Circular No. 31/2026/TT-BCT On the Traceability of Origin of Products and Goods under the Management Scope of the Ministry of Industry and Trade

 

CIRCULAR

Regulations on Origin Tracing of Products and Goods under the Management Scope of the Ministry of Commerce

BASED ON THE LAW ON PRODUCT QUALITY AND GOODS QUALITY No. 05/2007/QH12, AMENDED AND ENHANCED BY LAWS No. 78/2025/QH15;

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BASED ON THE LAW ON CONSUMER PROTECTION No. 19/2023/QH15, AMENDED AND ENHANCED BY LAWS No. 116/2025/QH15;

BASED ON THE LAW ON ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS No. 20/2023/QH15;

BASED ON DECREE No. 55/2024/NĐ-CP OF THE GOVERNMENT REGULATING CERTAIN ARTICLES AND MEASURES FOR ORGANIZING AND GUIDING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW ON PRODUCT QUALITY AND GOODS QUALITY AND THE LAW AMENDING AND ENHANCING SOME ARTICLES OF THE LAW ON PRODUCT QUALITY AND GOODS QUALITY;

BASED ON DECREE No. 40/2025/NĐ-CP OF THE GOVERNMENT REGULATING FUNCTIONS, MISSIONS, POWERS, AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE, AMENDED AND ENHANCED BY DECREE No. 109/2025/NĐ-CP AND DECREE No. 193/2025/NĐ-CP;

BASED ON DECREE No. 37/2026/NĐ-CP OF THE GOVERNMENT REGULATING CERTAIN ARTICLES AND MEASURES FOR ORGANIZING AND GUIDING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW ON PRODUCT QUALITY AND GOODS QUALITY AND THE LAW AMENDING AND ENHANCING SOME ARTICLES OF THE LAW ON PRODUCT QUALITY AND GOODS QUALITY;

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROPOSAL OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE DOMESTIC MARKET MANAGEMENT AGENCY;

THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE ISSUES THIS CIRCULAR REGULATING ORIGIN TRACING FOR PRODUCTS AND GOODS UNDER THE MANAGEMENT SCOPE OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE.

CHAPTER I

 

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Application

1. This Circular regulates origin tracing for products and goods with high risk levels under the management scope of the Ministry of Commerce.

2. Products and goods circulating in the market not falling within the scope of paragraph 1 are voluntarily traced by traders in accordance with the provisions of this Circular.

Article 2. Applicability

1. Traders producing, trading, or importing products and goods under the scope of application of this Circular.

2. Consumers.

3. State management agencies and relevant organizations and individuals.

Article 3. Interpretation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

Goods circulating in the market

1. refers to products or goods that are brought to the market for display, promotion, transportation, storage, and sale, including transactions conducted on digital platforms for electronic commerce; excluding goods in transit from border crossings to the first storage facility and stored at such facilities for imported goods, as well as exported goods returning from border crossings to the storage facility. Product identification code

2. is a unique number or code created based on information provided by traders, associated with one or a group of specific products, aimed at identifying and verifying product information for management and operation of the Ministry of Commerce's origin tracing system. Application Programming Interface (API) data interface

3. is a set of rules and technical standards that enable different software systems to exchange data automatically, ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and security of data during the connection process. The Ministry of Commerce's goods origin tracing system

4. is a system including activities for product type identification, batch or unit product identification, collection, storage, and sharing of information about products over time and location to manage quality and safety information of products under the operation and management of the Ministry of Commerce. A system comprising activities such as identifying types, batches or units of products or goods, collecting, storing and sharing information about products or goods over time and location to manage quality and safety information of products or goods, which is established and operated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Article 4. Principles of Application

1. The tracing of the origin of products and goods shall be carried out in accordance with the following principles:

a) Mandatory application for high-risk products and goods within the scope of management of the Ministry of Commerce as provided in paragraph 1 of Article 1 of this Circular.

b) Encouraged application for other products and goods at the voluntary initiative of traders.

2. Traders producing, trading, or importing products and goods in accordance with the provisions of Article 1 shall choose to declare on the Ministry of Commerce's Product Origin Tracking System or establish an internal origin tracking system in accordance with the provisions of Article 9 of this Circular. The internal origin tracking system of traders must be connected to the Ministry of Commerce's Product Origin Tracking System.

