disease but have not been tested to identify pathogens.

5. Infected aquatic animals mean aquatic animals that are infected with pathogens confirmed by test results but do not show typical symptoms and lesions of the disease.

6. Aquatic animals at risk of infection mean susceptible aquatic animals in the same waterbody with diseased aquatic animals, infected aquatic animals or aquatic animals showing signs of disease.

7. Aquacultural environment monitoring authority means the Directorate of Fisheries at the Central level; or any Sub-Department of Fisheries in its respective province or municipality (hereinafter referred to as provincial level).

8. Aquacultural environment monitoring unit means any organization or individual that is eligible for engaging in aquaculture environment monitoring and warning, and designated by the Directorate of Fisheries to perform environmental monitoring tasks.

9. Environmental monitoring bulletin includes results of aquacultural environment monitoring and remedial recommendations.

Article 3. List of aquatic animal diseases subject to epidemic announcement

1. The list of aquatic animal diseases subject to epidemic announcement includes diseases specified in Appendix I issued together with this Circular.

2. The list of aquatic animal diseases subject to epidemic announcement shall be reviewed, adjusted and supplemented when new diseases appear and when there is any scientific basis and production practice requirement indicate the need for adjustment and supplementation.

Article 4. Principles of prevention, control and reporting of aquatic animal diseases

1. Disease prevention is the key, including proactive surveillance of pathogens, environmental monitoring, collection of information on diseases and aquaculture activities in combination with popularization, dissemination and guidance for owners of aquaculture establishment to proactively prevent and control diseases.

2. Activities to prevent and control aquatic animal diseases must be proactive, active, timely and effective.

3. Prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases is the responsibility of organizations, owners of aquaculture establishments, traders, persons involved in the transportation, preliminary processing and processing of aquatic products; State governance authorities are responsible for organizing and guiding the implementation of timely and effective measures to prevent and control the diseases.

4. Information and data on aquatic animal diseases must be recorded, managed, analyzed and reported in a timely, accurate and complete manner under the guidance of the Department of Animal Health; information and data on farming of aquatic animals and environmental monitoring shall comply with the guidance of the Directorate of Fisheries.

Article 5. Reporting of aquatic animal diseases

1. Unexpected outbreak report:

a) Owners of aquaculture establishments, aquatic veterinary practitioners, and persons who detect that aquatic animals are sick, die in large quantities or show signs of disease or abnormality must report this to the veterinary staff of the respective commune, ward or township (hereinafter referred to as commune veterinary staff) and the nearest commune-level People's Committee or specialized aquatic animal health authority;

b) Commune veterinary staff, upon receiving the reports, are responsible for going to places where aquatic animals are infected, dead or show signs of disease to check information and report to the station under the district-level Sub-Department that is in charge of animal health management (hereinafter referred to as Veterinary Station) and commune-level People's Committee;

c) The Veterinary Station shall conduct disease investigation and verification at the establishments and report the disease verification results to the provincial-level Sub-Department that is in charge of animal health management (hereinafter referred to as the Sub-Department of Animal Health) and the district-level People’s Committee;

d) The Sub-Department of Animal Health shall report the disease situation to the provincial-level Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Regional Animal Health Agency and the Department of Animal Health;

dd) The Regional Animal Health Agency shall summarize the situation of aquatic animal diseases of localities in the region and report the information to the Department of Animal Health;

e) The Department of Animal Health shall report to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; report to international organizations to which Vietnam is a member or committed to;

g) Reports on outbreaks or new diseases as prescribed at Points a, b, c, d, dd of this Clause must be made within 48 hours for communes in deltas or 72 hours for communes in outlying or remote areas, since detecting or receiving information about infected aquatic animals, or aquatic animals showing signs of disease;

h) Reports can be made via phone calls, in person, in writing or by email to specialized animal health management authorities.

2. Outbreak update report:

a) Before 12:00 every day, the commune veterinary staff shall report to the Veterinary Station and the commune-level People's Committee on the outbreak situation which has been confirmed by the Veterinary Station or the Sub-Department of Animal Health;

b) Before 16:00 every day, the Veterinary Station shall report to the Sub-Department of Animal Health and the district-level People's Committee;

c) Before 15:00 every Friday, the Sub-Department of Animal Health shall summarize disease developments during the week and report it to the provincial-level Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Regional Animal Health Agency and the Department of Animal Health;

d) Outbreak update reports shall be made until the end of the outbreak, including holidays, New Year days and non-working days.

3. End of outbreak report: Within 07 days from the end of the outbreak as specified by the law, the Sub-Department of Animal Health is responsible for reporting the summary of the outbreak and assessing the results of disease prevention and control.

4. Outbreak investigation report:

a) The outbreak investigation report shall be made in case the outbreak has been identified by a specialized aquatic animal health management authority as a disease on the List of aquatic animal diseases subject to epidemic announcement or a new disease;

b) The Sub-Department of Animal Health is responsible for reporting the results of outbreak investigation to the provincial-level Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Regional Animal Health Agency and the Department of Animal Health as soon as possible after the end of the outbreak investigation.

5. New disease report:

a) The Sub-Department of Animal Health shall report to the provincial-level Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Regional Animal Health Agency and the Department of Animal Health on the epidemic spread;

b) The Department of Animal Health shall report to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on the epidemic situation.

6. Periodic reports:

a) Monthly report: Aggregate data for reporting shall be collected from the first to the last day of the month. The report must be made in writing and into an electronic file, specifically as follows: The Veterinary Station shall report to the Sub-Department of Animal Health before the 10^th day of the following month; the Sub-Department of Animal Health shall report to the provincial-level Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Regional Animal Health Agency and the Department of Animal Health before the 15^th day of the following month;

b) Report of the first 06 (six) months of the year shall be made before July 15; Aggregate data for reporting shall be collected from January 1 to June 30;

c) Annual reports shall be made before January 15 of the following year; Aggregate data for reporting shall be collected from January 1 to December 31;

7. Report on disease surveillance results:

a) The Sub-Department of Animal Health shall report to the provincial-level Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Regional Veterinary Agency and the Department of Animal Health the results of disease surveillance and forecast, and measures for disease prevention in the locality;

b) The Department of Animal Health shall report to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development the results of disease surveillance and forecast and measures for disease prevention nationwide;

c) Time to report the results of disease surveillance is 10 (ten) days from the end of the surveillance program.

