Circular No. 08/2025/TT-BYT stipulates the dossier and procedures for issuing certificates for exported food products under the management of the Ministry of Health.

 CIRCULAR

Regulations on the dossier and procedures for issuing certificates for exported food products under the management of the Ministry of Health

Pursuant to the Law on Legislative Regulatory Documents dated June 22, 2015 and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Legislative Regulatory Documents dated June 18, 2020;

Pursuant to the Food Safety Law dated June 17, 2010;

Pursuant to Decree No. 15/2018/NĐ-CP dated February 2, 2018 of the Government detailing implementation of certain provisions of the Food Safety Law;

Pursuant to Decree No. 42/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 27, 2025 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

At the proposal of the Director of the Food Safety Administration,

The Minister of Health issues this Circular stipulating the dossier and procedures for issuing certificates for exported food products under the management of the Ministry of Health.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

Article 1. This Circular stipulates the authority, dossier, procedures for issuing and revoking certificates for exported food products under the management of the Ministry of Health when required by the importing country (hereinafter referred to as the certificate).

Article 2. This Circular does not apply to the issuance of Free Sale Certificates (CFS) for food products under the management of the Ministry of Health.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to export consignments (which may include one or more items, one or more batches of products) or food production establishments under the management of the Ministry of Health.

Article 3. Certificate for exported food products

Clause 1. The certificate (health certificate or other relevant certificate as required by the importing country) shall be issued to food products, food additives, food processing aids; packaging materials, containers for food when organizations or individuals request.

Clause 2. The contents on the certificate must be expressed in English and must include at least the following information:

Point a) Name of the certificate (health certificate or other relevant certificate as required by the importing country);

Point b) Name of the issuing authority;

Point c) Certificate number and date of issue;

Point d) Name of the item being certified or name of the product group produced by the establishment;

Point đ) Expiry date/best before date of the batch of products belonging to the exported item for health certificates and other relevant certificates related to the export shipment;

Certificate number and validity period of the certificate of a food safety compliant facility or equivalent for certificates related to food production facilities;

Point e) Name and address of the exporting organization or individual; production facility;

Point g) Based on the test report of the exported food product batch, confirm that the batch of products complies with current Vietnamese regulations on food safety and is suitable for human consumption ("fits for human consumption"); or the food production facility complies with current Vietnamese regulations on food safety if the certificate of a food safety compliant facility or equivalent remains valid;

Point h) Signature and seal of the competent authority.

Clause 3. In case the importing country requires organizations or individuals to submit certificates according to its prescribed format, the issuing authority will issue the certificate based on the requested format.

Article 4. Application for Issuance of Certificate

The application dossier for issuing a certificate for one (1) export consignment or an export food production facility includes:

1. An application form for issuance of certificate in accordance with the model prescribed in the Appendix attached to this Circular;

2. A certificate of food safety conditions for the production facility or one of the following certificates: Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system, Food Safety Management System ISO 22000, International Food Standard (IFS), Global Food Safety Initiative (BRC) standard, Food Safety System Certification (FSSC 22000) or equivalent, still valid (a certified copy issued by the exporting organization or individual), except in cases provided for in Clause 1, Article 12 of Decree No. 15/2018/NĐ-CP dated February 2, 2018 of the Government detailing certain provisions of the Food Safety Law;

3. A food safety testing result report of the sample belonging to the exported food consignment (for health certificates and other certificates related to the export consignment), containing full information about the product name, the exported food consignment issued by a designated laboratory or an ISO 17025-accredited laboratory (original or certified copy), meeting the requirements of the corresponding Technical Regulation (for products that have Technical Regulations); or meeting the technical requirements specified at one of the following documents:

a) Circulars of ministries and sectors; or

b) National Standards (in cases where there are no national technical regulations, circulars of ministries and sectors, local technical regulations); or

c) Codex Alimentarius Commission standards, regional standards, foreign standards (in cases where there are no national technical regulations, circulars of ministries and sectors, local technical regulations, national standards); or

d) Manufacturer's standards attached (in cases where there are no national technical regulations, circulars of ministries and sectors, local technical regulations, national standards, Codex Alimentarius Commission standards, regional standards, foreign standards);

4. Confirmation of payment for the assessment fee for issuing the certificate for exported food.

In case the importing country requires a certificate with additional information beyond those stipulated in Article 3 of this Circular, the organization or individual must submit relevant documents to prove such information.

Article 5. Competence, Procedure, and Formalities for Issuing Certificates

1. Organizations or individuals producing, trading in export consignments or operating export food production facilities applying for issuance of certificates shall submit the application dossier to the Ministry of Health (National Food Safety Authority) through the online public service system or directly or via postal service to the One-Stop Service Center of the Ministry of Health.

2. The issuance period shall not exceed five (5) working days from the date the organization or individual submits a complete and compliant dossier. In cases where issuance is denied or amendments are required, the receiving agency must issue a document clearly stating the reasons and legal basis for such requirements.

