Vietnam: Language allowed to be displayed on the good label

According to Article 5 of Circular No. 05/2019/TT-BKHCN of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam, language displayed on the good label specified in Clauses 2 and 4 Article 7 of Decree No. 43/2017/ND-CP of Vietnam’s Government are specified as follows:

- The information presented on a label need not be fully translated from Vietnamese to other languages. In case the information on the label is translated into other languages, the translation must not misinterpret the Vietnamese language.

- Optional contents written on the label in another language must neither misinterpret the nature and uses of the goods nor cause misinterpretation of other contents shown on the label.

- International names of countries or territories may be used in case they cannot be transcribed into Vietnamese or make no sense when they are transcribed into Vietnamese.

For example: Because Vietnamese transcriptions of Indonesia and Singapore make no sense, either the international names “Indonesia” and “Singapore” or their Vietnamese transcriptions “In-đô-nê-xi-a” and, “Xinh-ga-po” may be used. However, for some countries as Russia or Germany, their name must be translated as “Nga” or “Đức”.

Besides, Circular No. 05/2019/TT-BKHCN also specifies manufacturing date, expiry date (point 1 of Appendix III attached to Decree No. 43/2017/ND-CP of Vietnam’s Government): As for imported goods with manufacturing and expiry dates are printed on the original label in letter format, enterprises may print the explanation for these letters on the supplementary label without reprinting such dates in number format.

For example: MFG 20 Jan 2020, EXP 20 Feb 2022 can be derived from the following explanation on the supplementary label: For manufacturing and expiry dates, please check the “MFG” and “EXP” on the package, Jan=01, Feb = 02... Dec =12.

View more details at Circular No. 05/2019/TT-BKHCN of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam, effective from January 01, 2021. However, organizations, individuals and enterprises are encouraged to apply the provisions of this Circular before it is in force.

Thu Ba

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