8. The Department of Animal Health shall guide the contents and forms of disease reports as mentioned in Clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of this Article.

Article 6. Development and implementation of plans for prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases

Annually, the Sub-Department of Animal Health shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant units in, formulating and submitting to competent authorities for approval, and organizing the implementation of the Plan for prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases (hereinafter referred to as the Plan) following these steps:

1. Summarizing, analyzing and evaluating the results and specifying the causes of problems, shortcomings and inadequacies in the implementation of the plan of the current year; proposing contents to be adjusted and supplemented for the next year's plan.

2. Specifically assessing the role, importance, current status and trends of aquaculture development in the locality; summarizing and analyzing data on the farming area of key aquatic animals in the locality.

3. Summarizing, analyzing and evaluating the results of environmental monitoring and warning; main water sources for farming areas; current situation of waste discharge in farming areas; results of surveillance of aquatic animal diseases, epidemic situation (described in detail in terms of space, time and infected aquatic animals); risk factors related to the emergence and spread of aquatic animal diseases in the locality; epidemiological indicators and related indicators needed to be tested in order to determine the level of arising risks and forecast the possibility of aquatic animal diseases emerging and spreading in the locality.

4. Identifying necessary resources, including: Human, material and financial resources to implement measures in order to prevent, control and support the owners of the aquaculture establishments, monitor the environment and the disease, even when the disease breaks out but it is not yet eligible for epidemic announcement and when the epidemic is declared.

5. Based on Vietnamese technical regulations and standards and guiding documents on disease surveillance and investigation, environmental sanitation conditions for aquaculture, the quantity of breeding and breed trading establishments, and the aquacultural area, proposing the indicators, frequency, sampling locations, quantity of samples of aquatic animals and the environment.

6. Formulating the Plan including the contents specified in Article 7 of this Circular.

7. Reporting to the provincial-level Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for the Department to submit to the provincial-level People's Committee for approval of the plan and cost estimate before November 30 every year.

8. Sending the approved Plan to the Regional Veterinary Authority and the Department of Animal Health to coordinate in directing, guiding and supervising the implementation thereof.

9. Organizing the implementation of the Plan.

10. In the case where the Plan needs adjustment, the Sub-Department of Animal Health shall send the adjusted Plan that has been approved to the Regional Animal Health Agency and the Department of Animal Health.

Article 7. Content of plans for prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases

1. To supervise aquatic animal diseases as specified in Clauses 2 and 3, Article 10 of this Circular.

2. To investigate outbreaks and take measures to handle outbreaks and fight epidemics.

3. To estimate materials, chemicals, funds and human resources to implement measures to prevent, control and support owners of aquaculture establishments when the epidemic is declared and even when the disease break out but it is not yet eligible for epidemic announcement.

4. To estimate equipment that needs to be invested, replenished and adjusted to serve the diagnostics, testing, surveillance, outbreak investigation, epidemiological mapping and data analysis.

5. To quarantine breeds; inspect veterinary hygiene; inspect the management, trading and use of feed, biological products, environmental treatment and improvement substances, veterinary drugs, vaccines and chemicals in the locality.

6. To popularize and disseminate information and training aquaculture farmers, commune veterinary staff, civil servants and officials in charge of aquatic animal health about law provisions on aquaculture, disease prevention, product quality requirements, and technical guidance documents of specialized aquatic animal health agencies.

7. To assign specific responsibilities to relevant agencies and units in order to implement the Plan.

8. To hold preliminary meetings to summarize, analyze and assess the disease situation; evaluate the implemented disease prevention and treatment measures and make appropriate and effective adjustments.

Chapter II

DISEASE PREVENTION

Article 8. Disease prevention for establishments that breed, collect, raise, nurse, trade and farm aquatic animals

1. Article 14, Clauses 1, 2, 3 and 4, Article 15 of the Law on Animal Health and other relevant laws shall prevail.

2. The design of an aquaculture establishment shall ensure that cleaning, disinfection, zoning and epidemic control can be conducted in a convenient and effective manner when any disease breaks out.

3. Water sources must be treated to kill pathogens, control environmental factors and ensure hygienic conditions before being used for aquaculture; wastewater and waste must be treated to meet the prescribed requirements before being discharged.

4. Aquatic breeds:

a) Must have a clear origin, be healthy and safe against diseases, and meet the National Technical Regulations on aquatic breeds;

b) Aquatic breeds from breading establishments outside the province or imported breeds must have a Certificate of Quarantine and undergo quality control as prescribed.

5. In case of using homemade food or fresh food, veterinary hygiene, disease safety and environmental protection must be ensured.

6. Conducting the supervision as specified in Clause 1, Article 10 of this Circular.

7. Applying technical measures on aquaculture, disease prevention, and environmental management under the guidance of specialized animal health and aquaculture agencies during the operation of the establishment. The use of vaccines authorized for marketing is encouraged in the prevention of aquatic animal diseases.

8. Applying technical measures to prevent and control several dangerous aquatic animal diseases (Appendices II, III, IV and V issued together with this Circular).

Article 9. Aquacultural environment monitoring and warning

1. Principles of aquacultural environment monitoring and warning:

a) Aquacultural environment monitoring and warning must be carried out regularly, continuously and systematically in order to detect factors that are likely to have adverse impacts on the aquacultural environment, promptly notify the authorities in charge of fisheries management and animal health; warn and guide aquaculture farmers to take necessary preventive and remedial measures;

b) The Directorate of Fisheries shall guide the Sub-Departments of Fisheries and relevant units on the criteria for selecting areas, points, parameters, frequency, methods and environmental monitoring bulletins; providing information and data on aquacultural environment monitoring and warning as specified in Clauses 3, 4 and 5 of this Article.

