Integrated Document No. 11/VBHN-BNNPTNT dated February 25, 2014 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on promulgation of regulations on prevention of foot-and-mouth disease in livestock

THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT 

Integrated Document No. 11/VBHN-BNNPTNT dated February 25, 2014 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on promulgation of regulations on prevention of foot-and-mouth disease in livestock

The Decision No. 38/2006/QD-BNN dated May 16, 2006 by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural development on the promulgation of regulations on prevention of foot-and-mouth disease in livestock which took effect on June 10, 2006 is amended by:

1. The Decision No. 67/2006/QD-BNN dated September 12, 2006 by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural development amending the Decision No. 38/2006/QD-BNN dated May 16, 2006 by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural development on the promulgation of regulations on prevention of foot-and-mouth disease in livestock which took effect on October 11, 2006;

2. The Decision No. 05/2007/QD-BNN dated January 22, 2007 by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural development amending the Decision No. 38/2006/QD-BNN dated May 16, 2006 by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural development on the promulgation of regulations on prevention of foot-and-mouth disease in livestock which took effect on February 16, 2007.

Pursuant to the Ordinance on Veterinary Medicine dated April 29, 2004;

Pursuant to the Decree No. 33/2005/ND-CP dated March 15, 2005 by the Government detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Ordinance on Veterinary Medicine;

Pursuant to the Decree No. 86/2003/ND-CP dated July 18, 2003 by the Government defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structures of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development;

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

Article 1. To attach the regulations on prevention of foot-and-mouth disease in livestock are enclosed with this Decision.

Article 2. This Decision takes affect after 15 day since it is posted on the Official Gazette and replaces the Decision No. 54/2001/QD/BNN-TY dated May 11, 2001 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development on the promulgation of regulations on prevention of foot-and-mouth disease in livestock.

Article 3.The Director of the Department of Animal Health shall provide guidance on the implementation of these regulations.

Article 4.Chief of the Ministerial office, the Director of the Department of Animal Health, Heads of relevant units and the Director of Services of Agriculture and Rural development of provinces are responsible for implementing this Decision./.

Verification of Integrated Document

The Minister

Cao Duc Phat

REGULATIONS

ON PREVENTION OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE IN LIVESTOCK
(Enclosed with the Decision No. 38/2006/QD-BNN dated May 16, 2006 by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural development)

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of adjustment and subject of application

These regulations apply to Vietnamese and foreign organizations and individuals in Vietnam’s territory having activities involving the raising, selling, slaughtering, transport and trade of animals and animal products which are vulnerable to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

Article 2. Interpretation of terms

In these regulations, these terms can be construed as follows:

1. An FMD hotspotmeans a place where there are a lot of animals catching FMD.

2. Anepidemic zonemeans an area containing one or multiple villages, communes or districts where hotspots are found.

3. Anepidemic-threaten zonecontains communes adjacent to an epidemic commune and non-epidemic villages in the epidemic commune or communes adjacent to Vietnam’s border.

4. Abuffer zonemeans an area surrounding the high-risk zone within a radius of 5 km from the high-risk zone.

5.Animals vulnerable to FMDare even-toed ungulates including bovine animals, swine, goat, sheep, stag, deer, etc.

6. Ahigh-risk zonecontains villages surrounding animal markets and slaughterhouses; communes having places for transshipment and gathering of animals; towns with highways passing through.

Article 3. General features of FMD in livestock

1. FMD in livestock is an infectious disease which is caused by 7 types of virus, including A, O, C, Asia₁, SAT₁, SAT₂, SAT₃with over 60 sub-types and may spread very quickly. 3 types commonly found in the Southeast Asia are O, A and Asia₁. Type O, type A and type Asia₁have been found in Vietnam. FMD spreads via the contact between healthy animals and any animal, animal product, food, water, waste, tool and transport vehicle which carries pathogens moving via the respiratory system; diseases spreading from region to region and from country to country through border areas via the transport of fresh animals and animal products (including frozen meat, skin, horn, toe, milk, etc.)

