Summary of Legal Updates in Vietnam’s Livestock Industry from Q1/2026: 10 Key Points to Watch

Vietnam livestock legal updates from Q1/2026 are especially important for commercial farms, livestock businesses, and supply chain operators that need to review traceability, quarantine, biosecurity, food safety, and environmental compliance.

2026 is a year that requires close legal monitoring in Vietnam’s livestock industry, especially after Decree No. 32/2026/ND-CP was issued to amend and supplement several regulations in the livestock and veterinary sectors. Alongside the Law on Animal Husbandry 2018 and Decree No. 13/2020/ND-CP, businesses and farms need to stay updated on new regulations related to livestock farming conditions, traceability, quarantine, food safety, and environmental requirements.

These livestock legal updates should be reviewed before farms expand herd or flock size, sign supply contracts, or prepare for export.

Vietnam’s livestock legal framework from 2026

Vietnam’s livestock legal framework is still mainly based on the Law on Animal Husbandry 2018 and its guiding decrees, including Decree No. 13/2020/ND-CP. From 2026, Decree No. 32/2026/ND-CP continues to amend and supplement several provisions in the livestock and veterinary sectors. Therefore, farms and businesses need to update their understanding instead of relying only on older regulations.

In addition, after the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment was reorganized under a new structure from 2025, many agency names need to be used correctly in documents, contracts, and professional articles. Terms such as “Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,” “MARD,” “Department of Livestock Production,” or “Department of Animal Health” should be reviewed in the new context. In 2026 updates, safer wording would be “Ministry of Agriculture and Environment” and “Department of Livestock Production & Animal Health.”

The affected groups usually include organizations and individuals engaged in commercial-scale farming of livestock, poultry, and other farmed animals; slaughterhouses; animal feed manufacturers and traders; veterinary drug suppliers; livestock product processing and export businesses; and other operators across the supply chain.

Small-scale household farms for self-consumption may not have to meet all the same requirements as commercial farms. However, they still need to comply with requirements related to disease control, environmental hygiene, waste treatment, and local regulations.

Why 2026 is a year to watch

2026 is a time when many farms need to review their internal legal systems, especially records related to livestock operation declarations, farming conditions, biosecurity, environment, traceability, and quarantine. This is also the period when local authorities continue to detail and implement planning, areas where livestock farming is not permitted, areas where livestock development should be limited, and directions for concentrated livestock farming zones.

For operating farms, the risk is not only administrative penalties. It also includes insufficient documentation when expanding scale, signing purchase contracts, supplying products to retail chains, or preparing for export. Therefore, instead of waiting for an inspection team or partner request, farms should proactively check their foundational compliance requirements in advance.

For commercial farms, livestock legal updates are no longer just legal news; they are part of farm compliance, supply chain readiness, and risk management.

These livestock legal updates should be checked regularly before farms expand, sign supply contracts, or prepare export documents.

10 Livestock Legal Updates to Watch from Q1/2026

1. Biosecurity and environmental hygiene continue to be enforced more closely

Biosecurity should not be understood as a completely new requirement starting from 2026. Under the Law on Animal Husbandry, organizations and individuals engaged in livestock farming already have obligations to implement biosecurity measures, environmental hygiene, and livestock waste treatment.

The point to watch in 2026 is the level of inspection, guidance, and enforcement by farm scale, animal species, and locality. For commercial farms, the requirements that usually need to be reviewed include:

• Fences or isolation areas.
• Procedures to control people and vehicles entering and leaving the farm.
• Disinfection and decontamination zones.
• Barn cleaning and sanitation logs.
• Procedures to control vectors such as rats, wild birds, and insects.
• Isolation areas for newly introduced animals or animals suspected of disease.
• Response plans when disease occurs.

Livestock farmers should contact the Department of Livestock Production & Animal Health or local livestock and veterinary authorities to confirm the requirements that apply to their specific farm type.

2. Livestock zoning must follow local planning and regulations

Livestock zoning is a particularly important issue when opening a new farm or expanding an existing one. However, terms such as “prohibited zones,” “restricted zones,” or “encouraged zones” should not be used as if they were a unified nationwide legal terminology system unless they have been checked against each locality’s planning.

Safer wording would be:

• Areas where livestock farming is not permitted under local regulations.
• Areas where livestock farming should be restricted or relocated because they are close to residential areas, urban areas, water sources, or environmentally sensitive zones.
• Areas suitable for concentrated livestock farming under planning.
• Areas where livestock farming may be encouraged if environmental, infrastructure, and disease prevention conditions are met.

Farms that are already operating legally in areas that later become restricted may be handled according to a separate local roadmap. Therefore, before investing in new barns, expanding herd size, or changing production models, investors should work with the Department of Agriculture and Environment, district/commune-level People’s Committees, or the professional authority assigned by the locality to confirm whether the planned location is consistent with local planning.