2. Develop a plan for aquacultural environment monitoring and warning:

a) The Directorate of Fisheries shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Department of Animal Health and relevant agencies in, developing a master plan for aquacultural environment monitoring and warning nationwide for the next 05 (five) years and every year, then submit it to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval and allocation of funds for implementation;

b) The Sub-Department of Fisheries shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinates with the Sub-Department of Animal Health and relevant agencies to develop a local aquaculture environment monitoring and warning plan, report it to the provincial-level Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for the Department to submit it to the Provincial People's Committee for approval and allocation of funds for implementation;

c) The aquaculture environment monitoring and warning plan covers mainly the following: Determining the demand for monitoring and objectives of monitoring; identifying monitoring areas, points and subjects; determining parameters, frequency, time and monitoring methods; identifying organizations and individuals to cooperate with in the implementation thereof; determining the demand for funds, funding sources and resources for implementation.

3. Criteria for determining environmental monitoring areas, points and subjects must fully satisfy the following conditions:

a) Environmental monitoring area includes: Concentrated aquaculture areas sharing the same water source, determined according to administrative boundaries and in accordance with the local aquaculture development plan; places where diseases often break out or there is a risk of environmental pollution; the farming area of 10 ha or more for intensive and semi-intensive aquaculture, from 200 ha or more for other forms of aquaculture, from 1000 m³ or more for aquaculture on farming cages and rafts;

b) Monitoring points: Stable and representative of the whole region; coordinates are determined and marked on the map;

c) Subjects of monitoring are farmed aquatic animals with large output and high commercial value, which is concentratedly raised in the aquaculture development area of the locality.

4. Monitoring parameters and frequency

a) Common environmental parameters: Hydrometeorological factors: air temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind, wave, flow, precipitation; temperature, turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), salinity, pH, DO, BOD₅, COD, SO₄^2- , H₂S;

b) Nutrients: NO₂^-, NO₃^-, NH₄⁺(NH₃), PO₄^3-_, SiO₃^2-, total N (N_ts), total P (P_ts);

c) Heavy metals and toxic chemicals: Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, As, Hg, Cr³⁺, Cr⁶⁺, Ni, Mn and total Fe (Fe_ts);

d) Plant protection chemicals: Organochlorine group, organophosphate group, carbamate group, pyrethroid group, neonicotinoid group, avermectin group, herbicides and total radioactivity a, b;

dd) Total phytoplankton, toxic algae species;

e) Total bacteria, Coliforms, Vibrio spp., Aeromonas spp. and pathogens in farmed aquatic animals (on the basis of agreement with the animal health authorities on the scope and location of sampling for testing);

g) Contaminating organic substances: Surfactants, oils, greases, phenols.

Based on production practices, purposes and demand for monitoring in each period, the Directorate of Fisheries shall decide and guide the selection of monitoring parameters and frequency specified in this Clause.

5. The environmental monitoring unit shall:

a) Collect information on aquaculture, the situation of aquatic animal diseases and environmental monitoring results from other departments to evaluate, summarize and supplement the results of aquacultural environment monitoring;

b) Measure, analyze, summarize, process data, report on monitoring results, and compile monitoring bulletins under the environmental monitoring plan;

c) Within 03 (three) days from the date the samples are collected, the environmental monitoring unit must send the environmental monitoring report and bulletin to the Sub-Department of Fisheries.

6. The Sub-Departments of Fisheries shall: Provide information on aquaculture activities, guide and inspect the implementation of environmental monitoring units; within 01 (one) day after receiving the monitoring results, send a report on the results to the Directorate of Fisheries, the district-level fisheries management authority, the commune-level People's Committee of the monitoring area and relevant units.

7. Monitoring results report:

a) The Directorate of Fisheries, the Department of Animal Health, the provincial-level Department of Agriculture and Rural Development shall receive: Periodic reports as prescribed in Clause 6 of this Article and irregular reports on aquatic environment monitoring results from the Sub-Departments of Fisheries; 

b) Relevant units, organizations and individuals: Provide environmental information for environmental monitoring units, the Directorate of Fisheries, and the Department of Animal Health after relevant investigations, surveys and research activities;

c) When detecting adverse changes in the environment or risks to aquaculture in a locality, the environmental monitoring unit shall immediately report to the Sub-Department of Fisheries to issue a warning and timely take response measures; at the same time, report to the Directorate of Fisheries, notify the Department of Animal Health, the Sub-Department of Animal Health and relevant units to coordinate in handling the problems;

d) When detecting that the environment has adverse changes or poses risks to aquacultural production and aquaculture of two or more localities (provinces/municipalities), the Directorate of Fisheries shall advise the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to warn and direct response measures in a timely manner, notify the Department of Animal Health, provincial-level Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sub-Departments of Animal Health and relevant units to coordinate in handling the problems.

8. Organization of aquacultural environment monitoring activities

a) The Directorate of Fisheries shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant units in, the management of aquaculture environment monitoring activities nationwide; designate environmental monitoring units; guide, train and improve monitoring capacity for the localities; develop and guide the use of database management software, share monitoring data with central and local monitoring agencies, specialized fisheries and animal health management agencies;

b) The Sub-department of Fisheries shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant units and environmental monitoring units in, implementing the approved environmental monitoring plan; guide, inspect, implement remedial measures, report to the Directorate of Fisheries and related units on the results of environmental monitoring in the locality;

c) The owner of the aquaculture establishment shall monitor and supervise the environment at his/her aquaculture establishment; fully record information, collect data, and take measures to deal with the excess of the allowable environmental threshold under the guidance of the fisheries management authority and the monitoring unit; provide information and data on environmental monitoring and prevention of diseases on farmed aquatic animals at the request of competent State authorities; support organizations, individuals and management agencies in implementing environmental monitoring activities in a timely and effective manner.

Article 10. Surveillance of aquatic animal diseases

1. The owner of an aquaculture establishment shall carry out clinical surveillance for disease detection as follows:

a) Daily monitor to promptly detect sick or dead aquatic animals and handle them as specified Clause 2, Article 15 and Appendix VI issued together with this Circular;

b) When a disease breaks out or when the environment changes abnormally, take samples of the disease or samples of the environment for testing to detect pathogens; and at the same time make reports as prescribed at Point a, Clause 1, Article 5 of this Circular.

