Procedures for Importing Food, Health Food, and Cosmetics into Vietnam

Japan- and Vietnam-Qualified Foreign Lawyer

Kazuya Mori, Senior Advisor to the Firm (Japanese Law)

Managing Partner, NEXORA Law Firm
Vietnamese Lawyer
Mediator, Bankruptcy Trustee, and External (Non-Executive) Statutory Auditor

Table of Contents

A Vietnamese lawyer provides an accessible explanation of the latest procedures and regulations for importing food, health food, and cosmetics into Vietnam. This article covers import licenses, registration, labeling obligations, advertising restrictions, and other practical points of caution that Japanese companies commonly encounter. Our aim is to help prevent problems and support a smooth import business.

Below is a summary of the procedures and requirements applicable to each product category.

Imported Item

Required Conditions / Procedures

Food (processed food)

Beverages (non-alcoholic)

Health food

Required Licenses / Procedures

Quality inspection of the product (a sample of the product is shipped to Vietnam, and the sample is submitted to an inspection body for testing)
Self-declaration (self-disclosure) procedure for the product

Result

(1) Inspection result certificate

(2) Self-declaration confirmation document

Beverages (alcoholic)

Required Licenses / Procedures

Import license or distribution license (to be obtained by the importer)
Quality inspection of the product (a sample is shipped to Vietnam, and the sample is submitted to an inspection body for testing)
Self-declaration procedure for the product

Result

(1) Import license or distribution license

(2) Inspection result certificate

(3) Self-declaration certificate of ingredients

(* For customs clearance purposes, a Certificate of Origin (CO) obtained in Japan must also be submitted.)

Cosmetics

Required Licenses / Procedures

Product notification (disclosure) procedure

Result

(1) Notification confirmation document

Pharmaceuticals

Required Licenses / Procedures

Import license (to be obtained by the importer)
Inspection of the pharmaceutical product (a sample is shipped to Vietnam, and the sample is submitted to an inspection body for testing)
Pharmaceutical distribution license

Result

(1) Import license

(2) Inspection result certificate

(3) Pharmaceutical distribution license