3. Livestock farm identification codes and traceability should be prepared early

From 2026, traceability of livestock products is an issue that needs greater attention. In particular, Circular No. 66/2025/TT-BNNMT provides regulations on the farming of other animals listed in the permitted category and on traceability of livestock products. Farms need to check the scope of application based on the specific animal species, product type, and guidance from the relevant authority.

Commercial farms should prepare a minimum record-keeping system covering:

• Livestock farm information.
• Animal batch/herd or flock information.
• Date of animal entry and exit from the herd/flock.
• Source of breeding animals.
• Feed used.
• Veterinary drugs, vaccines, and antibiotics, if any.
• Testing or quality inspection results, if relevant.
• Information on slaughterhouses, preliminary processing facilities, processing facilities, or purchasing units.

These data support management, traceability, supply chain connection, and buyer requirements.

It should not be stated that a farm code is a condition for issuing invoices unless there is a specific regulation from the tax authority or a relevant legal document. A safer understanding is that a livestock farm identification code or livestock farm identification data may support declaration, management, traceability, and data connection in the livestock sector.

Among the most important livestock legal updates in 2026, traceability and farm data preparation should be prioritized early.

4. Antibiotic and veterinary drug control needs tighter record-keeping

The use of antibiotics, veterinary drugs, and banned substances in livestock farming must comply with current lists, approved use instructions, marketing authorization guidance, and regulations in Vietnam. Recommendations from WOAH, Codex, or importing markets may be important reference sources. However, when writing for livestock farmers in Vietnam, the content should be based on legal documents and guidance issued by competent domestic authorities.

Farms should maintain complete records including:

• Veterinary drug use logs.
• Drug names, active ingredients, and dosage.
• Date of use.
• Person responsible for application.
• Withdrawal period before sale.
• Reason for drug use.
• Invoices, supporting documents, or drug origin records if traceability is needed.

Violations related to banned substances, improper antibiotic use, or failure to comply with withdrawal periods may affect product sales, purchase contracts, food safety records, and opportunities to join export supply chains.

5. Livestock product exports depend heavily on traceability and quarantine requirements in the target market

Businesses exporting meat, eggs, milk, or livestock products need to monitor the specific requirements of each importing market. These requirements may include traceability from farm to slaughterhouse or processing facility, residue control, quarantine for animals or animal products, production facility conditions, and product labeling.

It should not be stated that businesses will “definitely have export certificates suspended” if they lack traceability. Safer wording would be:

Businesses may face the risk of being required to submit additional documents, undergo re-inspection, experience delays in certificate issuance, or fail to meet export requirements if their traceability, quarantine, and residue control systems do not meet the requirements of the target market.

Businesses should contact the Department of Livestock Production & Animal Health, the competent quarantine authority, the Vietnam Trade Office in the target market, or experienced export operators to confirm requirements for each specific product.

For export-oriented businesses, livestock legal updates are closely linked to quarantine, residue control, labeling, and traceability requirements.

6. Livestock waste treatment should follow environmental regulations, not one fixed technology

Livestock farms need waste collection and treatment measures that meet requirements on livestock farming, veterinary medicine, and environmental protection. However, it should not be stated that all large-scale farms are required to use one specific technology such as closed biogas systems, composting, or biological treatment unless the applicable legal documents for each case have been checked.

A more accurate way to write this is:

Waste treatment technology depends on farm scale, animal species, discharge conditions, environmental documentation, farm location, and requirements from local management authorities. Common solutions may include biogas systems, composting, solid-liquid separation, biological treatment, or suitable wastewater treatment systems.

From 2026, farms also need to monitor obligations related to environmental protection fees for wastewater under current regulations. Specific fees and obligations depend on the type of wastewater, discharge volume, pollution level, and applicable regulations.

Farms should work with the Department of Agriculture and Environment or the competent local environmental authority to determine the required documents, instead of applying one fixed scale threshold or one fixed waste treatment technology by themselves.

7. Herd or flock size control should follow local planning and should not be generally called a “livestock quota”

Some localities may control the establishment or expansion of farms based on planning, livestock density, environmental carrying capacity, waste treatment infrastructure, distance from residential areas, and disease conditions.

However, the term “provincial livestock quota” should not be used as if it were a common nationwide regulation unless there is a specific legal document. Safer wording would be:

Local authorities may manage herd or flock size and farm expansion based on livestock planning, regulations on areas where livestock farming is not permitted, environmental treatment capacity, and the agricultural development orientation of each province or city.

Before opening a new farm or expanding herd/flock size, investors should confirm:

• Whether the planned location is in an area where livestock farming is permitted.
• Whether there are limits on animal species or herd/flock size.
• Whether there are distance requirements from residential areas, water sources, schools, or hospitals.
• What level of environmental documentation is required.
• Whether registration, declaration, or data updates with the relevant authority are required.