2. The proactive aquatic animal disease surveillance plan (collectively referred to as the surveillance plan) shall cover:

a) Aquatic animals undergoing surveillance, place, time, frequency of sampling, type of aquatic animal, environment, and feed samples, quantity of samples, other relevant information and pathogens to be identified;

b) Estimated materials, chemicals, equipment, sampling tools, testing procedures, and human resources to implement the surveillance plan;

c) Detailed funding to implement the surveillance plan, including remunerations for taking, purchasing, handling and testing samples; collecting information and data, summarizing, managing, analyzing and report on surveillance results; organizing training courses on implementation thereof, seminars and meetings to review and conclude the monitoring plan;

d) Collection, summary, management and analysis of monitoring information and data;

dd) Measures to handle diseased aquatic animals and those showing signs of disease or infected animals;

e) Assignment of specific responsibilities to relevant agencies, units and individuals to implement the surveillance plan.

3. Processing surveillance results:

a) In the case where the surveillance results show that aquatic animals are diseased, show signs of disease and are infected: The provisions of Article 15 and Article 19 of this Circular shall prevail;

b) In the case where the results show that there are no aquatic animals being diseased, infected or showing signs of disease at the establishments participating in the surveillance: The establishments will be updated by the Sub-Department of Animal Health and the Department of Animal Health to the registry of breeding and aquaculture establishments that have been recognized as disease-free or under disease surveillance to prioritize quarantine when they transport animals or products out of the province in accordance with the regulations.

4. The breeding establishment owner shall:

a) Comply with the provisions of Clause 1 of this Article;

b) In the case where the establishment owner registers for quarantine under Clause 2, Article 55 of the Law on Animal Health, he/she must develop and organize the implementation of a monitoring plan with the contents as specified in Clause 2 of this Article;

c) Create all favorable conditions and assist the specialized aquatic animal health management authority in taking samples under the monitoring plan as specified in Clause 2 of this Article.

5. The commune veterinary staff shall perform the tasks assigned to them in the monitoring plan.

6. The Veterinary Station shall:

a) Guide the commune veterinary staff and coordinate with relevant units to implement the surveillance plan, including the sampling of aquatic animals and the environment;

c) For environmental indicators and diseases with undetermined causes, the Veterinary Station shall take samples, preserves them and send them to the testing laboratory of the Sub-Department of Animal Health;

d) Guide establishments to take measures to prevent the diseases;

dd) Report the surveillance results to the Sub-Department of Animal Health.

7. The Sub-Departments of Animal Health shall:

a) Comply with the provisions of Clause 5, Article 16 of the Law on Animal Health;

b) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant units in, formulating and submitting to the local competent authorities for approval and allocation of funds for implementation of the local aquatic animal disease surveillance plan with the content as specified in Clause 2 of this Article; organize the implementation of the surveillance plan after it is approved;

c) Direct the Veterinary Station and the commune veterinary staff to coordinate with relevant units in implementing the surveillance plan;

d) Cooperate with the Sub-Department of Fisheries and relevant units to collect information on the results of inspection of environmental criteria of the aquaculture establishment;  

dd) For indicators that it is not yet capable of testing, the Sub-Department of Animal Health shall send samples to a laboratory under the Department of Animal Health or a laboratory accredited by a competent authority (hereinafter referred to as accredited laboratory);

e) After receiving the results of analysis and testing, the Sub-Department of Animal Health shall notify the results together with specific instructions on preventive measures to the Veterinary Station to guide the owners of the aquaculture establishments;

g) Report the surveillance results to the provincial-level Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Regional Animal Health Agency and the Department of Animal Health as prescribed in Clause 7, Article 5 of this Circular for analysis and orientation in aquatic animal disease prevention.

8. The Department of Animal Health shall:

a) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant units in, formulating and submitting to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval, and allocating funds for the implementation of the plan for surveillance of aquatic animal diseases nationwide; organize the implementation thereof after it is approved;

b) Direct, guide, inspect and urge the implementation of surveillance plans by localities;

c) Develop and guide the use of the national database on surveillance of aquatic animal diseases;

d) Organize training courses and capacity building programs for staff in charge of disease prevention, control and surveillance of central and local agencies;

dd) Periodically review and replenish basic equipment for central agencies performing disease surveillance.

Article 11. Popularization and dissemination of information, and training on prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases

The popularization and dissemination of information, and training on prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases must ensure the following contents:

1. Those implementing and participating in the information dissemination and training: Organizations and individuals engaged in activities related to environmental monitoring and warning, breeding, collection, nursing, farming, trading, transportation, preliminary processing and processing of aquatic products, and disease prevention.

2. Content: Guidelines, policies, law provisions, guiding documents and measures for disease prevention and control of agencies specialized in aquatic animal health.

3. Forms: In one form or various forms (flyers, newspapers, seminars, training courses, etc.) but it must be done regularly, quickly and effectively.

4. Time: Must be done before the farming season, before the time when many diseases arise and when there is an outbreak of disease.

5. Responsibilities:

a) The Department of Animal Health shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Directorate of Fisheries in, formulating and guiding the implementation of programs and plans on nationwide popularization, dissemination and training on the prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases;

b) The Sub-Departments of Animal Health shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Sub-Departments of Fisheries in, formulating and implementing programs and plans on popularization, dissemination and training on the prevention and control of aquatic animal in their respective localities.

Chapter III

AQUATIC ANIMAL DISEASE COMBAT

Article 12. Aquatic animal disease declaration

1. The aquaculture establishment owner or person who detects aquatic animals infected with diseases, showing signs of contracting diseases, dying of diseases or dying in large quantities of unknown causes, or dying of the environment or weather shall be responsible for making notifications to competent agencies as prescribed at Point a, Clause 1, Article 5 of this Circular.

2. In the case where a  disease spreads rapidly on a large scale, causing mass mortality to aquatic animals, the aquaculture establishment owner or person who detects aquatic animals infected with the disease or showing signs of contracting the disease, commune veterinary staff and the veterinary station may make the report direct to authorities and the Sub-Department of Animal Health and the Department of Animal Health to promptly organize the combat against the epidemic.