2. Animal bearing FMD are even-toed ungulates including bovine animals, swine, goat, sheep, stag, deer, etc.

An incubation period often lasts 2 to 5 days and not exceeding 21 days. Symptoms of the disease: animals suffer fever in two or three first days (higher than 40^oC), eat very little or no feed, slaver a lot; have vesicles at their gums, tongues, nose rings, hoofs, claws and/or nipples. Bursted viscles may cause ulcerations in animals’ mouths and ruptured blisters on their feet.

10 to 15 days since the symptoms are shown, animals may recover from clinic symptoms but the germs are still in the animals (for 3 - 4 weeks for swines, 2 - 3 years for bovine animals, 9 months for sheep and 4 months for goats), such animals may discharge such germs to the environment and spread the disease.

There is no specific drug but vaccine for the disease. FMD is ranked on the top of Table A (of the most dangerous infectious diseases in animal raising that are subject to commercial limitation of animals and animal products) by the OIE.

3. FMD virus can be killed easily by sunshine, high temperature (like boiling at 100^oC), substances with high acidification (pH £ 3) and substances with high alkalinity like soda (pH ³ 9). Virus may live for long time in organic wastes in raising facilities and substances with low alkalinity (pH from 7.2-7.8). In frozen meat, virus may live for several months.

Chapter II

PREVENTION OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE

Article 4. Propagation of FMD and prevention of FMD

1. The Department of Animal Health shall establish programs for prevention of FMD and guide Sub-departments of Animal Health to operate the propagation programs in provinces.

2. People’s Committees at all levels shall direct the conduct of propagation information in their provinces according to the contents established by veterinary agencies.

3. Mass media agencies and relevant agencies and units shall disseminate the knowledge of the danger of the FMD and preventive measures therefore to every single household and the community.

4. Persuade and encourage animal raisers of each village to sign the "5-No commitment":

a) No hidden epidemic;

b) No purchase or transport of infected animals or products thereof to the village;

c) No sale of infected animals;

d) No grazing or transport of infected animals outwards the epidemic zone without permission;

dd) No irregular throwing of FMD infected animals.

Article 5. Responsibilities in FMD surveillance

1. Department of Animal Health

a) Provide local governments with guidance on FMD surveillance;

b) Collect data about epidemiology from localities;

c) Cooperate with the Veterinary Institution in conducting diagnosis, supervising the moving of virus and establishing the annual FMD epidemical maps;

d) Establish inspectorates to supervise the epidemical situations in the whole Vietnam.

2. Sub-departments of Animal Health of provinces and central-affiliated cities

a) Establish a specialized team for FMD surveillance with at least 2 officers;

b) Provide governments of districts and provincial cities with guidance on conducting inspection and supervision of the epidemic;

c) Collect specimens for testing and diagnosis according to the guidance of the Department of Animal Health.

3. Veterinary stations

a) Assign officials to supervise the discovery of epidemic;

b) Conduct verification immediately when reports on FMD are received and promptly report the cases to the superiors.

4. Commune-level governments

a) People’s Committees of communes shall assign veterinary staff to conduct the surveillance of the epidemic of villages;

b) Have books for recording the situations of animals, the development of the epidemic and the inoculation results of villages;

c) Promptly conduct inspection and send reports to district-level veterinary stations when receiving any report on FMD cases from an animal’s owner or a private veterinary facility.

5. Village-level governments

a) Village heads and veterinary officials shall supervise the FMD epidemic of every single household or raising establishment in the village;

b) The development of the epidemic shall be published and reported to commune-level.

6. Animals owners

When any animal is suspected being infected, its owner shall immediately report its situation to the village lead or the veterinary staff.

Article 6. Preventive hygiene

Animal raising establishment and raising households shall satisfy the following requirements to ensure epidemic safety and prevention

1. Raising areas

a) There shall be a barrier separating the raising area from the outside area and disinfectant footbath at the entrance;

b) Raising facilities, grazing areas, raising instruments and transport vehicles shall be cleansed usually and rodents shall be killed.

2. Breeds

Breeds to be raised must be healthy, having defined origin, having been inoculated against FMD and having been isolated for 21 days before they join the herbs.

3. Feed and drinking water

a) Animal feed must satisfy veterinary hygiene standards and not harm animals and animal product users. Homemade feed must be heat-treated (100^oC) before being given to animals;

b) Water used in animal-raising and processing of animal feed must ensure veterinary hygiene.

