Vietnam

• Labeling Requirements
• Required Documents and Licensing
• Import Procedures
• Taxes/Tariffs
• Contacts

LABELING REQUIREMENTS
All imported beverages must be imported through legitimate channels, accompanied by legitimate import documents, and carry a Vietnam compliance certification stamp. Pre-approval is not mandatory, but all products are subject to examination and testing prior to release and must receive a clearance certificate at Customs entry. Products may be released untested but could be subject to later testing. The label with the mandatory information in Vietnamese may be separately placed on an existing bottle but the display panel must be shown so that consumers can easily and clearly see them in a normal goods display condition. The labels must be accurate, truthful, and non-misleading. The following information must be present on the label, in Vietnamese.   

• Name/brand of product
• Producer/Distributor/Importer (Name and address)
• Country of origin
• Quantity or Net volume (ml)
• Alcohol content (%): The alcohol statement should be in the ‘Alcoholic strength xx.x% vol’ format.
• Instructions for storage (wine only)

For more information, please see the Decrees on Labeling of Goods No. 111/2021/ND-CP (December 9, 2021) and No. 43/2017/ND-CP (April 14, 2017).  The Ministry of Science and Technology, in coordination with other agencies and ministries, is primarily responsible for issuing, amending, and implementing these regulations.

Allergen and Gluten Labeling:

The following allergenic ingredients must be declared on the label: cereals and foods made from cereals containing gluten (i.e., wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt or their hybrid varieties and products thereof); crustaceans and products thereof; eggs and products thereof; fish and fish products; peanuts, soybeans and products thereof; milk and milk products (lactose included); tree nuts and nut products as well as sulfites (salts of sulfurous acid) above 10 mg/kg.

Genetically Engineered Food (GE food) Labeling:

Most GE foods require mandatory labeling. The label must display the phrase "thực phẩm biến đổi gen" (genetically engineered food). Detailed labeling requirements for food products containing GE organisms and products are outlined in Joint Circular 45/2015/TTLB-BNNPTNT-BKHCN (Circular 45) dated November 23, 2015, which took effect on January 8, 2016 (GAIN report VM5088).

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND LICENSING

• Commercial invoice
• Purchase and sale Contracts or equivalent
• Customs Value Declaration/Registration for Inspection form
• Freight Insurance/documents
• Bill of Lading
• Invoice
• Packing List
• Certificate of Origin

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is responsible for licensing the production, sale  and importation of alcoholic products. An application must be submitted, and foreign entities are allowed to be partners or owners and operate within the country, provided they are organized, established, and approved under the existing laws and regulations of Vietnam. A foreign company must appoint an in-country authorized agent or distributor.  Goods meeting the minimum standards can be imported as needed, without limits on quantity and value.

IMPORT PROCEDURES

Currently, Vietnam has no pre-clearance program for food and agricultural products exported from the United States. It implements the registration for specialized inspections of imported and exported goods via the National Single Window (NSW). Customs procedures are managed through an e-Customs system, “Vietnam Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System/ Vietnam Customs Intelligence Information System (VNACCS/VCIS)”, which includes six key functions within VNACCS/VCIS: e-Declaration; e-Manifest; e-Invoice; e-Payment; e-Certificate of Origin; and Selectivity. The Selectivity function automatically assigns imported shipments to one of three channels - green, yellow, or red- based on the assessment of the importer’s history and the risks of the specific commodity.

Import Commodity Inspection:

According to the Vietnam Food Safety Law (FSL) promulgated by Order No.06/2010/L-CTN6, all imported food must be inspected by the State for food safety, except in cases exempted by government provisions. Decree No. 94/2012/ND-CP dated November 12, 2012 stipulates that alcoholic beverages in bottles must be affixed with customs stamps prior to release. The Ministry of Finance is responsible for the printing, issuance, and the management of the stamps for domestic and imported alcohol beverages.  

The Vietnam Directorate for Standards and Quality (STAMEQ) is responsible for establishing national industry and products testing standards (TCVN’s). Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health, Vietnam Food Administration is tasked with setting the technical limits and requirements for raw ingredients and food processing as well as the specifications for chemical and microbiological parameters, heavy metals, food additives, and labeling.

Alcohol samples imported for the use in fairs, exhibitions, gifts, personal effects, etc. are exempt from labeling requirements. Taxes and tariffs will be collected for amounts over the commodity specific amount of 1.5 to 3 liters.

TAXES/TARIFFS
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam implemented various resolutions to reduce most-favored-nation (MFN) tariff rates and value added taxes (VAT) for goods and services to support supply chains and production. As of May 2023, the Government of Vietnam announced a proposal to request the National Assembly’s approval for the continued reduction of VAT on goods and services, including food and agricultural products. Tariff and duty rates are applied based on the value and type of commodity and are implemented by the Ministry of Finance.

For the most current tariffs and taxes applied to imported products for this country, please consult Vietnam Customs and visit WTO’s Tariff Download Facility.  Please ensure you have a 10-digit HS classification code in order to obtain tariff information.  Also see the Census Bureau’s Schedule B search function, which allows you to classify your product according to United States export codes. Simply click "Search" and enter the keyword (e.g., beer) that best describes your product.

CONTACTS
Unlike the United States, Vietnam does not have a dedicated agency similar to the TTB monitoring the alcohol industry.  It is highly recommended that  U.S. exporters verify the full set of import requirements with their foreign counterparts, who are familiar with local rules and regulations, before shipping any goods.

Additional Web Resources:
http://www.vba.com.vn/  Vietnam Association of Beer, Wine and Beverage
http://www.amchamvietnam.com/  American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam

The information in this guide was obtained from external sources, including the websites of various governmental agencies and organizations, direct contact with those agencies and organizations, and from Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Attaché reports.  Consequently, the accuracy of this information depends upon the accuracy of the sources.

TTB is not responsible for the content of external websites.

Created May 13, 2024

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