Circular No. 50/2016/TT-BYT dated December 30, 2016 of the Ministry of Health on regulations on maximum residue levels of pesticide in food

THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Circular No. 50/2016/TT-BYT dated December 30, 2016 of the Ministry of Health on regulations on maximum residue levels of pesticide in food

Pursuant to the Law on food safety dated June 17, 2010;

Pursuant to the Government s Decree No. 38/2012/ND-CP dated April 25, 2012 detailing the implementation of some articles of the Law of food safety;

Pursuant to the Government s Decree No. 63/2012/ND-CP dated August 31, 2012 defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of Ministry of Health;

At the request of Director of Vietnam Food Administration;

Minister of Health promulgates Circular introducing regulations on maximum residue levels of pesticide in food.

Article 1. Scope of adjustment and subject of application

1. This Circular deals with the maximum residue levels of pesticide in domestically produced foods and imported ones.

2. This Circular applies to producers and traders of foods, and authorities and entities involved.

Article 2. Interpretation of terms

In this document, these terms are construed as follows:

1. Maximum Residue Level (“MRL” for short) refers to the highest concentration of a pesticide residue in a food (unit: mg/kg of food).

2. Pesticide residue refers to any specified substance in food resulting from the use of a pesticide.

The term "pesticide residue" includes residues from unknown or unavoidable sources (e.g., environmental) as well as known uses of the chemical.

It includes any derivatives of a pesticide, such as conversion products, metabolites, reaction products, and impurities considered to be of toxicological significance.

3. Extraneous Maximum Residue Limit (“EMRL” for short) refers to the maximum concentration of a pesticide residue or a contaminant in food arising from environmental sources (including former uses of chemicals in agriculture), exclusive of the residue arising from the use of a pesticide or contaminant substance directly or indirectly on food (unit: mg/kg of food).

4. Acceptable Daily Intake (“ADI” for short) is the daily intake of a chemical which, during an entire lifetime, appears to be without appreciable risk to the health of the consumer (unit: mg/kg of the body weight).

5. Pesticide Code (“Code” for short) means the code of a pesticide used by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CODEX).

Article 3. Announcement of MRLs in food

MRLs in foods are regulated in the Appendix enclosed to this Circular.

Article 4. Implementation organization

1. This Circular takes effect on July 01, 2017. 

Part 8 “Maximum Residue Levels of Pesticide in Food" promulgated under Decision No. 46/2007/QD-BYT dated December 19, 2007 by Minister of Health on “Regulations on maximum levels of biological and chemical contaminants in food” shall be null and void as from the entry into force of this Circular.

2. The Vietnam Food Administration shall take charge and coordinate with relevant competent authorities in organizing the implementation of this Circular.

Any difficulties arising in the course of implementation of this Circular should be reported to the Ministry of Health (via the Vietnam Food Administration) for consideration./.

For the Minister of Health

The Deputy Minister

Nguyen Thanh Long