Article 13. Outbreak investigation

1. Principles of outbreak investigation:

a) Outbreak investigation shall be only carried out for newly-emerging outbreak; outbreak on the list of diseases subject to epidemic announcement occurred on a large scale, causing mass mortality to aquatic animals; or at the request of competent authorities or aquaculture establishment owners;

b) Outbreak investigation must be carried out within 01 (one) day for lowland areas and 02 (two) days for deep-lying and remote areas from the time of detecting or receiving information that aquatic animals die or show signs of contracting disease;

c) Information on outbreak must be collected in a detailed, complete, accurate and timely manner;

d) Before the investigation, the following information must be sufficiently collected, including information on the environment and disease; raw materials, tools, facilities and chemicals necessary for the outbreak investigation; sample collection, storage and transport tools; applicable regulations on disease prevention and combat; necessary human, material and financial resources and protective equipment; forms and tools for information collection.

2. Subject matters of outbreak investigation:

a) Collect initial information about environmental monitoring parameters before and during the outbreak; outbreak, identify basic epidemiological characteristics and existence of the outbreak; retrieve origin of the outbreak;

b) Investigate and update information on outbreak at establishments having diseased aquatic animals, including checking and making comparison against previously reported information; environmental parameters and changes (if any); clinic tests, quantity, species, age group, date of detection of disease; area (or quantity) of aquatic animals infected with the disease, depth of water level, area (or quantity) of stocking; used food, drugs, chemicals; form of rearing and monitoring the epidemic developments at affected areas;  origin of breeders, results of testing and quarantine before stocking;

c) Describe developments of outbreak over time, location, aquatic animals contracting disease or showing signs of contracting disease; evaluation of causes of the outbreak;

d) Propose to conduct research on risky factors; take samples for testing when necessary to identify pathogens;

dd) Carry out summary, analysis, assessment and diagnosis to identify the outbreak, epidemic and its modes of spread;

e) Make report on investigation results, judgement and predictions about epidemic situation in the following period, propose epidemic prevention and combating measures.

3. Responsibilities for outbreak investigation:

a) Commune veterinary staff must be present at the aquaculture establishments that have aquatic animals contracting disease or showing signs of contracting disease to verify information and report according to the prescribed forms; and at the same time report on the epidemic situation as prescribed in Article 5 of this Circular; assist in taking samples for testing to identify pathogens;

b) The veterinary station shall send staff to the aquaculture establishment that has aquatic animals contracting disease or showing signs of contracting disease to guide the handling of the outbreak, take samples for testing, verify the origin of disease and report the epidemic situation as prescribed in Article 5 of this Circular. In the case where the epidemic develops complicatedly, beyond the local veterinary station's capacity, the station must immediately report it to the Sub-Department of Animal Health;

c) The Sub-Department of Animal Health shall conduct the investigation according to the principles and contents specified in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article; organize sampling for testing according to the provisions of Article 14 and report on the epidemic situation according to the provisions of Article 5 of this Circular. In the case where the epidemic develops complicatedly, beyond the Sub-Department's capacity, they shall immediately report to the regional veterinary agency and the Department of Animal Health;

d) The regional veterinary agency shall guide and support the Sub-Department of Animal Health in the outbreak investigation;

dd) The Department of Animal Health shall direct, inspect and supervise the outbreak investigation by the Sub-Department of Animal Health. In the case where the Sub-Department of Animal Health provides unclear information or implements unsatisfactory steps to investigate the outbreak or the outbreak has complicated developments, the Department of Animal Health shall conduct the outbreak investigation.

Article 14. Sampling, diagnosis and testing for identification of pathogens

1. The Sub-Department of Animal Health shall direct the organization of sampling for testing and identification of pathogens. Specimens must be sent to an accredited laboratory within 01 (one) day from the end of the sample collection.

2. Upon receipt of samples, the appointed laboratory shall be responsible for testing and reporting the results to the agency that sends the specimens within the following time limit:

a) With regard to diseases caused by viruses and parasites, the time limit is 02 (two) days;

b) With regard to bacterial and fungal diseases, the time limit is 04 (four) days;

c) With regard to diagnosis and testing for the agent, the time limit is 07 (seven) days.

3. In the case where the pathogen is not yet diagnosed, the appointed laboratory shall notify the agency that sends the specimens and coordinate with other laboratories to implement or report to the Department of Animal Health for direction and guidance on diagnosis of pathogens.

4. In the case where a pathology specimen is found unsatisfactory in terms of quantity and quality, the appointed laboratory shall carry out itself or ask relevant agencies to carry out re-collection of specimens, additional specimen for diagnosis.

5. In the same commune, ward, town, or in the same aquaculture zone with the same water supply and in the same epidemic phase, when the test results for the first outbreaks are available, it is not necessary to take samples in subsequent outbreaks. Conclusions about the next outbreaks are based on clinical signs of diseased aquatic animals and water environment. In cases where the subsequent outbreaks have diseased aquatic animals with symptoms and clinical lesions that are not similar to those of the identified diseases, samples shall be continued for testing to identify pathogens.

Article 15. Handling of aquatic animal outbreaks

1. The handling of aquatic animal outbreaks shall comply with the provisions of Article 33 of the Law on Animal Health; apply technical measures to prevent and control a number of dangerous aquatic animal diseases (Appendices II, III, IV and V issued together with this Circular).

2. An aquaculture establishment owner shall handle diseased aquatic animals in one of the following forms:

a) Harvesting diseased aquatic animals in accordance with Article 16 of this Circular for aquatic animals of commercial size, which can be used as food, animal feed or other purposes;

b) Treating aquatic animal diseases in accordance with Article 17 of this Circular for diseased aquatic animals that are determined to be treatable by a specialized aquatic animal health agency and when the aquaculture establishment owner wishes to treat the diseased aquatic animals;

c) Destroying diseased aquatic animals in accordance with Article 18 of this Circular for diseased aquatic animals other than those specified at Points a and b of this Clause.

