Vietnam: Vietnam Issues Draft Circular to Consolidate and Update Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Quarantine Inspection Regulations

Vietnam notified the WTO on August 17, 2026, of a draft Circular consolidating and updating Circular 01/2026 on terrestrial animal quarantine and Circular 03/2026 on aquatic animal quarantine. Comments are due October 16, 2026, with adoption and publication expected in November 2026 and entry into force 45 days after publication. Overall, this draft presents a more harmonized and unified framework in which unnecessary testing or testing frequency is reduced and a more risk-based approach is introduced. However, some concerning areas remain, including retention of certain Salmonella and ruminant DNA testing requirements. This report provides an unofficial translation of the draft Circular and summarizes key proposed updates affecting trade in these products.