Step 1 prior to the arrival of the

Step 1 prior to the arrival of the consignment Trader or importer





To conduct the State inspection and or animal/plant quarantine


Step 2 upon the arrival of the consignment Trader or importer






Fail Pass
Designated inspector

Food quality and safety control examinations for goods using Harmonized System code (HS) are based on Vietnamese Standards (TCVN) and Technical Standards. In case there is no Vietnamese reference, CODEX standards are applied.

The entry point inspection entities are technically referred to as State Testing Agencies or State Controlled Agency (STA or SCA) which carries out inspection and clearance related to quality control on behalf of all Government Ministries. The STA or SCA normally concentrate on the MRLs for their testing. Please refer the following GAIN reports for latest regulations on MRLs
• GAIN report VM3057 which provides unofficial translation of Circular 24/2013/TT-BYT revising the list of Maximum Residue Limits for veterinary products in food products
• GIAN report VM3070, summarizing Circular 2/2011/TT-BYT promulgating: 1) National Technical Regulation QCVN 8-1:2011/BYT regarding the maximum level of mycotoxin allowed in food; and
2) National Technical Regulation QCVN 8-2:2011/BYT regarding the maximum level of heavy metals allowed in food. The Circular entered into force on August 13, 2011, but was never notified to the WTO
• GAIN report VM3071 which provides unofficial translation of Circular 5/TT-BTY updating the maximum limits of microbiological contamination in certain food products

For imports of foods originating from animal, plant and marine sources
Imports of foods originating from animal, plants, and marine sources must be inspected for sanitary and phytosanitary standards by competent quarantine agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). At the wholesale/retail distribution level, several city and provincial government agencies are involved in monitoring the quality and safety of food products, including offices of the Ministry of Health, the Department of Animal Health, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Police Force.

The General Department of Customs also inspects goods to determine and collect import duties and assess violations of compliance with required Customs formalities on behalf of all concerned agencies (Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, etc.).

(* NEW) Import requirement for foodstuffs of animal origin and aquatic origin:
According to MARD’s Circular 25/2010/TT-BNNPTNT dated April 3, 2010, as of July 1, 2010, amended by Circular 51/2010/TT-BNNPTNT dated September 8, 2010, for exports of foodstuffs of animal origin and aquatic animal origin to Vietnam, all food business operators (FBOs), who produce these foods, are subject to registration to the MARD/National Agro-Forestry and Fishery Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD). Please see GAIN Report VM1052 for more details on Circular 25. As of January 2015, NAFIQAD is continuing to post its Approved List of U.S. Meat and Poultry FBOs for export to Vietnam on their website www.nafiqad.gov.vn. For a U.S. company to appear on this list it must fill out an Appendix 3 attached in the Circular 25 and submit it to FAS Vietnam via e-mails ([e-mail]; [e-mail] ) or fax [phone]).

(* NEW) Standards for Maximum Residue Levels on Products of Animal and Plant Origins On May 6, 2010, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) issued Circular 29/2010/TT-BNN (Circular 29), establishing new Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for many meat,
poultry, and seafood products. Circular 29 took effect July 1, 2010, and replaced part of the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) Decision 46/2007/QD-BYT (Decision 46; see GAIN VM8055). Circular 29 affects some meat, poultry, and seafood products. The Circular applies to both domestically produced and imported products. For more details about Circular 29, please see Gain Report VM0041. Standards for maximum residue levels on fruit and vegetables are regulated in Circular 68/2010/TT-BNNPTNT (Circular 68) issued by MARD on December 3, 2010. Circular 68 went into force 45 days after the issued date.

Though the above-mentioned Circulars are still in force, Post has learned from importers that they have been rarely applied since the Law on Food Safety and its implementing regulations documents (Decrees, Circulars) were issued. According to the currently-applied regulations, the MOH is the appointed authority to provide standards for maximum residue levels. Accordingly, the MOH has issued several Circulars regarding MRLs, the details can be found in our GAIN reports VM3057, VM3070, and VM3071.

(* NEW) Pest Risk Assessment Requirement for Imports of Plant and Plant Origin Products: MARD is responsible for PRA procedures on imports of plant and plant origin products and has issued the following Circulars to manage PRA issues:

Circular 30/2014/TT-BNNPTNT issued on September 5, 2014, publishing the lists of regulated articles for plant quarantine and articles subject to pest risk analysis before importation into Vietnam. This Circular entered into force on January 1, 2015. See GAIN report VM4057 for further information.

Circular 35/2014/TT-BNNPTNT dated October 31, 2014, publishing the list of plant quarantine pests of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Circular 35/2014 entered into force on January 1, 2015. See GAIN report VM4067 for further information.

Circular 36/2014/TT-BNNPTNT on October 31, 2014, publishing the Regulation on Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) Procedures for regulated articles subject to Pest Risk Analysis before being imported into Vietnam. This Circular entered into force on January 1, 2015. See GAIN report VM4070 for further information.

Currently, Vietnam has formally granted market access for four U.S. fruits, table grapes, apples, cherries and pears. For other fresh fruits, especially new-to-market fruits, PRAs are requested to be conducted by MARD/Plant Production Department in Hanoi (PPD-Hanoi), and normally takes one to three years to complete each PRA. If you have questions about the PRA requirement from MARD, feel free to contact our office.