Article 16. Harvesting aquatic animals in outbreaks

1. In cases of harvesting aquatic animals in outbreaks, an aquaculture establishment owner must fulfill the following requirements:

a) Notifying the local veterinary station of the purpose of use, volume, treatment measures, implementation plan and method of monitoring the use of diseased aquatic animals;

b) Not using diseased aquatic animals as breeding or fresh food for other aquatic animals;

c) Only transporting aquatic animals to the establishment that collects, buys, sells, preliminarily processes and processes (hereinafter referred to as the receiving establishment) and ensuring not to spread disease during transportation.

2. After receiving the above-mentioned notifications, the local veterinary station shall be responsible for:

a) Assigning staff to guide and supervise the harvesting, preservation and transportation of diseased aquatic animals by the aquaculture establishment;

b) Notifying the name and address of the receiving establishment to the provincial-level agro-forestry-fishery quality control agency where the receiving establishment is located for supervision;

c) Reporting the results of implementation to the Sub-Department of Animal Health.

3. The receiving establishment must ensure and take responsibility for disease safety during preliminary processing and processing.

Article 17. Treatment of aquatic animal diseases

1. Principles of treatment of aquatic animal diseases:

a) Treatment of aquatic animal diseases only applies to cases when treatment regimens are available, diseased aquatic animals are likely to be cured and the disease has been identified;

b) In cases where diseased aquatic animals do not recover or die in the course of treatment, the provisions of Articles 16, 18 and 19 of this Circular shall be applied; Not using aquatic animals that fail to meet the regulations on the end of the withdrawal interval of veterinary drug before harvesting for use as food.

2. Responsibilities of the aquaculture establishment owner:

a) Taking the initiative in treating diseased aquatic animals under the guidance of specialized veterinary management agencies;

b) Only using veterinary drugs, chemicals and biological products on the List of veterinary drugs used in aquatic veterinary medicine permitted for circulation in Vietnam, and at the same time using the correct dosage of the drug according to the instructions of manufacturers, specialized aquatic animal health agencies; recording the use of these products.

3. Responsibilities of commune and private veterinary staff:

a) Treating aquatic animal diseases under the guidance of the Sub-Department of Animal Health and the Department of Animal Health;

b) Only using veterinary drugs, chemicals and biological products on the List of veterinary drugs used in aquatic veterinary medicine permitted for circulation in Vietnam.

4. Responsibilities of the veterinary station:

a) Participating in guiding the implementation of treatment regimens for diseased aquatic animals for commune or private veterinary staff and aquaculture farmers;

b) Reporting the effectiveness of application of treatment regimens to the Sub-Department of Animal Health.

5. Responsibilities of the Sub-Department of Animal Health:

a) Guiding and disseminating treatment regimens for diseased aquatic animals to commune or private veterinary staff and aquaculture farmers;

b) Coordinating with the Sub-Department of Fisheries, aquaculture establishments, organizations and individuals in testing treatment regimens;

c) Reporting to the provincial-level Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Animal Health on the effectiveness of application of treatment regimens; proposing to conduct trials and promulgate new more effective treatment regimens.

6. Responsibilities of the Department of Animal Health:

a) Issuing treatment regimens for a number of dangerous and treatable aquatic animal diseases;

b) Organizing the examination and evaluation of treatment regimens; the use of drugs, chemicals and biological products to treat diseases.

Article 18. Destruction of diseased aquatic animals

1. Order of destruction:

a) The Sub-Departments of Animal Health shall report to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and send a written request to the Chairperson of the district-level People's Committee to issue a decision on destruction of diseased aquatic animals and a decision on establishment of a destruction team;

b) A destruction team shall include representatives of the local veterinary station, district-level aquaculture agency, commune-level People's Committee and the aquaculture establishment owner that has diseased aquatic animals subject to destruction;

c) Within 24 hours from the date of issuance of the Decision on establishment, the destruction team shall be responsible for zoning the outbreak identified in the destruction decision; make a record certified by the aquaculture establishment owner that has diseased aquatic animals subject to destruction.

2. Chemicals used for destruction and sterilization are exported from the National Reserve Fund, the local reserve fund, of the aquaculture establishment owner or chemicals with equivalent uses on the List of veterinary drugs used in aquatic veterinary medicine permitted for circulation in Vietnam.

3. Expenses for destroying diseased aquatic animals, disinfecting and treating diseased ponds and marshes shall be covered by local budgets in accordance with local regulations.

Article 19. Disinfection after harvest and destruction for outbreaks

1. The aquaculture establishment owner shall:

a) Disinfecting water in tanks, ponds, marshes; disinfecting tools, equipment, cages, nets; handling substrate, killing crustacean and vectors by use of permissible chemicals after harvesting or carrying out destruction of aquatic animals, ensuring no pathogens, chemical residues and environmental hygiene;

b) Notifying adjoining aquaculture establishments that share the same water supply and drainage source to apply disease prevention and control measures.

2. Those who participate in the process of handling, destroying aquatic animal must perform personal hygiene to kill and prevent pathogens from spreading into the environment and other aquaculture establishments.

Article 20. Epidemic announcement and aquatic animal disease combat

1. Aquatic animal epidemic announcement must satisfy all conditions and be conducted according to competence in a public, accurate and timely manner

2. Within 24 hours after the receipt of the request for aquatic animal epidemic announcement, the Chairperson of the Provincial-level People's Committee shall decide on aquatic animal epidemic announcement when fully meeting the conditions specified in Clause 2, Article 34 of the Law on Animal Health.

3. When announcing the epidemic, the Chairperson of the provincial-level People's Committee shall direct relevant agencies, departments, branches, organizations and individuals in the locality to implement anti-epidemic measures as prescribed in Article 35 of the Law on Animal Health.

Article 21. Control of transport of aquatic animals in epidemic zones

1. The Sub-Department of Animal Health shall coordinate with local authorities to strengthen control of the transport of aquatic animals as soon as the decision on epidemic announcement takes effect.

2. Aquatic animals shall be permitted to be transported out of epidemic zones after they are properly handled as instructed and issued with a quarantine certificate by the Sub-Department of Animal Health in cases where they are transported out of the province.

