Circular 17/2026/TT-BNNMT amend Circular 25/2018/TT-BNNPTNT on risk assessment and import licensing of live aquatic animals

CIRCULAR
Amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Circular No. 25/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 15, 2018, prescribing the order and procedures for risk assessment and import licensing of live aquatic animals, as amended and supplemented under Circular No. 01/2022/TT-BNNPTNT dated January 18, 2022, amending and supplementing a number of circulars in the fisheries sector

Pursuant to the Law on Fisheries No. 18/2017/QH14, as amended and supplemented under Law No. 31/2024/QH15, Law No. 43/2024/QH15 and Law No. 146/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 35/2025/ND-CP dated February 25, 2025, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance;

The Minister of Agriculture and Environment hereby promulgates the Circular amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Circular No. 25/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 15, 2018, prescribing the order and procedures for risk assessment and import licensing of live aquatic animals, as amended and supplemented under Circular No. 01/2022/TT-BNNPTNT dated January 18, 2022, amending and supplementing a number of circulars in the fisheries sector.

Article 1. Amending and supplementing Point a and Point dd, Clause 2, Article 5

1. To amend and supplement Point a, Clause 2 as follows:

“a) Organizations and individuals shall submit 01 dossier set to the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance directly at the Single-Window Section, or via the National Public Service Portal, or via public postal services as prescribed by the Prime Minister, or through hiring services of enterprises or individuals, or through authorization in accordance with the law;”.

2. To amend and supplement Point dd, Clause 2 as follows:

“dd) The Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance shall return the import license for live aquatic animals directly at the Single-Window Section, or via the National Public Service Portal, or via public postal services as prescribed by the Prime Minister.”.

Article 2. Amending and supplementing a number of points in certain clauses of Article 6

1. To amend and supplement Point c, Clause 1 as follows:

“c) An original of the report on results of import, transport and holding of live aquatic animals within 12 months up to the time of dossier submission, made according to Form No. 04 in the Appendix to this Circular; a copy or scanned copy of the original inspection record of the state management agency in charge of fisheries made according to Form No. 07 in the Appendix to this Circular (applicable to cases where organizations or individuals conduct import of any live aquatic animals from the second import onward).”.

2. To amend and supplement Point b, Clause 4 as follows:

“b) Within 07 working days from the date of receipt of a complete dossier, the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance shall grant the import license for live aquatic animals enclosed with the approved plan on control of live aquatic animals (for the cases prescribed at Points a and b, Clause 2, Article 4 of this Circular) or the approved plan on disposal after the trade fair or exhibition is closed (for the case prescribed at Point c, Clause 2, Article 4 of this Circular), made according to Form No. 06 in the Appendix to this Circular;”.

Article 3. Replacing a number of words, phrases and forms

1. To add the phrase “or changing or supplementing the exporter or the port of entry” before the phrase “on the License” at Point e, Clause 2, Article 5 and Point c, Clause 4, Article 6.

2. To add the phrase “Council meetings shall be conducted in person or in person combined with online format.” after the phrase “presiding over the meeting.” at Point c, Clause 1, Article 10.

3. To replace the phrase “30 days” with the phrase “28 days” at Point d, Clause 2, Article 5; and to replace the phrase “05 days” with the phrase “02 days” at Point e, Clause 2, Article 5.

4. To replace the phrase “Directorate of Fisheries” with the phrase “Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance” at Points b, c, d and e, Clause 2, Article 5; Point a, Clause 1 and Point a, Clause 2, Article 10; the title of Article 11, Clause 2, Article 11; Point b, Clause 1, Point a, Clause 2, Article 12; and Clause 5, Article 13.

5. To replace the phrase “Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development” with the phrase “Ministry of Agriculture and Environment” in Clauses 1, 2 and 4, Article 11; and Clauses 1 and 2, Article 14.

6. To replace Form No. 01 in the Appendix with Form No. 01 to this Circular; to replace Form No. 02 in the Appendix with Form No. 02 to this Circular; to replace Form No. 03 in the Appendix with Form No. 03 to this Circular; to replace Form No. 04 in the Appendix with Form No. 04 to this Circular; to replace Form No. 05 in the Appendix with Form No. 05 to this Circular; to replace Form No. 06 in the Appendix with Form No. 06 to this Circular; to replace Form No. 07 in the Appendix with Form No. 07 to this Circular; to replace Form No. 08 in the Appendix with Form No. 08 to this Circular; to replace Form No. 09 in the Appendix with Form No. 09 to this Circular.

Article 4. Effect

This Circular takes effect on March 10, 2026.

Article 5. Transitional provisions

1. Organizations’ and individuals’ dossiers have been received by competent state agencies or competent persons for settlement in accordance with administrative procedures before the effective date of this Circular, but for which no results have yet been issued, shall continue to be settled in accordance with the law in force at the time of dossier receipt, except where organizations or individuals request implementation in accordance with the provisions of this Circular.

2. Documents, licenses and certificates constituting the results of settlement of administrative procedures issued by competent agencies or persons before the effective date of this Circular, and which have not yet expired or whose validity periods have not yet lapsed, shall continue to be applied and used according to the validity period stated in such documents, licenses or certificates until their expiry./.

For the Minister

Deputy Minister

PHUNG DUC TIEN