4. Disinfectant

Any of the following chemical substances may be used: soda 2%, formal 2%, crezin 5%, lime water 20% or some other disinfectants according to the guidance of manufacturers.

5. Human

Animal raisers, visitors and veterinary staff must be cleansed and pasteurized and must wear protective equipment before entering or leaving the raising area.

Article 7. Vaccination

1. Vaccinated zones

Zones subject to vaccination are epidemic-threaten zone, buffer zone, zone having epidemic within the 2 latest years and high-risk zone.

2. Vaccinated subjects

Vaccinated subjects include:

a) Bovine animals, goat, sheep, stag, deer, sow and boar raised in vaccinated zones;

b) All the vulnerable animals must be vaccinated before being transported outwards a province, except animals transported to slaughterhouses and those transported from zones or establishments which are recognized epidemic safety. A vaccinated animal may be transported outwards a province after 14 days since it is vaccinated or in case it is within the immune protection period.

3. Vaccination time

a) Animals shall be vaccinated twice per year, the second vaccination shall be 6 months the first one; the first vaccination shall be carried out in March or April, the second one shall be in September or October;

b) Dosage, type of injection and vaccination procedures shall be conformable to the guidance of the Department of Animal Health and the manufacturers.

4. Vaccination expenditures

Vaccination expenditures shall conform to the Government’s regulations.

Article 8. Transportation quarantine

1. Domestic transportation

a) The President of the People’s Committee shall decide on the establishment of temporary quarantine stations at traffic hubs at the request of the Service of Agriculture and Rural development when the epidemic is found in adjacent provinces;

b) Injected animals or animals transported into a province without a valid phytosanitary certificate shall be confiscated and/or destroy; the owner of such animal shall not be compensated for such animals and must incur administrative penalties and pay the destruction expense;

c) Veterinary affair agencies must conduct inspection at the premises and issue phytosanitary certificates according to regulations, any violation shall be handled according to law.

2. Across-border transportation

a) Presidents of People’s Committees of border provinces shall direct relevant regulatory authorities to enhance the inspection, control, prevention and handling of vulnerable animals and their products which are irregularly imported to Vietnam.

b) People’s Committees of provinces shall decide on the establishment of quarantine stations in border communes;

c) Any vehicle crossing the checkpoint shall be pasteurized.

Chapter III

FIGHTING AGAINST FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE

Article 9. Epidemic declaration

1. The Presidents of the People’s Committee of province shall issue the decision on declaration on an epidemic commune when the epidemic is found in one or more villages and satisfy the requirements for epidemic declaration as prescribed in Article 17 of the Ordinance of Veterinary Medicine.

2. Competent veterinary agencies shall announce the results of testing of specimens collected from the epidemic communes.

Article 10. Handling of epidemic hotspots

1. Isolation and imparking of infected animals

When any animal is found infected, its owner shall isolate such animal and immediately report the case to the village lead or veterinary staff.

2. Verification and diagnosis

When the notification is received, within 1 day, the veterinary staff of commune shall verify the case and collect specimens to serve the diagnosis of the disease.

3. Responsibilities of Presidents of the People’s Committees of communes

a) Direct the village leaders and veterinary staff to inspect and supervise the isolation of infected animals and the imparking of bovine animals, swines, goats and sheeps by the animals’ owners; assist veterinary staff to collect pathology specimens; keep the statistics of the number and types of injected animals, the number of households having infected animals and the total number of vulnerable animal herbs in the village.

b) Establish temporary animal quarantine stations on main traffic routes for inspecting any vehicle entering or leaving epidemic communes and epidemic-threaten zones with the participation of veterinary forces, police forces and militia, etc. with work 24/7 to prevent the transport of animals in epidemic communes outwards. Place epidemic signboards, guide the routes that do not passing epidemic communes. Pasteurize vehicles used for transport from the epidemic communes to outer places.

c) Destruction of infected animals in epidemic communes

- Destruction subjects

+ All the swines, goats, sheeps, stags and deers in the same cage having an infected animal with typical clinic symptoms may be destroyed without testing results. Animals suspected being infected shall be isolated and destroyed if the testing results are positive. The destruction of animals shall be conformable to the guidance and supervision of veterinary agencies;

+ Infected bovine animals must be destroyed in the following cases:

* The infected bovine animal is in the epidemic which is firstly found in the village;

* The bovine animal is infected by a FMD virus type which is new or has not been found in local area for a long time.