3. Restricting the transport of aquatic breeds that are sensitive to the epidemic disease under announcement through the epidemic zone. In the case where the transport of such aquatic breeds through the infected zone must be done, making a written notice and following the instructions by the Sub-Department of Animal Health;

Article 22. Handling measures for disease-free aquaculture establishments in epidemic zones during the epidemic announcement

The aquaculture establishment owner must take the following measures:

1. Applying biological safety measures and regularly cleaning and disinfecting the environment and aquaculture areas.

2. Intensifying care and improve resistance of aquatic animals.

3. Not stocking or releasing additionally aquatic animals that are sensitive to the announced epidemic disease during the epidemic announcement.

4. For ponds and marshes: the water replenishment or change shall be restricted as much as possible during the time when the local epidemic is announced or the surrounding aquaculture has announced the occurrence of the disease.

5. Strengthening proactive surveillance to detect diseased aquatic animals early, reporting to local authorities or commune veterinary staff, and taking timely preventive measures.

Article 23. Announcement of termination of aquatic animal epidemics

1. After at least 15 (fifteen) days after the last outbreak has been treated, there is no new animal outbreak and the measures specified at Points b, c, Clause 1, Article 36 of the Law on Animal Health have been taken, the Sub-Department of Animal Health shall report in writing and request the Department of Animal Health to appraise the conditions for announcing the termination of the epidemic.

2. The Department of Animal Health shall organize directly or authorize the Regional Animal Health Agency to organize the appraisal of the conditions for announcing the termination of the epidemic within 48 hours for communes in the delta or 72 hours for communes in the deep-lying and remote areas since receiving a written request from the Sub-Department of Animal Health.

3. Immediately after completing the appraisal of the conditions for announcing the termination of the epidemic, the Department of Animal Health or the authorized Veterinary Agency shall send a written response to the Sub-Department of Animal Health to summarize the report and request the Chairperson of the provincial-level People's Committee to announce the termination of the epidemic in accordance with Clause 1, Article 36 of the Law on Animal Health; in cases where the conditions for announcing the termination of the epidemic are not satisfied, the Department of Animal Health or the authorized Veterinary Agency shall guide the Sub-Department of Animal Health to take necessary measures to satisfy these conditions.

Chapter IV

ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

Article 24. Responsibilities of the Department of Animal Health

1. Formulating and submitting to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval the National Program on disease prevention and control in aquatic animals; the Program on disease surveillance for seafood export; the intensive research program on epidemiology, outbreak investigation and development of epidemiological maps of aquatic animal diseases; guiding and organizing the implementation after approval.

2. Guiding, inspecting and supervising the implementation of aquatic animal disease prevention and control; handling violations in the aquatic animal disease prevention and control.

  3. Inspecting and guiding the use of chemicals from the National Reserve Fund for the aquatic animal disease prevention and control.

4. Promulgating and guiding localities to uniformly use reporting forms for aquatic animal diseases.

5. Organizing training on measures to prevent and control aquatic animal diseases for Veterinary Stations, Sub-Departments of Animal Health and units under the Department of Animal Health.

6. Periodically providing data on aquatic animal diseases to the Directorate of Fisheries to serve as a basis for formulating and implementing measures to manage aquaculture.

7. Coordinating with relevant domestic and overseas organizations and individuals to study and take measures to prevent and combat aquatic animal diseases; propagating information on aquatic animal disease prevention and control.

8. Providing information on animal diseases nationwide to the people and press agencies to propagate disease prevention and control.

  Article 25. Responsibilities of the Directorate of Fisheries

1. Assuming the prime responsibility for, and coordinating with the Department of Animal Health in, formulating and submitting to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval the National Plan on environmental monitoring in aquaculture; guiding and organizing the implementation after approval.

2. Directing, guiding and inspecting the Sub-Department of Fisheries in formulating and implementing the environmental monitoring plan, and guiding the farmers to carry out environmental monitoring in seed production and aquaculture in order to meet the requirements for aquatic animal disease prevention and control; promulgating and guiding the use of recording forms in aquaculture activities.

3. Formulating and submitting to competent authorities for approval, and organizing the implementation of regulations, standards and technical regulations on seed production and aquaculture to meet disease safety requirements.

4. Guiding, inspecting and supervising the use of seeds, feed, chemicals, drugs, biological products, products for environmental remediation; managing the aquaculture environment.

5. Directing, inspecting and monitoring seasonal crops, application of techniques in production of aquatic breeds and marketable aquatic products;

6. Periodically providing aquaculture data to the Department of Animal Health to serve as a basis for formulating and implementing measures to prevent and control epidemics.

7. Coordinating with the Department of Animal Health in aquatic animal disease prevention and control.

Article 26. People's Committees at all levels

1. Directing, inspecting and supervising relevant departments of their locality in formulating and organizing the implementation of plans on aquatic animal disease prevention and control.

2. Allocating funds for activities of preventing and controlling aquatic animal diseases, supporting establishments that have diseased aquatic animals, even when a disease occurs but not yet qualified to make the epidemic announcement, or when the epidemic announcement has been made.

Article 27. Responsibilities of provincial-level Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development

1. Advising and proposing the provincial-level People's Committees to:

a) Approve the aquaculture development planning, the environmental monitoring and warning plan and the plan on aquatic animal disease prevention and control;

b) Establish a local reserve fund for supplies, chemicals, and funds to implement prevention and control measures, including support for farmers whose aquatic products contract diseases and must be destroyed, even when a disease occurs but not yet qualified to make the epidemic announcement, or when the epidemic announcement has been made;

c) Assign responsibilities to relevant units for formulating and implementing the plan for aquatic animal disease prevention and control and the environmental monitoring plan; organizing the monitoring of aquatic animal diseases and aquaculture environment in the locality;

d) Direct relevant local units to coordinate with the Department of Animal Health in organizing the prevention, control, monitoring and investigation of aquatic animal diseases in the locality;

dd) Designate, direct and supervise the treatment and destruction of aquatic animals infected with diseases or showing signs of contracting diseases, and mobilize forces to participate in the combat against epidemics in the locality at the request of the local veterinary agency. Inspect and guide the use of chemicals from the National Reserve Fund and the local reserve fund according to regulations.