Within five (5) working days from the receipt of the amended and supplemented dossier, the receiving agency will review the dossier and issue a response. If the organization or individual does not amend or supplement within ninety (90) days from the date of the request for amendment or supplementation, the dossier will lose its validity.

3. The time for reviewing the dossier starts from the date the dossier is submitted on the online public service system or the receipt stamp of the receiving agency (in cases of direct submission or submission via postal service to the One-Stop Service Center of the Ministry of Health).

4. The certificate or document explaining the reason for non-issuance will be returned in the same manner as the dossier was submitted.

5. The number of certificates issued shall be based on the request of the exporting organization or individual.

6. All components of the dossier must remain legally valid at the time of submission.

Article 6. Cases for Revoking the Certificate

1. Organizations or individuals found to provide one of the components of the application documents that are forged or do not comply with the provisions of the law.

2. The certificate issued for a batch of exported goods where the food items in that batch do not meet the published technical standards or regulations (if applicable).

3. The certificate issued to a food production facility for export which has had its Food Safety Condition Certificate revoked or equivalent.

4. The certificate issued beyond the authority granted.

Article 7. Authority and Procedure for Revoking the Certificate

1. The Ministry of Health (Food Safety Administration) shall issue a revocation notice for the certificate and send it to the exporting organizations or individuals who have been issued the certificate; simultaneously, publish the information on the website of the Administration and notify the customs authority about the certificate no longer being valid; the certificate ceases to be effective from the date the competent authority issues the revocation notice.

2. Within five working days, the organization or individual who received the certificate must return the issued certificate to the Ministry of Health (Food Safety Administration).

Article 8. Rights and Obligations of Organizations and Individuals

Organizations and individuals have the following rights and obligations:

1. To be issued a certificate for a batch of exported goods or a food production facility for export by the competent state agency according to the requirements of the importing country.

2. To ensure the authenticity and bear full responsibility under the law for the declared information and documents in the application file for the certificate.

3. To pay the fee for reviewing the application file for the certificate as prescribed.

Article 9. Powers and Responsibilities of the Ministry of Health (Food Safety Administration)

1. To organize the acceptance of applications and issuance, revocation of certificates in accordance with Articles 5, 6, and 7 of this Circular.

2. To manage and collect fees for issuing certificates in accordance with the law.

Article 10. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from March 7, 2025.

2. Circular No. 52/2015/TT-BYT dated December 21, 2015 of the Minister of Health on State Inspection of Food Safety for Imported Foods and Procedures for Issuing Certificates for Exported Foods within the purview of the Ministry of Health, and Item 1, Part B, Appendix 6 of Circular No. 29/2020/TT-BYT dated December 31, 2020 of the Minister of Health amending, supplementing, and abolishing certain legal normative documents issued by the Minister of Health, jointly issued, cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.

3. During implementation, if there are difficulties, please report to the Ministry of Health (Food Safety Administration) for consideration and resolution./.

 

ANNEX: APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE FOR EXPORTED FOODS

(Annexed to Circular No. 08/2025/TT-BYT dated March 7 2025 of the Minister of Health)

 

Respectfully submitted to: Food Safety Administration - Ministry of Health

Name of Organization or Individual applying for the certificate (Vietnamese and English): ...

Address (Vietnamese and English): ...

Contact Phone Number: ... Email:...

Business Registration Number:...

Importing Country:...

To meet the requirements of the importing country, our company requests the Food Safety Administration to issue a Certificate (name of the Certificate - Health Certificate or other relevant Certificate as required by the importing country) with the following specific information:

1. Name of Production Facility (Vietnamese and English): ...

2. Address (Vietnamese and English): ...

3. Group of Exported Food Products (applicable for the Certificate for Exported Food Production Facilities): ...

4. Name and Composition of Exported Product: ...

5. Quantity of Batch of Exported Product: ...

6. Expiry Date of Each Batch of Product: ...

7. Batch Number of Each Batch of Product (if any): ...

8. Product Label (attached)

(If the content on the label is in a language other than Vietnamese and English, a certified translation into Vietnamese by the exporting organization or individual must be attached).

9. Exported Product meets the requirements of food safety according to: National Technical Regulation No...; or Circulars of Ministries and Sectors; or Local Technical Regulations; or National Standards; or Codex Alimentarius Commission Standards, Regional Standards, Foreign Standards; or Manufacturer's Standards attached;

10. Production Facility meets the requirements of food safety at the Food Safety Condition Certificate or equivalent No..., validity period: ...

11. Other requirements of the importing country: ...

(Note: Items 4 to 9 only apply to the Certificate for Foods, Food Additives, Food Processing Aids; Utensils, Packaging Materials, Containers for Foods).

Attached Documents:

- ……………………..

- ……………………..

We/I hereby take full responsibility under the law for the authenticity of the declared information and documents in the application file.