Directive No. 26/CT-TTg promoting production, circulation, consumption, and export of agricultural products in Covid-19 epidemic management

In the first few months of 2021, under direction of the Government, Prime Minister, and ministries, agricultural production, consumption, and export have attained positive results. However, the fourth COVID-19 outbreak has developed rather complicated, spread rapidly, and seriously affected agricultural production, circulation, consumption, and export, especially in areas where social distancing is in effect; multiple agricultural products are stagnated in great quantity thereby causing price thereof to plummet; several production lines are damaged thereby affecting supply in the time to come, especially in Lunar New Year of 2022. In order to promptly deal with the difficulties and restore production, circulation, consumption, and export of agricultural products, the Prime Minister hereby requests ministries and People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities to immediately implement the following tasks:  

1. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

a) Direct local governments to simultaneously implement solutions to maintain agricultural production lines; review and prepare requirements for subsequent production season, especially agricultural manufacturing and export enterprises in provinces where social distancing is in effect as per Directive No. 16/CT-TTg , guarantee agricultural product supply for domestic consumption and manufacturing, export in all scenarios, especially in final months of the year and during Lunar New Year; organize effective connection between ingredient regions with preparation, processing, and preservation to boost added value.  

b) Direct local governments to promote production, consumption, and export of agricultural products in regions and areas where COVID-19 has been detained to assist and make up for other areas, especially southern provinces and cities; continue to effectively utilize the northern and southern teams for directing production, connecting supply and consumption of agricultural products.

c) Direct and promote agricultural restructuring following 3 primary product categories (key national products, regional specialties, and one commune one product) to meet progress and effectiveness; develop and implement circular economic model and digital economic in agriculture; develop code of culturing areas, identification code for husbandry facilities, fishery facilities; ensure traceability of products and food safety; promote advertisement and consumption of agricultural products via commercial promotion channels and services, especially e-commerce.  

d) Direct and organize simultaneous, extensive, and effective implementation of solutions for diseases on domestic animals, plants, and fishes.

dd) Take charge and cooperate with Ministry Of Industry And Trade and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in promoting expanding official agriculture product export to China (durian, sweet potato, passion fruits, pomelo, swallow’s nest, fishery); negotiate with relevant Chinese authority in order to reduce rate of quarantine of animals and plants into Chinese market.

e) Take charge and cooperate with Ministry Of Industry And Trade, Ministry of Finance, and relevant agencies in assessing impact, popularizing, and guiding local governments, professional associations, and enterprises to implement and satisfy procedures, regulations for quality control of import agricultural products of Chinese market under Order 248 and Order 249 coming to effect from January 1, 2022.

g) Take charge and cooperate with Ministry of Finance in presenting policies for supporting breed (plants, domestic animals, fishes) to the Government and Prime Minister to allow farmers to restore production in areas under social distancing as per Directive No. 16/CT-TTg.

h) Cooperate with ministries and relevant agencies in conducting research, promoting appropriate solutions for applying online assessment instead of physical assessment; or extending for 6 months for expired permit, certificates, and designation decisions.

2. Ministry of Industry and Trade

a) Instruct local governments that have managed to control the epidemic to reopen traditional markets and supply markets while providing supply to the general public; cooperate with Ministry of Health in issuing regulations on epidemic management.

b) Cooperate with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in assessing impact, and guiding local administrative divisions, professional associations, and enterprises to satisfy regulations of Chinese party under Order 248 and Order 249 coming into effect from January 1, 2022.

c) Communicate with Chinese agencies and local administrative divisions regarding opening additional checkpoints and granting customs clearance for agricultural products, especially vegetables; encourage official export via international checkpoints and primary checkpoints.  

d) Cooperate with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in negotiating quality control to open agricultural product export; provide market information, promote commerce, and enhance agricultural product consumption for local administrative divisions; assist traders to promote agricultural product consumption via electronic channels.

3. Ministry of Transport

a) Direct relevant agencies to guarantee coherent traffic system and facilitate transport of agricultural products and input materials serving agricultural production, consumption, and export.  

b) Examine and instruct consistent traffic in administrative divisions; review and request annulment of local documents that contradict regulations of the Government and Prime Minister regarding commodity circulation to prevent congestion, local administrative divisions must not issue minor permit.

c) Take charge and cooperate with Ministry Of Industry And Trade in dealing with the lack of empty containers and developing solutions for reducing transport fees serving import and export.  

d) Direct development of communication system to regulate amount of vehicles parking and concentrating in checkpoints and roads leading to the checkpoints to avoid congestion. 