2. Directing specialized agencies to carry out the aquatic animal disease prevention and control in accordance with the provisions of this Circular.

3. Managing disease-free breeding and aquaculture establishments in the locality.

4. Directing specialized agencies to observe the aquaculture environment in the locality as prescribed in this Circular.

Article 28. Responsibilities of Sub-Departments of Animal Health

1. Investigating, conducting field surveys, and developing and proposing competent authorities for approval of the annual plan on aquatic animal disease prevention and control, including annual monitoring and information dissemination on aquatic animal diseases in the locality; organizing the implementation of the plan after its approval.

2. Guiding, inspecting and supervising the implementation of measures to prevent, treat and combat aquatic animal diseases at establishments raising, trading, preserving and transporting aquatic animals.

3. Directing and guiding the Veterinary Stations, commune veterinary staff and aquaculture establishment owners to report aquatic animal diseases according to the form; being responsible for distributing and instructing the Veterinary Stations and persons in charge of commune veterinary work in the use of reporting forms.

4. Training on disease prevention and control for veterinary staff and aquaculture farmers; guiding and directing the Veterinary Stations to coordinate with district-level specialized agencies in organizing training courses for aquaculture establishments in the locality under their management.

5. Coordinating with relevant agencies in taking measures to strengthen quarantine and control the transport of aquatic animals.

6. Instructing, inspecting and directing the Veterinary Stations to organize and supervise the transport of aquatic products harvested from the outbreak to preliminary processing and processing establishments.

7. Coordinating with the Sub-Department of Fisheries and using information on environmental monitoring indicators in formulating and implementing the plan for aquatic animal disease prevention and control.

8. Periodically providing data on aquatic animal diseases to the Sub-Department of Fisheries to serve as a basis for formulating and implementing measures to manage aquaculture.

9. The Sub-Department of Animal Health shall provide information on animal diseases at the locality to the authorities, people and press agencies to propagate disease prevention and control.

Article 29. Responsibilities of Sub-Departments of Fisheries

1. On an annual basis, conducting the investigation and field surveys, and developing and proposing competent authorities for approval of the local environmental monitoring plan; organizing the implementation of the Plan after its approval.

2. Guiding organizations, individuals and aquaculture establishments according to local plannings; restore production after handling the epidemic.

3. Guiding, inspecting and supervising the application of regulations, technical regulations, standards, procedures, recording forms on production of breeding aquatic animals and aquaculture, satisfying requirements disease safety.

4. Carrying out or managing the performance of environmental monitoring tasks in order to meet the requirements of aquatic animal disease prevention and control.

5. Guiding, inspecting and supervising the use of feed, chemicals, drugs, biological products, environmental remediation substances in aquaculture; environmental treatment and improvement; implementation of farming seasons, application of techniques in production of aquatic breeds and marketable aquatic products.

6. Periodically providing data on aquaculture, environmental monitoring and warning to the Sub-Department of Animal Health to serve as a basis for formulating and implementing disease prevention and control measures.

7. Coordinating with the Sub-Department of Animal Health, the Regional Veterinary Agency, the Department of Animal Health, the Directorate of Fisheries in prevention, control and surveillance of aquatic animal diseases.

8. In the case where a province has no Sub-Department of Fisheries, the units assigned to manage aquaculture at the provincial level have the same responsibilities as the Sub-Department of Fisheries in the aquatic animal disease prevention and control.

Article 30. Responsibilities of provincial-level agro-forestry-fishery and aquatic product quality agencies

1. Coordinating with the Sub-Department of Animal Health in supervising the harvesting and transport of diseased aquatic animals for food processing upon request.

2. Supervising the receipt of diseased aquatic animals at aquatic food pre-processing and processing establishments when receiving notifications from the Sub-Department of Animal Health.

3. Sharing information on food insecurity at breeding and aquaculture establishments to the Sub-Department of Animal Health to serve as a basis for investigating the origin of veterinary drugs and giving warnings.

Article 31. Responsibilities of environmental monitoring units

1. Carrying out environmental monitoring according to the approved environmental monitoring plan in accordance with the law provisions.

2. Collecting information related to environmental monitoring activities and promptly providing environmental monitoring results to environmental monitoring management agencies and related units.

3. Guiding and participating in training in aquaculture environment monitoring at the request of aquaculture establishment owners and organizations, individuals or agencies managing monitoring activities.

Article 32. Responsibilities and interests of aquaculture establishment owners

1. Applying measures to prevent and combat epidemics; complying with regulations on quarantine, environmental monitoring, disease reporting, archive of all records related to the operation of establishments such as breeding stock; improving ponds and marshes; caring and managing aquatic animals; treating outbreaks, waste and wastewater under the guidance of the Sub-Department of Animal Health and specialized aquaculture agencies.

2. Cooperating with the Sub-Department of Animal Health and Sub-Department of Fisheries in taking aquatic samples and environmental samples to check environmental parameters, epidemics, collecting information to identify risk factors related to the disease. environment and aquatic animal diseases.

3. Providing information, data and documents on environmental monitoring, surveillance, prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases under the guidance of specialized veterinary management agencies.

4. Only using drugs, vaccines, chemicals and preparations on the List of veterinary drugs used in aquatic veterinary medicine permitted for circulation in Vietnam.

5. Attending training courses on aquatic animal disease prevention and control, aquaculture techniques organized by the Sub-Department of Animal Health, Sub-Department of Fisheries, Agriculture and Fisheries Extension.

6. Enjoying state support for epidemic prevention and control according to current regulations.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 33. Effect

1. This Circular takes effect from July 1, 2016.

2. This Circular replaces the following documents:

a) The Circular No. 38/2012/TT-BNNPTNT dated August 2, 2010 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, promulgating the List of aquatic animal diseases subject to epidemic announcement;

b) The Circular No. 17/2014/TT-BNNPTNT dated June 20, 2014 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, on prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases.

3. Any problems arising in the course of implementation shall be promptly reported to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for consideration and settlement./.