8. VietGAP, GLOBALG.A.P., and supply chain standards: not mandatory for every farm, but increasingly important

VietGAP, GLOBALG.A.P., and similar standards should not be described as mandatory legal requirements for all farms. A more accurate understanding is that these standards may become requirements from buyers, supermarkets, institutional kitchens, canteens, bidding projects, retail chains, or export markets.

For farms selling into modern supply chains, supplying processing businesses, or planning to export, certification for good livestock farming practices can help increase credibility, standardize processes, and support traceability.

Farms planning to apply for certification should prepare early:

• Legal records of the farm.
• Livestock farming logs.
• Cleaning and disinfection procedures.
• Feed, veterinary drug, and vaccine records.
• Waste treatment procedures.
• Staff training records.
• Traceability evidence.

The time required for assessment and certification depends on the farm’s readiness, the certification body, and the number of non-compliances that need to be corrected after assessment. It should not be stated rigidly that certification takes “2–4 months” in all cases. It can be described as a reference timeline in some well-prepared cases.

9. Environmental obligations and wastewater fees need closer review

From 2026, farms need to monitor obligations related to environmental protection fees for wastewater and other environmental regulations. This should not be interpreted as a “separate fee framework for industrial livestock farming” if the applicable document is a general regulation on environmental protection fees for wastewater.

For livestock farms, the issues that need to be reviewed include:

• Sources of wastewater generation.
• Wastewater volume.
• Collection and treatment measures.
• Environmental monitoring results, if the farm is subject to monitoring requirements.
• Environmental documentation corresponding to farm scale.
• Declaration, fee payment, or reporting obligations under regulations.
• The possibility of reusing treated waste, if permitted.

Farms should not discharge wastewater directly into the environment without proper treatment. The risk is not only administrative penalties, but may also affect operating permits, purchase contracts, and commercial reputation.

10. Agricultural insurance in livestock farming: voluntary mechanisms and premium support should be monitored

It should not be stated that livestock disease insurance is gradually becoming mandatory unless a new legal document confirms this. Under the current framework, agricultural insurance in livestock farming is mainly implemented on the basis of voluntary participation and agreement. The State has policies to support insurance premiums for certain eligible groups, animal species, and localities in specific periods.

In livestock farming, some animals such as buffaloes, cattle, and pigs may be eligible for insurance premium support under specific programs and conditions. However, this does not mean that every farm is required to purchase livestock disease insurance.

A more suitable approach would be:

Large livestock businesses and commercial farms should view agricultural insurance as a financial risk management tool. Whether to participate should be considered based on herd/flock size, disease history, asset value, risk tolerance, premium level, and coverage scope.

Summary table: Existing regulations, points to watch, and what farms should prepare

Issue group	How it should be understood	What farms should do
Biosecurity	Already a general obligation in livestock farming; enforcement level depends on scale and locality	Review fences, disinfection, entry/exit control, sanitation logs, and disease prevention procedures
Livestock zoning	Depends on planning and regulations in each locality	Check whether the area is permitted for livestock farming before opening or expanding a farm
Identification code / traceability	Increasingly important for management and supply chains	Standardize data on herd/flock, batches, veterinary drugs, vaccines, feed, and sale/dispatch
Antibiotics and veterinary drugs	Must comply with current lists and guidance	Maintain drug logs, withdrawal periods, and drug origin records
Export	Depends on each market’s requirements	Check quarantine, residue, labeling, and traceability requirements by product
Waste	Must be treated to meet environmental requirements	Review waste treatment systems, environmental records, and waste management plans
Herd/flock size	Should not be generally called a nationwide quota	Work with local authorities to confirm planning and expansion limits, if any
VietGAP / GLOBALG.A.P.	Not mandatory for every farm, but may be required by the market	Prepare records if targeting modern supply chains, supermarkets, bidding projects, or export
Environmental fees	Obligations related to wastewater and the environment should be monitored	Determine applicable status, volume, documentation, and declaration/payment obligations, if any
Agricultural insurance	Mainly voluntary, with premium support policies in some cases	Monitor support programs and consider insurance as a risk management tool

90-day checklist for commercial livestock farms

In the first 30 days

• Review the farm name, tax code, business registration certificate, or household business registration.
• Check whether the registered business lines match actual operations.
• Compile existing records related to land, barns, environment, and livestock activities.
• Check whether the farm is located in an area consistent with livestock planning.
• Update agency names in internal records: Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Department of Livestock Production & Animal Health, Department of Agriculture and Environment, or the relevant local authority.

