Legal Counselling

Rules for writing nutrition facts on food labels in Vietnam

Trần Thanh Rin

09:05, 04/01/2024

What are the rules for writing nutrition facts on food labels in Vietnam? – Thanh Trung (Khanh Hoa)

Rules for writing nutrition facts on food labels in Vietnam

Rules for writing nutrition facts on food labels in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet answers as follows:

On December 30, 2023, the Minister of Health issued Circular 29/2023/TT-BYT on contents and presentation of nutrition facts on food labels.

Rules for writing nutrition facts on food labels in Vietnam

Specifically, recording nutritional ingredients and nutritional values on food labels must comply with the principles in Article 4 of Circular 29/2023/TT-BYT as follows:

- Nutrition facts on food labels shall be written in accordance with regulations of this Circular, relevant regulations of law on goods labels and food safety.

- Nutrition facts must be accurate and do not cause confusion or misunderstanding of nutritional value of the food.

- Nutrition facts on food labels must be recognizable, comprehensible and indelible.

Instructions on presentation of nutrition facts on food labels in Vietnam

Nutrition facts on food labels will be presented as follows:

- Energy shall be expressed as kilocalories (kcal); protein, carbohydrate, fat, saturated fat, total sugar shall be expressed as gram (g); sodium shall be expressed as milligram (mg) per 100g or 100ml of food, per serving (if serving sized is specified on the label), or per pack (if a package has a certain number of packs).

- Percentage (%) of dietary reference values of the nutrients specified Article 5 of Circular 29/2023/TT-BYT can also be specified, In which case instructions in Appendix II of Circular 29/2023/TT-BYT shall be followed.

- The nutritional values specified in Article 5 of this Circular shall be written in numbers, where they are visible and noticeable, and in conformity with the rules specified in Article 4 of Circular 29/2023/TT-BYT.

- Tolerances of nutritional values specified Article 5 and Article 6 of this Circular shall comply with Clause 1 Article 17 of Decree 43/2017/ND-CP.

Ingredients and foods are not regulated by Circular 29/2023/TT-BYT

Circular 29/2023/TT-BYT does not apply to the following ingredients and foods:

- Ingredients and foods that are not directly sold to consumers, including ice;

- Any food that has only one ingredient;

- Mineral water, bottled water (including those with added CO2 and/or flavorings);

- Edible salt, refined salt;

- Vinegar and vinegar substitutes, including those with added flavorings;

- Flavorings, additives, food processing aids;

- Food enzymes;

- Tea and coffee that do not contain any ingredient other than colorings and flavorings;

- Health supplements;

- Alcoholic drinks;

- Foods prescribed in Clause 2 Article 1 of Decree 43/2017/ND-CP., which is amended by Decree 111/2021/ND-CP, and foods prescribed in Clause 1 and Clause 2 Article 25 of Decree 15/2018/ND-CP elaborating the Law on Food Safety.

- Foods manufactured by micro food businesses defined in Clause 10 Article 3 of Decree 15/2018/ND-CP;

Circular 29/2023/TT-BYT takes effect from February 15, 2024.

Foods with labels that do not contain adequate nutrition facts as prescribed by Circular 29/2023/TT-BYT that have been permitted for manufacture, sale, import, circulation in Vietnam before January 1st 2026 may remain in circulation until the expiry dates written on their labels.

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