Import process and documentation

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Before import

Domestic importers are required to make a product announcement (also known as a notification of regulation compliance). During this time, the importer needs a lot of support from the German exporter in providing samples, labels and necessary documents for the product and for the manufacture of the product.

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1. Prepackaged processed foods; Food additives; Food processing aids; Food containers, packaging materials that come into direct contact with food have the technical regulations QCVN or TCVN (these are frequently used products and for whom not recommended): The importer declares the product himself on the mass media / his website / lists publicly at the headquarters Company and submit a copy to Company-issued competent state administrative agency / city). Immediately after the self-declaration of the product, the importer is entitled to manufacture and trade the product and to take full responsibility for the safety of this product.

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The dossier for self-declaration of products includes:

• A self-declaration of products manufactured in accordance with Form No. 01, Annex I, issued together with Decree 15/2018 / ND-CP;

• Results of the food safety testing of products within 12 months from the date of application.

 

2. Food for health protection, food for medical nutrition, food for special diets; Nutritional products for children up to 36 months; Mixed food additives with new uses, food additives that are not on the list of permitted additives in food or are not intended for the correct users by the Ministry of Health: the importer must register products with the authority. Within 21 working days of receipt of a complete dossier for health food and 07 working days for other cases, the receiving office is responsible for checking the dossier and issuing a receipt.

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The product announcement registration dossier includes:

• A product announcement according to Form No. 02, Appendix I, issued together with Decree 15/2018 / ND-CP;

• Certificate of Free Sale or Export Certificate or Health Certificate issued by a competent authority in the country of origin / export of content that is safe for users or freely sold on the manufacturer's market / country of export (consular legalization);

• the result sheet of the food safety test of the product within 12 months from the date of application;

• Scientific evidence of the use of the product or of the ingredients justifying the announced use (original or a copy certified by the organization or person);

• Certificate of suitability for food safety, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) or equivalent certificate, if the imported product is an organic food, requested from July 1, 2019 (copy certified by the organization or person).

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Customs procedure

All imported food is subject to food safety controls. Imported food is only cleared when the inspection results confirm that the consignments meet the import requirements.

• Before the shipment arrives in Vietnam, the importer must register for a food safety inspection at a quality inspection agency such as QUATEST 3 in Ho Chi Minh City or QUATEST 1 in Hanoi or the plant quarantine center (for plant products), animal quarantine center (for animal products), etc.

• When the goods arrive, the importer opens the customs declaration form and submits it to customs. Import customs declarations must be submitted in advance or within 30 days of arrival. Customs process the documents; if sufficient, the goods are temporarily released so that the importer can bring the goods to the warehouse for safekeeping. The importer then makes the sample available to the quality control body and receives the results for presentation to customs. If the results comply with the import regulations, the shipment is cleared and the importer pays the import tax and VAT. Otherwise, customs will request the goods to be returned to foreign suppliers or to be destroyed on site.

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Preparation of the documents for the customs declaration:

• General requirements: Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading.

• Certificate of Origin To enjoy tariff preferences:

• Specific requirements for food and drink, depending on the type of product: Certificate of Analysis, Certificate of Food Safety and Hygiene Standards, Certificate of Fumigation, Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practice, Certificate of Hygiene and Safety Inspection of Food Establishments, Certificate of Statement of Product Standards, Declaration of Conformity, Free Sale Certificate, Import License for Alcoholic Beverages, Letter of Authorization, Permit to Import Species Subject to CITES and Other Endangered Species, Phytosanitary Certificate, Phytosanitary Import Permit for Goods Subject to Pest Risk Analysis, Product Declaration for Foodstuffs, Quarantine Certificate for Animal Products, Quarantine Certificate for Animal Flours and Meals, Quarantine Registration, State Quality Inspection of Imported Goods, Table of Standards Applied in the Facility, Veterinary Health Certificate for Animal Products, etc.