Within 60 days

• Build or update livestock farming logs.
• Standardize veterinary drug, vaccine, antibiotic, and withdrawal period records.
• Review biosecurity procedures.
• Check waste and wastewater treatment systems.
• Prepare traceability data by batch/herd or flock.
• Work with local authorities if there is a plan to expand herd/flock size.

Within 90 days

• Assess the need for VietGAP, GLOBALG.A.P., or standards required by partners.
• Review purchase, slaughtering, processing, or export contracts.
• Check environmental obligations, wastewater fees, and reporting records if applicable.
• Consider agricultural insurance if herd/flock size is large or disease risk is high.
• Set up a schedule to monitor legal updates from official sources.

This 90-day checklist helps farms turn livestock legal updates into practical compliance actions.

How to Track Livestock Legal Updates Accurately

Because legal regulations may continue to be updated, livestock farmers and businesses should monitor information from official channels instead of relying only on summary articles. Reliable sources include:

• Government legal document portal: vanban.chinhphu.vn.
• Legal document system of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
• Department of Livestock Production & Animal Health.
• Local Department of Agriculture and Environment.
• Provincial/city-level livestock and veterinary authorities.
• Import-Export Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, if export is involved.
• Vietnam Trade Office in the target market, if the product is intended for export.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do small farms need to comply with all the same regulations as commercial farms?

Not always. Small-scale household farms may be subject to simpler requirements than commercial farms. However, they still need to comply with regulations on disease prevention and control, environmental hygiene, waste treatment, and local rules. If a household farm sells products to the market, joins a supply or purchasing chain, or expands in scale, its legal requirements may increase.

Are all farms required to have VietGAP certification from 2026?

This should not be understood that way. VietGAP is not a mandatory requirement for every farm in every case. However, VietGAP certification or equivalent standards may be required by buyers, supermarkets, retail chains, institutional kitchens, canteens, bidding projects, or export markets.

Is livestock disease insurance mandatory?

It should not be stated as mandatory unless a new legal document confirms this. Agricultural insurance in livestock farming is mainly implemented on a voluntary basis, with premium support policies available for certain animal species, eligible groups, and localities under specific programs.

Is a livestock farm identification code required to issue invoices?

This should not be stated unless there is a specific regulation from the tax authority or a relevant legal document. A livestock farm identification code or identification data should be understood as a tool for management, declaration, traceability, and data connection within the livestock supply chain.

What should a farm do first if it wants to expand herd/flock size in 2026?

First, it needs to check local planning and whether the area is permitted for livestock farming. Then, the farm should review environmental records, waste treatment systems, biosecurity conditions, water sources, distance from residential areas, and disease prevention requirements. Herd/flock expansion should only be carried out after there is clear confirmation from the competent local authority.

In summary

2026 should not be understood simply as a year of “more new permits.” Rather, it is a stage in which the livestock industry is moving toward stricter management requirements for data, biosecurity, environment, traceability, and supply chain standardization.

Livestock farms and businesses should proactively review their records now. Priorities include updating agency names in line with the new structure, checking local planning, standardizing livestock farming logs, reviewing waste treatment, controlling veterinary drug use, preparing traceability data, and monitoring new legal documents from official sources.

Early and proactive updates will help farms reduce risks during inspections, avoid being caught unprepared when partners request documents, and improve their ability to join higher-standard livestock value chains.

Following livestock legal updates early helps farms avoid being unprepared when buyers, inspectors, or export partners request documents.

Stay Updated on Legal Trends and Livestock Industry Standards at VIETSTOCK 2026

VIETSTOCK 2026 – Vietnam’s Premier International Feed, Livestock & Meat Industry Show – is expected to bring together more than 300 brands and 13,000 trade visitors from many countries, including regulators, certification bodies, livestock businesses, and legal consulting units across the agricultural value chain. This is an opportunity to:

• Speak directly with regulators, certification bodies, and legal experts about biosecurity, traceability, quarantine, and livestock standard requirements that are becoming stricter in Vietnam and export markets.
• Learn about herd and flock management software, record-keeping systems, and traceability tools that help farms meet legal requirements, standardize data, and prepare for integration into modern supply chains.
• Meet VietGAP certification consultants and international standards advisors to assess readiness and develop a suitable standardization roadmap based on each farm’s scale and market direction.
• Connect with purchasing, processing, and export businesses to understand the documentation requirements, quality standards, and value chain participation conditions that partners are applying in practice.

Time: October 21–23, 2026

Venue: Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), 799 Nguyen Van Linh, Ho Chi Minh City.

Register now to seize opportunities for business growth and networking in the livestock industry:

Visitor registration: https://www.vietstock.org/en/online-registration-2/

Event website: https://www.vietstock.org/en/

Contact information:

• Exhibiting: Ms. Sophie Nguyen – [email protected]
• Group Delegation Support: Ms. Phuong – [email protected]
• Marcom Support: Ms. Anita Pham – [email protected]