Viet Nam, RoK cooperation on livestock policy development

Recently, the Department of Animal Health and Production, in coordination with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), held a legal and policy consultation workshop on livestock production, focusing on animal welfare, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and environmental pollution control in livestock production.

Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Health and Production Pham Kim Dang said that the 2018 Law on Livestock Production has laid an important foundation for sector governance, value chain development, and the effective utilization of regional potential and advantages.

However, in response to new requirements on animal welfare and the rapid development of livestock technologies, the Law on Livestock Production is scheduled to be revised in 2028. In parallel, relevant decrees and circulars will be revised to form a comprehensive policy framework.

From now to 2028, the Department will step up information exchange, training, and capacity building for officials working on institutional and legal affairs, with a particular focus on international research and experience sharing, as well as strengthening legislative and policy development. The Department recognizes the Republic of Korea as an important cooperation partner, both in terms of legal framework design and policy response mechanisms to emerging issues, the Department’s leadership noted.

The project titled "Higher Education Program for VNUA to enhance human resources specialized in animal husbandry of Viet Nam", funded by the Government of the Republic of Korea through KOICA and implemented through 2030, is well aligned with national socio-economic development plans, particularly with regional and local livestock development strategies across Viet Nam.

In the Vietnamese context, Deputy Director Pham Kim Dang noted that policy formulation and revision entail a heavy workload, requiring a clear roadmap and practical international support.

According to him, the project provides meaningful support for exchanges of officials working on institutional affairs during the 2026 - 2027 period, directly serving the revision process of the Law on Livestock Production. In addition, the Department hopes to receive KOICA’s support in consulting on amendments to the decree regulating policies to improve the efficiency of livestock production, as well as in developing standards for the classification and ranking of livestock production facilities.

According to Professor Kim Soo-Ki of Konkuk University (Republic of Korea), Head of the KOICA-VNUA KUVEC Project, the Republic of Korea is ready to accompany Viet Nam in strengthening institutional capacity in education and the livestock sector, improving legal frameworks and policies for human resource training, as well as enhancing the working environment and entrepreneurship ecosystem. At the Viet Nam National University of Agriculture (VNUA), the project management board will establish the Viet Nam - Korea Livestock Training and Research Institute.

Korea’s livestock-related legislation is structured into four main areas: industrial development and production management; animal health and quarantine; environment and animal welfare; and distribution and food safety. In addition, there are higher-level framework laws on agriculture, rural areas, and the food industry, as well as special laws aimed at improving the quality of life of farmers and fishers and promoting rural development. This legal system is supported by technical annexes with clear quantitative indicators, enhancing the transparency of standards, professionalism, and predictability in governance.

“Like a compass, Korea’s livestock legal system clearly and in detail defines the responsibilities and obligations of livestock producers and other market participants. Looking back to the 1970s, when Korea did not yet have a dedicated livestock law, the State gradually set goals to support farmers in production management and step by step completed and revised the legal framework according to a defined roadmap,” Professor Kim added at the meeting.

With a three-tier pyramid structure comprising laws, decrees, and ministerial regulations, Korea’s legal system is highly flexible. When new technologies emerge or new disease risks arise, technical standards can be adjusted through decrees or regulations within just one to two weeks, enabling timely and effective governance.

In 2026, the two sides will further strengthen information exchange, share experience, and conduct mutual consultations on draft laws, decrees, and regulations related to building a sustainable livestock sector.