4. Ministry of Health

a) Cooperate with ministries and local governments in directing specialized agencies in examining, assessing, guiding, and assisting in epidemic management in business facilities suitable for characteristics of each model of agricultural production.

b) Direct, instruct, and supervise local administrative divisions allowed to use test results and effective period of 2 COVID-19 testing methods (quick test and PCR).  

c) Provide specific guidelines for individuals who have received 2 vaccine shots in provinces and cities can participate in production, circulation, and consumption of agricultural products. 

5. Ministry of Planning and Investment

Improve investment environment in agriculture sector, encourage enterprises to invest in agriculture and rural areas; review and allocate funding sources for invest in upgrading infrastructure and warehouses in checkpoints and agricultural product processing infrastructure. 

 6. Ministry of Finance

a) Direct customs authority in checkpoints to adopt procedures and grant rapid customs clearance for commodities passing through checkpoints, especially road checkpoints passing through northern border, prioritize customs procedures, conduct customs supervision for agricultural products during official harvest; increase working time, promote electronic customs clearance, and allow convenience in customs clearance for agricultural products officially exported to China.  

b) Cooperate with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in presenting policies for supporting breed (plants, domestic animals, fishes) to the Government and Prime Minister to allow farmers to restore production in areas under social distancing as per Directive No. 16/CT-TTg.

7. State Bank of Vietnam

Direct credit institutions to focus funding sources, satisfy capital requirements serving production, preparation, circulation, consumption, and export of agricultural products; immediately and effectively implement credit policies and programs in agriculture and rural areas; promote solutions for dealing with difficulties for debtors in these sectors affected by COVID-19 by restructuring debt repayment deadline, retaining debt category, exempting, reducing, lowering interest, etc.; encourage credit institutions to develop lines of credit and banking services for agriculture sector; simplify loan procedures and facilitate access to loan capitals.  Enhance inspection and supervision regarding compliance with policies of the Government on the general public and enterprises.   

8. Ministry of Labor - War Invalids and Social Affairs

Instruct, expedite, and examine local administrative divisions in implementing social security policies for workers in agricultural enterprises and guaranteeing workforce in local administrative divisions after restoring production. Examine, supervise, and adjust on a regular basis.

9. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

a) Direct Vietnam representative missions in foreign countries to update information on production, market, import demand of host countries, cooperation opportunities, and risks from commercial barriers for agricultural products of Vietnam to ministries, local administrative divisions, associations, enterprises; assist agricultural product export incentives of ministries, local administrative divisions, and enterprises.

b) Promote vaccine diplomatic affairs serving domestic epidemic management and restore business operation in order to create safe and convenient production environment for agricultural development, circulation, consumption, and export. 

10. People’s Committees of provinces or central-affiliated cities

a) Immediately and effectively implement Resolution No. 105/NQ-CP dated September 9, 2021 of the Government and guarantee epidemic management affairs satisfactory to local facts.

b) Establish Work teams to provide specialized advice in epidemic management for business facilities and transport service providers, and promptly cooperate in dealing with any difficulty.

c) Actively develop plans for production, consumption, and export of agricultural products; do not allow breaking of agricultural product production line; guarantee stable life for the general public and promote growth.

d) Do not allow congestion in product production, circulation, consumption, and worker transport while guaranteeing epidemic management, especially compliance with 5K principles and other epidemic management measures; issue policies assisting vehicle owners and operators in reducing transport fees, consuming agricultural products, and circulating agricultural materials.

dd) Prioritize vaccine for human resources harvesting, processing, circulating, and exporting agricultural products.

e) Instruct enterprises and producers to implement regulations on effective epidemic management; develop and provide guidelines on COVID-19 epidemic management in green zones and in-between green zones to facilitate restoration of agricultural production.

g) Direct governments of all levels to organize epidemic management measures simultaneously, extensively, and effectively for domestic animals, plants, and fishes; prevent and take actions against cases of illegal trafficking of animals and animal products from overseas.

h) Local administrative divisions where checkpoints are located shall assist enterprises in dealing with difficulties in warehouses, preservation of agricultural products, transport services, and commerce logistics; enhance strict control in checkpoints; guarantee customs clearance for export agricultural products in all scenarios.  

i) Direct government of all levels to not issue guiding documents that contradict regulations of the Government, Prime Minister, and ministries regarding commodity circulation.

11. Professional associations and enterprises

Stay active, acknowledge information and market demand, develop effective business plans, improve product competitiveness, and integrate with international economy.

Request ministers, heads of ministerial agencies, heads of Governmental agencies, Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities, and relevant organizations and individuals to stringently comply this Decree.