Viet Nam : Trade Facilitation: Improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary Handling in Greater Mekong Subregion Trade Project

Sovereign Project | 43120-025

Compliance with global SPS requirements requires national specialists to undertake tasks related to surveillance, risk analysis, testing, diagnostics, pest identification, standards, and conformity assessment. Trading partners and private companies often require application of good agricultural practices, good manufacturing practices, and quality assurance management (such as hazard analysis critical control points). Cambodia and the Lao PDR lack specialists who can perform these tasks. These specialists need to come (in part at least) from graduates of national higher education systems that train SPS specialists. Strengthening capacities of SPS agencies is urgently needed to meet the increasing requirements for exports and trade facilitation, and to protect health.

Project Name Trade Facilitation: Improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary Handling in Greater Mekong Subregion Trade Project
Project Number 43120-025
Country / Economy Viet Nam
Project Status Closed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Loan
Source of Funding / Amount
Loan 2944-VIE: Trade Facilitation: Improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary Handling in Greater Mekong Subregion Trade Project
Asian Development Fund US$ 11.00 million
Strategic Agendas Inclusive economic growth
Regional integration
Drivers of Change Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
Governance and capacity development
Sector / Subsector

Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Agro-industry, marketing, and trade

Industry and trade / Trade and services

Gender Some gender elements
Description Compliance with global SPS requirements requires national specialists to undertake tasks related to surveillance, risk analysis, testing, diagnostics, pest identification, standards, and conformity assessment. Trading partners and private companies often require application of good agricultural practices, good manufacturing practices, and quality assurance management (such as hazard analysis critical control points). Cambodia and the Lao PDR lack specialists who can perform these tasks. These specialists need to come (in part at least) from graduates of national higher education systems that train SPS specialists. Strengthening capacities of SPS agencies is urgently needed to meet the increasing requirements for exports and trade facilitation, and to protect health.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

The project is in line with the GMS 10-year strategic framework, 2012'-2022 and supports the thrust to facilitate cross-border trade and investment. The project will contribute to pillar 4 (cooperation in regional public goods) of ADB's Regional Cooperation and Integration Strategy. The project is aligned with the targets of the National Strategic Development Plan Update, 2009-2013 of Cambodia and the National Socio Economic Development Plan VII, 2011-2015 of the Lao PDR. Improving SPS management is explicitly reflected in various Cambodia and Lao PDR sector strategies and plans, and in the GMS core agriculture support program.

Trade facilitation remains a challenging agenda in the GMS. Previous experience shows the need to adopt a phased approach to formulate well-targeted and sequenced projects to ensure implementation of bilateral and regional commitments on cooperation and harmonization. Inadequate capacities at the country level are major constraints for effective regional cooperation in SPS arrangements. Development partners, such as the United Nations agencies, the World Bank and bilateral agencies support various aspects of SPS capacity building in the GMS, but ongoing projects have not addressed SPS issues in a comprehensive manner. Preparatory work has been firmly anchored in the lessons of international experiences that stress the need for prevention rather than end-of-pipe controls, which have proven to be costly and frequently ineffective. Involvement of the private sector and civil society in SPS capacity building is necessary to ensure the right technical issues and challenges are addressed and for longer-term sustainability. During the project preparation phase, workshops to consult the private sector on SPS issues were held in Cambodia and the Lao PDR, which contributed to the overall project design. Likewise, coordination with the GMS working group on agriculture has been maintained.

Impact

Food products become safer, more efficiently produced, and traded in greater quantities

Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

Enhanced SPS food safety management system

Progress Toward Outcome On track
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

Strengthened food safety surveillance, handling and inspection system designed and implemented

Improved regional cooperation and harmonization

Effective project management

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

- Two position/background papers were prepared and from these papers, a draft Surveillance Plan was developed. First consensus workshop was held to discuss about the draft plan of National Food safety surveillance system on 25 December 2015. Feedback from the consensus workshop comments from VFA followed by a series of meetings and discussions was incorporated into the draft Plan.

- In close consultation and coordination with sub-VFAs, a Surveillance Plan for 4 pilot provinces has been prepared.

- Developed the questionnaires for survey of natural toxin in pilot provinces (for the medical workers and the people)

-A draft of Action Plan for Food Safety Surveillance System in Pilot provinces was prepared enunciating 10 points program for implementation.

-4 design and implementation of annual surveillance cycle training workshops in 4 pilot provinces

-1 Annual report workshop

-2 Public awareness raising workshops

-4 Sampling training workshops on (1) Overall knowledge on food safety (2) Design/develop surveillance plan (3) guidance on inspection and (4) Sampling have been organized in three provinces.

- Document on import handling was developed and submitted to PMU/VFA,

- Document on risk base categorization was integrated into the import handling document

- Document on step wise introduction of risk-based inspection was prepared and submitted.

- Draft of First-time market access document was prepared and submitted.

- Draft of inspection manual was prepared.

- Research on harmonization of practices with other GMS countries was prepared and submitted.

- Document on risk-based import handling of food and risk analysis for Consensus workshop was integrated.

The new restaurant grading system was developed and implemented by Restaurant grading consultants.

Guidelines and Proposed Grading Scheme for R&C Establishments was prepared.

Consensus workshop on the Guidelines and Proposed Grading Scheme for R&C Establishments was organized to collect comments.

Lab equipment was provided to the Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, National Institute of Food Center, National Institute of Nutrition, Pasteur Institute and Quang Ninh Preventive Medicine Center.

