Requirements for cigarettes and cigars imported into Vietnam applicable from February 20, 2014

According to Vietnam’s current regulations, “cigarettes and cigars” means tobacco products which are produced wholly or partially from tobacco materials and used for smoking.

According to Circular No. 37/2013/TT-BCT of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, imported cigarettes and cigars must meet the following requirements:

- Cigarettes and cigars imported and circulated in the market must be registered for protection of trademark use rights in Vietnam and affixed with imported-cigarette stamps as prescribed by the Ministry of Finance.

- Cigarettes and cigars imported for sale in the domestic market must comply with current regulations on purchase and sale of tobacco products.

- Imported cigarettes and cigars must comply with current regulations on standard conformity and regulation conformity announcement or food safety-regulation conformity announcement; and on inspection of quality, hygiene, safety and toxic ingredient content like domestically produced cigarettes and cigars.

- For a cigarette or cigar brand imported into Vietnam for the first time, before carrying out import procedures, the trader shall send its samples to a testing laboratory designated by a competent state agency for analysis according to current technical regulations, standards or regulations on food safety of Vietnam.

- Imported cigarettes and cigars must comply with current regulations on goods labeling, labeling of tobacco products for sale in Vietnam and printing of health warnings on packages.

View more details at Circular No. 37/2013/TT-BCT of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, effective from February 20, 2014.

Thu Ba

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