+ Bovine animals other than those abovementioned should be destroyed or raised under tight management as follows:

* Being marked and recorded in books according to the guidance of the Department of Animal Health;

* Being isolated from non-infected animals and regularly receiving health inspection; receiving more care;

* Being slaughtered in the village according to the guidance of veterinary staff;

* Being transported to the outer place for sale after 2 years since the clinic symptoms are suppressed.

- Forms of destruction

+ Cremation: digging a hole, put the animal into the hole and burn it with wood, coal and gas or oil. Then filling up the hole and ramming down the soil;

+ Burying: digging a hole with a size depending on the number of animals being buried, putting the infected animals to the hole, spraying antiseptics or pouring lime powder on the surface of animals and filling up the hole. The distance between the buried animals and the brow of the hole must be at least 1 meter and the soil on the surface of the hole must be rammed down;

+ The places of cremation and burying shall be marked on the books and the maps of the communes.

dd) Sanitation and pasteurization

- At epidemic hotspots

+ Physical sanitation: collecting wastes, classify wastes collected from animal-imparking areas; cleansing the cage foundation and raising tools with soap. Such activities shall be carried out by the animal’s owner;

+ Chemical sanitation: After the physical sanitation, drying the wastes and cage foundation and spraying disinfectants. Such activities shall be carried out by the epidemic fighting teams of communes.

- Areas surrounding the epidemic hotspot

+ The animal raiser must carry out physical sanitation of raising facilities and tools and must not contact with epidemic zones;

+ Epidemic fighting teams of communes shall spray disinfectants over the raising areas and raising facilities and sprinkle with lime powder on village roads.

e) Encircling vaccination

- Give vaccination for bovine animals, goats, sheeps, sows and boats raised in epidemic-threaten zones from the outer sides to the inner sides. 14 days later, vulnerable animals raised in the epidemic zones with have not been infected shall be vaccinated; animals recovering from clinic symptoms (which have not been destroyed) shall not be vaccinated.

- People shall be mobilized to conduct and assist the conduct of vaccination; people directly conduct the vaccination must be veterinary physicians or persons having received training.

- Sub-departments of Animal Health shall provide guidance, manage and supervise the vaccination.

4. Presidents of People’s Committees of districts shall be issue decisions on destruction of infected animals under the authorization of People’s Committees and on the basis of the supportive policies of the Government after receiving written requests from Sub-departments of Animal Health.

5. Vulnerable animals and their products must be banned from sale; no exhibition, sightseeing or game shall be organized in epidemic communes.

6. Reporting: during the epidemic period, People’s Committees shall send daily reports to superior People’s Committees and veterinary agencies shall send daily reports to superior veterinary agencies until decisions on declaration of epidemic-free are issued;

Immediately when an epidemic occurs, the Sub-department of Animal Health shall notify it to Sub-departments of Animal Health of adjacent provinces and cities for initiative prevention and fighting.

Article 11. Transportation control

Presidents of the People’s Committees of provinces shall direct local governments of all levels to carry out the following tasks:

1. Determine epidemic villages to localize the epidemic hotspot and establish temporary quarantine stations which work 24/7 and have traffic signboards; ban the transport of animals and their products from epidemic communes to the outer places. Such stations must have antiseptic means and substances to handle any subject transported outwards the epidemic communes;

2. Must not transport animals vulnerable to FMD and products thereof outwards epidemic communes.

3. Non-infection animal and products thereof may be transported in the following cases:

a) Animals and animal products raised in an epidemic-threaten zone are allowed to be transported to be sold within a district.

b) It is allowed to transport within a province:

- Animals and animal products in buffer zones;

- Animals and animal product of raising establishments recognized FMD epidemic safety in epidemic-threaten zones.

c) It is allowed to transport outwards a province:

- Animals and animal products outside the buffer zones;

- Animals and animal product of raising establishments recognized FMD epidemic safety in buffer zones.