Results (Vietnamese) 1:

Step 1 prior to the arrival of the consignment Trader or importer To conduct the State inspection and or animal/plant quarantineStep 2 upon the arrival of the consignment Trader or importerFail PassDesignated inspectorFood quality and safety control examinations for goods using Harmonized System code (HS) are based on Vietnamese Standards (TCVN) and Technical Standards. In case there is no Vietnamese reference, CODEX standards are applied.The entry point inspection entities are technically referred to as State Testing Agencies or State Controlled Agency (STA or SCA) which carries out inspection and clearance related to quality control on behalf of all Government Ministries. The STA or SCA normally concentrate on the MRLs for their testing. Please refer the following GAIN reports for latest regulations on MRLs• GAIN report VM3057 which provides unofficial translation of Circular 24/2013/TT-BYT revising the list of Maximum Residue Limits for veterinary products in food products• GIAN report VM3070, summarizing Circular 2/2011/TT-BYT promulgating: 1) National Technical Regulation QCVN 8-1:2011/BYT regarding the maximum level of mycotoxin allowed in food; and2) National Technical Regulation QCVN 8-2:2011/BYT regarding the maximum level of heavy metals allowed in food. The Circular entered into force on August 13, 2011, but was never notified to the WTO• GAIN report VM3071 which provides unofficial translation of Circular 5/TT-BTY updating the maximum limits of microbiological contamination in certain food productsCho hàng nhập khẩu của các loại thực phẩm có nguồn gốc từ động vật, thực vật và thủy nguồnNhập khẩu các loại thực phẩm có nguồn gốc từ động vật, thực vật, và biển nguồn phải được kiểm tra cho vệ sinh và phytosanitary tiêu chuẩn của các cơ quan có thẩm quyền kiểm dịch theo bộ nông nghiệp và phát triển nông thôn (MARD). Ở cấp độ phân phối sỉ/bán lẻ, một số thành phố và các cơ quan chính quyền tỉnh được tham gia vào Giám sát chất lượng và an toàn của sản phẩm thực phẩm, bao gồm các văn phòng của bộ y tế, Cục thú y, bộ công nghiệp và thương mại, và lực lượng cảnh sát.Cục Hải quan nói chung cũng kiểm tra hàng hóa để xác định và thu thập các nhiệm vụ nhập khẩu và đánh giá hành vi vi phạm của phù hợp với yêu cầu thủ tục hải quan thay mặt cho các cơ quan có liên quan tất cả (bộ tài chính, bộ công nghiệp và thương mại, bộ y tế, bộ nông nghiệp, vv).(* MỚI) Yêu cầu nhập khẩu cho thực phẩm của nguồn gốc vật và thuỷ sản xuất xứ:According to MARD’s Circular 25/2010/TT-BNNPTNT dated April 3, 2010, as of July 1, 2010, amended by Circular 51/2010/TT-BNNPTNT dated September 8, 2010, for exports of foodstuffs of animal origin and aquatic animal origin to Vietnam, all food business operators (FBOs), who produce these foods, are subject to registration to the MARD/National Agro-Forestry and Fishery Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD). Please see GAIN Report VM1052 for more details on Circular 25. As of January 2015, NAFIQAD is continuing to post its Approved List of U.S. Meat and Poultry FBOs for export to Vietnam on their website www.nafiqad.gov.vn. For a U.S. company to appear on this list it must fill out an Appendix 3 attached in the Circular 25 and submit it to FAS Vietnam via e-mails ([e-mail]; [e-mail] ) or fax [phone]).(* NEW) Standards for Maximum Residue Levels on Products of Animal and Plant Origins On May 6, 2010, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) issued Circular 29/2010/TT-BNN (Circular 29), establishing new Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for many meat,poultry, and seafood products. Circular 29 took effect July 1, 2010, and replaced part of the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) Decision 46/2007/QD-BYT (Decision 46; see GAIN VM8055). Circular 29 affects some meat, poultry, and seafood products. The Circular applies to both domestically produced and imported products. For more details about Circular 29, please see Gain Report VM0041. Standards for maximum residue levels on fruit and vegetables are regulated in Circular 68/2010/TT-BNNPTNT (Circular 68) issued by MARD on December 3, 2010. Circular 68 went into force 45 days after the issued date.Though the above-mentioned Circulars are still in force, Post has learned from importers that they have been rarely applied since the Law on Food Safety and its implementing regulations documents (Decrees, Circulars) were issued. According to the currently-applied regulations, the MOH is the appointed authority to provide standards for maximum residue levels. Accordingly, the MOH has issued several Circulars regarding MRLs, the details can be found in our GAIN reports VM3057, VM3070, and VM3071.(* NEW) Pest Risk Assessment Requirement for Imports of Plant and Plant Origin Products: MARD is responsible for PRA procedures on imports of plant and plant origin products and has issued the following Circulars to manage PRA issues:Circular 30/2014/TT-BNNPTNT issued on September 5, 2014, publishing the lists of regulated articles for plant quarantine and articles subject to pest risk analysis before importation into Vietnam. This Circular entered into force on January 1, 2015. See GAIN report VM4057 for further information.Circular 35/2014/TT-BNNPTNT dated October 31, 2014, publishing the list of plant quarantine pests of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Circular 35/2014 entered into force on January 1, 2015. See GAIN report VM4067 for further information.Circular 36/2014/TT-BNNPTNT on October 31, 2014, publishing the Regulation on Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) Procedures for regulated articles subject to Pest Risk Analysis before being imported into Vietnam. This Circular entered into force on January 1, 2015. See GAIN report VM4070 for further information.Currently, Vietnam has formally granted market access for four U.S. fruits, table grapes, apples, cherries and pears. For other fresh fruits, especially new-to-market fruits, PRAs are requested to be conducted by MARD/Plant Production Department in Hanoi (PPD-Hanoi), and normally takes one to three years to complete each PRA. If you have questions about the PRA requirement from MARD, feel free to contact our office.