VFA and Food and Drug management administration of Laos organized workshop in VN with "Single window custom" agreement signed.

In progress

VFA representatives participated in INFOSAN workshops in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Draft First Time Market Access document was prepared was submitted.

PMU was established, fully staffed and project management systems set up.

Geographical Location Ha Long, Hanoi, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Nha Trang, Tinh Cao Bang, Tinh Quang Ninh
Safeguard Categories
Environment C
Involuntary Resettlement C
Indigenous Peoples C
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects na
Involuntary Resettlement na
Indigenous Peoples na
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design
During Project Implementation
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services All procurement will be undertaken in accordance with ADB's Procurement Guidelines. No works are foreseen. No advance action was undertaken.
Procurement All procurement will be undertaken in accordance with ADB's Procurement Guidelines. No works are foreseen. No advance action was undertaken.
Responsible ADB Officer Ngo, Vinh Q.
Responsible ADB Department Southeast Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Viet Nam Resident Mission (VRM)
Executing Agencies
Ministry of Health
Timetable
Concept Clearance 23 Nov 2010
Fact Finding 10 Oct 2011 to 14 Oct 2011
MRM 07 Aug 2012
Approval 20 Nov 2012
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 18 Oct 2019

Loan 2944-VIE

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
20 Nov 2012 17 Jan 2013 16 May 2013 31 Dec 2018 30 Jun 2019 04 Dec 2019
Financing Plan Loan Utilization
Total (Amount in US$ million) Date ADB Others Net Percentage
Project Cost 11.72 Cumulative Contract Awards
ADB 11.00 17 Jun 2022 7.63 0.00 100%
Counterpart 0.72 Cumulative Disbursements
Cofinancing 0.00 17 Jun 2022 7.63 0.00 100%

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

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Title Document Type Document Date
Trade Facilitation - Improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary Handling in Greater Mekong Subregion Trade Project: Completion Report Project/Program Completion Reports Feb 2021
Trade Facilitation - Improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary Handling in Greater Mekong Subregion Trade Project: Audited Project Financial Statements (January-June 2019) Audited Project Financial Statements Nov 2019
Trade Facilitation - Improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary Handling in Greater Mekong Subregion Trade Project: Audited Project Financial Statements (January-December 2018) Audited Project Financial Statements Jun 2019
Trade Facilitation - Improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary Handling in Greater Mekong Subregion Trade Project: Audited Project Financial Statements (January-December 2017) Audited Project Financial Statements Jun 2018
Trade Facilitation - Improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary Handling in Greater Mekong Subregion Trade Project: Procurement Plan Procurement Plans Jan 2018
Trade Facilitation - Improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary Handling in GMS Trade Project: Audited Project Financial Statements (January-December 2016) Audited Project Financial Statements Jul 2017
Trade Facilitation - Improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary Handling in GMS Trade Project: Audited Project Financial Statements (17 April 2013-31 December 2014) Audited Project Financial Statements Mar 2017
Trade Facilitation - Improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary Handling in GMS Trade Project: Audited Project Financial Statements (January-December 2015) Audited Project Financial Statements Mar 2017
Loan Agreement (Special Operations) for Loan 2944-VIE: Trade Facilitation - Improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary Handling in Greater Mekong Subregion Trade Project Loan Agreement (Special Operations) Jan 2013
Trade Facilitation - Improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary Handling in Greater Mekong Subregion Trade Project: Report and Recommendation of the President Reports and Recommendations of the President Oct 2012
Trade Facilitation - Improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary Handling in Greater Mekong Subregion Trade Project: Project Administration Manual Project/Program Administration Manual Sep 2012

Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

None currently available.


Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

Title Document Type Document Date
Viet Nam: Trade Facilitation: Improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary Handling in Greater Mekong Subregion Trade Project Validations of Project Completion Reports May 2021

Related Publications

None currently available.


The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

Tenders

Tender Title Type Status Posting Date Deadline
2944-VIE (SF): Trade Facilitation: Improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary Handling in Greater Mekong Subregion Trade Project [ICB03] Invitation for Bids Closed

Contracts Awarded

Contract Title Approval Number Contract Date Contractor | Address Executing Agency Total Contract Amount (US$) Contract Amount Financed by ADB (US$)
PROVIDE LABORATORY EQUIPMENT FOR NATIONAL INSTIT UTES FOR FOOD CONTROL NIFC. CONSIST OF 02 LOTS. Loan 2944 29 Nov 2018 JOINT VENTURE SISC VIETNAM INSTRUMENTATION JS | NO48, LANE 245, MAI DICH, CAU GIAY, HN VIET NAM,SOC REP OF Ministry of Health 1,998,938.00 1,998,938.00
T3 GHP/GMP UPGRADING FOOD SAFETY HANDLING - TRAIN ING AND ADVISORY SERVICES FOR RESTAURANTS AND CATE RING ESTABLISHMENTS IN FOOD SAFETY Loan 2944 05 Jan 2018 NGOC THINH TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT | HA NOI VIET NAM,SOC REP OF Ministry of Health 128,495.00 128,484.00
Trainings and Workshops (WA011 - Cat 03) Loan 2944 24 Jan 2017 Various | Various Viet Nam Ministry of Health 216,349.09 216,216.18
ICB02 - Lot 1: Server and Softwares Loan 2944 02 Mar 2017 Tecapro One Member Ltd. | 18A Cong Hoa Rd, Ward 12, Tan Binh Dist Hcmc Viet Nam Ministry of Health 109,753.95 109,753.95