Safety assurance conditions for imported food in Vietnam

Safety assurance conditions for imported food in Vietnam (Internet image)

1. Safety assurance conditions for imported food in Vietnam

- Imported food, food additives, processing aids and imported food-packaging tools, food packages and containers must satisfy relevant conditions prescribed in Chapter III of the Law on Food Safety 2010 and the following conditions:

+ Having their technical regulation-conformity announcements registered at a competent state agency before import;

+ Having obtained a notice of satisfaction of import requirements issued by a designated inspection agency for each goods lot as prescribed by line ministers.

- In addition to the conditions prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 38 of the Law on Food Safety 2010, functional food, micronutrient-fortified food, genetically modified food and irradiated food must obtain a certificate of free sale or health certificate as prescribed by the Government.

- In case Vietnam has not yet promulgated relevant technical regulations applicable to imported food, food additives and processing aids and imported food- packaging tools, food packages and containers, international agreements or treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party will apply.

(Article 38 of the Law on Food Safety 2010)

2. State inspection of food safety with regard to imported food in Vietnam

- Imported food, food additives and processing aids and imported food-packaging tools, food packages and containers arc subject to state inspection of food safety, except for some kinds of food which are exempted from state inspection of food safety as prescribed by the Government.

- Food imported from countries which have concluded with Vietnam treaties on mutual recognition of food safety certification is eligible for reduced inspection, except for cases in which signs of violation of Vietnam's law on food safely are warned or have been detected.

- The Government shall specify the exemption from state inspection of food safety for some kinds of imported food; the order of and procedures for state inspection of food safety in countries from which food will be exported to Vietnam under treaties to which Vietnam is a contracting party.

(Article 39 of the Law on Food Safety 2010)

3. Order, procedures and methods of state inspection of food safety with regard to imported food in Vietnam

- The order of and procedures for state inspection of food safety with regard to imported food, food additives, processing aids, food-packaging tools, food packages and containers comply with the law on product and goods quality and the following provisions:

+ Food may be transported to warehouses for preservation pending customs clearance only when they have a registration for food safety inspection:

+ Customs clearance shall only be effected when there is a written certification of satisfaction of import requirements.

- Modes of state inspection of food safety for imported food, food additives, processing aids, food-packaging tools, food packages and containers:

+ Tightened inspection:

+ Normal inspection;

+ Reduced inspection.

- The Minister of Health, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Minister of Industry and Trade shall specify agencies in charge of conducting state inspection of food safety and the application of modes of slate inspection of food safety with regard to imported food, food additives, processing aids, food-packaging tools, food packages and containers.

(Article 40 of the Law on Food Safety 2010)

Diem My

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