Fertilizer quality management, name, labeling in Vietnam

Regulations on fertilizer quality management in Vietnam 

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 45 of the Law on Crop Production 2018, fertilizer quality shall be managed under the provisions of the law on product and commodity quality.

In order for conformity assessment organizations to carry out testing, evaluation, audit and certification of the quality of fertilizers to serve the needs of state management of fertilizers, they must be awarded certification in their scope of service according to the provisions of the law on requirements for conformity assessment service business and must be designated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in accordance with legislation on product and commodity quality.

Sampling of fertilizers for testing of quality thereof for state management purposes must be conducted by persons awarded certificates of eligibility for sampling of fertilizers.

Fertilizer quality management, name, labeling in Vietnam (Internet image) 

Regulations on state inspection of quality of imported fertilizers in Vietnam 

State inspection of quality of imported fertilizers is specified in Article 46 of the Law on Crop Production 2018 as follows:

- Imported fertilizers shall be subject to the state inspection of quality, except for the following imported fertilizers:

+ Fertilizers used for testing purposes;

+ Fertilizers used as gifts or sample products;

+ Fertilizers used in fairs and exhibitions;

+ Fertilizers for scientific researches;

+ Fertilizers temporarily imported and re-exported or in transit of merchanting trade across Vietnamese bordergates; fertilizers sent to bonded warehouses; fertilizers imported into export processing zones.

- The state inspection of quality of imported fertilizers shall be carried out by fertilizer administrations affiliated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

- Documents on the state inspection of fertilizer quality must be stored for the minimum period of 05 years from the date of issuance of the notification of state inspection results.

Regulations on fertilizer names

The naming of fertilizers must comply with the provisions of Article 47 of the Law on Crop Production 2018, specifically as follows:

- In order to be registered, the name of a fertilizer shall not be identical with that of the fertilizer obtaining the decision on recognition of fertilizer in circulation in Vietnam.

- The name of a fertilizer shall not give misleading information about the nature, effects, ingredients and type of that fertilizer.

- The name of a fertilizer shall not violate historical, cultural traditions, moral standards, traditional values and customs; shall not be read or written like the names of great leaders, national heroes, celebrities, foods, beverages and pharmaceuticals.

Using the name of a state agency, people's armed force unit, political organization, socio-political organization, socio-political-professional organization, social organization or socio-professional organization as a part or the whole of the name of the fertilizer shall not be allowed, unless otherwise approved by concerned agencies, organizations or units.

- With regard to a mixed fertilizer, in case where the name of an ingredient is used as the name or part of the name of that fertilizer, it must be structured in the following order: the name of the fertilizer type, ingredient, particular notation, indicators showing quantity of each ingredients contained in the name and other special symbols (if any).

Ingredients and indicators showing quantities of specific ingredients must be arranged in the following order: the names of macronutrient elements such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), secondary nutrient elements, micronutrient elements, organic substances and other supplements (if any).

Regulations on fertilizer labeling in Vietnam

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 48 of the Law on Crop Production 2018, fertilizers sold on the market must be labeled in accordance with laws on commodity labels and each label must contain the following information:

- Fertilizer type;

- Fertilizer code;

- As for foliar fertilizers, clearly inscribing the phrase "Foliar fertilizer".

Information inscribed on labels must be the same as those defined in the decision on recognition of fertilizer in circulation in Vietnam.

Mai Thanh Loi

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