Biotech Updates

Vietnam's Biosafety Process Reported

August 7, 2013

Vietnam's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) issued on May 16, 2013 Circular 8/2013/TT-BTNMT, providing the procedure for granting and revoking Certificates of Biosafety, reported the USDA FAS Global Agricultural Information Network. The circular which entered into force last July 1, 2013 lays out the regulatory structure to evaluate the biosafety of agricultural traits derived from biotechnology. Hence, a biosafety certificate is required before a biotech event can be cultivated in the country.

Circular 8 is the first of three regulations finalized by the Vietnamese Government regulating the commercialization process for agricultural biotechnology. The other two circulars on: 1) the regulatory approval process for agricultural biotech for use as feed, and 2) the regulatory approval process for agricultural biotech for use as food are under development.

Details of the report with an unofficial English translation of Circular 8 can be found at http://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/MONRE%20Publishes
%20Biosafety%20Certification%20Process%20for%20Agricultural%20Bio_Hanoi_Vietnam_7-31-2013.pdf