Article 12. Declaration about the end of diseases

When the requirements for declaration about the end of diseases specified in Article 21 of the Ordinace of Veterinary Medicine are fully satisfied, the President of People’s Committee shall issue a decision on declaration about the end of diseases.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 13. Responsibilities of Central authorities

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development

a) Request the Prime Minister to grant approval for the National program on FMD control and direct, guide and inspect the conduct of the Program in the whole country;

b) Preside over and cooperate with relevant Ministries in requesting the Prime Minister to promulgate policies relevant to the prevention and fighting against FMD;

c) Establish a ministerial steering committee for FMD prevention and fighting.

2. Relevant regulatory bodies

Comply with tasks assigned by the Government and cooperate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development to gather resources to serve the prevention and fighting against FMD.

3. Department of Animal Health

a) Assist the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development in the establishment of the national programs for FMD control and relevant policies;

b) Establish the annual plans on FMD prevention and fighting and conduct and implement the plans and conduct inspection of the implementation thereof;

c) Provide guidance on FMD prevention and fighting measures.

Article 14. Responsibilities of local authorities in FMD prevention and fighting

1. At provincial level

a) People s Committees of provinces

- Establish the steering committees for FMD prevention and fighting of provinces leaded by the Presidents or Vice Presidents of the People’s Committees and leaders of Services of Agriculture and Rural development.

- Grant approval for and direct the conduct and implement of the Program for FMD control of provinces and annual plans and conduct inspection thereof;

- The Presidents of the People’s Committees are responsible for making declarations about animal epidemics and the end thereof in their provinces;

- Grant funding for the epidemic prevention and fighting activities from disaster prevention funds and the local government’s budgets.

b) Services of Agriculture and Rural development

- Assist People’s Committees of provinces to establish the program for FMD control of provinces and annual plans on the basis of National program;

- Conduct and implement the plans on FMD prevention and fighting and conduct the inspection thereof.

c) Sub-departments of Animal Health

- Directly direct the implementation and inspection of FMD prevention and fighting in local areas;

- Provide professional guidance on FMD prevention and fighting measures.

2. At district level

a) People s Committees of districts

- Establish the steering committees for FMD prevention and fighting of districts leaded by the Presidents or Vice Presidents of the People’s Committees and leaders of Divisions of Agriculture and Rural development and Divisions of Economy (or Veterinary stations of districts);

- Cooperate with Sub-departments of Animal Health of districts and relevant authorities and individuals in local areas in conducting FMD prevention and fighting activities in local areas.

- Mobilize people to contribute in the FMD prevention and fighting, especially the vaccination and destruction of infected animals and the transport of animals outwards the local areas.

- Grant funding for the epidemic prevention and fighting activities in local districts.

b) Divisions of Agriculture and Rural development, Divisions of Economy, Veterinary stations

- Directly implement the FMD prevention and fighting in their districts;

- Provide technical instructions for preventive measures for people in villages;

- Promptly report the demand for funding, chemical supplies, vaccines, human resources, etc. to People’s Committees of districts and Sub-department of Animal Health of provinces.

3. Commune level

a) People s Committees of communes

- Establish steering committees for FMD prevention and fighting leaded by Presidents of the People’s Committees with the participation of representatives of party executive committees and governments and veterinary and agricultural officials;

- Assign a professional team to provide technical guidance and consolidate information about the epidemic;

- Direct village heads to conduct inspection and supervise the development of the epidemic; cooperate with public organizations to encourage citizens to supervise and take measures for epidemic prevention and fighting. Each village shall persuade and encourage citizens to sign "5-No commitment";

- Establish the epidemic-fighting teams including militiamen, youths, veterinary officials and police staff in charge of destroying infected animals, conducting pasteurization and supervising entities entering and leaving epidemic hotspots and waiting and animal quarantine stations.

b) Veterinary staff of communes

- Supervise the FMD disease at every single raising household and establishment in communes and promptly report the cases to People’s Committees of communes and Veterinary stations of districts;

- Directly participate in the FMD prevention and fighting;

- Directly participate in the supervision of funding for FMD prevention and fighting.

Article 15. Responsibilities of animals’ owners

1. Ensure the raising conditions regarding location, raising facilities, studs, feed, drinking water, sanitation and waste management according to law on veterinary medicine;

2. When any animal is suspected being infected, immediately report its situation to the village lead or the veterinary staff;

3. Strictly comply with FMD preventive measures as prescribed in these Regulations.