If you want to sell goods in Vietnam, you must understand which industries and activities are monitored by regulatory authorities. Regulated goods are required to be evaluated and approved by Vietnamese food, drug, or health administrations before they can be sold to local consumers.
This article will serve as a guide to product registration in Vietnam and will elaborate on the different regulated industries, as well as how to navigate the registration process and start distributing your product within the Vietnamese market.
Overview of Vietnam’s regulatory landscape
Regulated goods and industries
Certain goods are regulated by Vietnamese authorities to ensure quality and safety standards, and ultimately protect the interests and wellbeing of local consumers. Regulations can also be implemented to monitor certain industries and maintain market stability and fair competition for local businesses.
The following commonly distributed goods require product registration before they can legally be sold within the Vietnamese consumer market:
- Food and Beverage: Processed and packaged foods, dietary supplements, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
- Cosmetics: Skincare, hair care, personal care products
- Drugs and Pharmaceuticals: Medicine, health supplements, controlled substances
- Medical devices: equipment, tools, software, or chemicals intended for medical use
- Consumer electronics and electrical equipment: Consumer-grade appliances and electronics, IT equipment, AV equipment
What are the regulatory authorities responsible for product registration in Vietnam?
Whereas most countries have one Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which monitors most regulated activities, Vietnam has three separate agencies. Each of these regulatory bodies oversees quality control and monitors consumer markets that fall under their jurisdiction:
- Vietnam Food Safety Authority (VFA)
- Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV)
- Ministry of Health (MOH)
If your planned activities in Vietnam include importing, manufacturing, or distributing regulated goods, you must register your products with the relevant authorities before undertaking these operations. This will allow you to secure the necessary certifications and will ensure that your product is officially registered in the Vietnamese database.
How to register regulated products in Vietnam
Required documents for registering the most common consumer products
Before a regulated product can be registered with the relevant regulatory authorities, it will need to undergo an evaluation process. This involves thorough due diligence to ensure that the product complies with Vietnamese laws and regulations regarding safety, quality, language, etc. Below are some of the mandatory documents for registering common consumer products:
| Food and Beverage | Cosmetics | Medical devices |
| – Product labeling and information – Finished product sample – Information and scientific data on each component – Certificates of Analysis, Free Sale, Good Manufacturing Practice | – Notification Dossier from the manufacturer – Product and manufacturing information – Quality and safety assessment data – Product and label samples – List of ingredients and formulas – Test reports | – Manufacturer authorization – Technical file (device description, intended use, manufacturing process, labeling, specifications) – Clinical evaluation report – Certificate of Conformity – Local testing reports – Sample device |
Emerhub’s team of local advisors can help you identify the right classification for your product, as well as assist you in determining the relevant regulatory requirements and documents that you will need to secure before applying for product registration in Vietnam.
What is the product registration process in Vietnam?
Product registration in Vietnam is a thorough evaluation process, which varies in length depending on the type of good and whether it is being manufactured locally or abroad. The average time it takes for registration is three months. Emerhub can apply for you and manage the entire process through our team of local experts:
- We will review your application, advise on specific requirements, and assist you in securing relevant documentation
- We will submit your application and monitor its status with the VFA, DAV, or MOH
- If regulatory authorities request a supplementation of the application, Emerhub will assist you in preparing the necessary documentation
- We will inform you once the product and supplier details are approved and updated in Vietnamese databases.
Alternatively, if you are looking to sell products within the Vietnamese market without the necessity of setting up a local entity, Emerhub can act as your nominee product holder. In this case, we would act as the registered holder of the product in your stead and secure the retail license, allowing you a quicker entry into the consumer market.
Product registration for foreign-manufactured products
You can register products that have been manufactured abroad, however, this will require that you provide additional documentation to demonstrate that the product meets safety and free sale standards in both Vietnam and the market of origin. Once you have registered a company in Vietnam, you will also need to secure the following before you can import your product:
- Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) issued by the Department of Planning and Investment (DPI) for B2B and B2C wholesale activities.
- Business Registration Certificate (BRC) issued by the DPI for B2B and B2C businesses.
- Retail / Trading License is only required for B2C retail sales.
Emerhub can also fast-track your importing process without needing to set up a local entity through our Importer of Record service. This allows you to ship products through our fully licensed and pre-established local logistics network. If you are interested in registering products for distribution in Vietnam or setting up import activities, contact us via the form below!