3. Ensure confidentiality and cybersecurity regulations during the process of tracing product and goods origins, as well as connections and sharing among parties.

 

Chapter II

TRACING THE ORIGIN OF PRODUCTS AND GOODS

Article 5. Requirements for Product Identification

1. Traders who perform product identification declaration shall be responsible for declaring the minimum information as follows:

a) Name of the enterprise;

b) Business registration certificate or equivalent legal document;

c) Name and image of the products or goods owned by the enterprise;

d) Certificate of intellectual property protection for the product or goods, or documents and materials proving lawful ownership of the product or goods in accordance with intellectual property law (if applicable);

e) Digital signature of the enterprise.

2. Product identification shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 18 of this Circular.

Article 6. Requirements for Tracing the Origin of Products and Goods

1. Traders who perform product origin tracing declaration for products and goods circulating domestically shall be responsible for declaring the minimum information as follows:

a) Name of the product or goods;

b) Place of origin of the product or goods;

c) Image of the product or goods;

d) Name of the production and trading unit;

e) Address of the production and trading unit;

f) Origin tracking code (if applicable);

h) Major events and times of occurrence in the supply chain according to national standard TCVN 12850 or global traceability standard of GS1 (GS1 Global Traceability Standard);

i) Brand, trademark, batch number/lot number or serial number of the product or goods (if applicable);

j) Expiry date of the product or goods (if applicable);

l) National standards, technical standards, international standards, regional standards, and basic standards applied.

2. For imported products and goods, in addition to the information specified in paragraph 1 of this Article, traders shall also declare the following information:

a) Name, address, tax registration number of the importer;

b) Information about the official distributor in Vietnam (if applicable).

3. Products and goods declared for origin tracing on the internal tracking system of the trader and/or updated on the Ministry of Commerce's Product Origin Tracking System prior to market circulation.

4. The tracing of product and goods origins shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 18 of this Circular.

Article 7. Consumer's Right to Access Information

1. Consumers shall have the right to freely inquire and access basic information about products or goods through the Traceability System of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, including:

a) Product or goods name;

b) Place of origin of the product or goods;

c) Images of the product or goods;

d) Name of the production or business entity;

e) Brand or trademark, batch/lot number or serial number of the product or goods (if applicable);

g) Expiry date of the product or goods (if applicable).

2. Consumers have the right to report on the authenticity of information displayed on the system to the Ministry of Industry and Trade or an authorized agency in accordance with the laws protecting consumer rights.

Article 8. Provisions for Storage of Traceability Records

1. Traceability data must be retained for a minimum period of twelve months from the date of expiry of goods with a shelf life; and sixty months for goods without an expiry date.

2. Data stored in the internal traceability system of the trader shall be connected, shared with the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Traceability System for Goods to ensure data integrity, with mechanisms in place to control changes and record update history, ready to provide to authorized agencies upon request.

3. Traceability records must be stored electronically, ensuring security, confidentiality, data integrity, and ease of access and extraction when requested by a competent state agency or for traceability purposes.

Article 9. Requirements for the Trader's Internal Traceability System

1. The internal traceability system of the trader must comply with the provisions set forth in Article 23 of Decree No. 37/2026/NĐ-CP dated January 23, 2026, by the Government.

2. The internal traceability system of the trader shall have the capability to connect and share data with the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Goods Traceability System through an Application Programming Interface (API) interface.

3. Data security and integrity requirements: The internal traceability system must store and transmit data in a secure manner, without alteration or distortion; it shall have mechanisms for logging to facilitate audits and tracing.

4. Traceability and data provision capability: Traders must ensure that the system can provide access and supply data within twenty-four hours from any request by the Ministry of Industry and Trade or a competent state regulatory agency. The form of data provision is specified in the request document issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade or a competent state regulatory agency.

4. Data access and provision capability: Traders must ensure that the system can access and provide data within a period of 24 hours from when requested by the Ministry of Industry and Trade or an authorized state management agency. The form of data provision is specified in the request document issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade or an authorized state management agency.

 

Chapter III

SYSTEM FOR TRACING ORIGIN OF GOODS

BY THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE

Article 10. System for Tracing Origin of Goods by the Ministry of Commerce

1. The system for tracing origin of goods operated by the Ministry of Commerce is centrally run at the address https://verigoods.vn. The system performs the functions of receiving, recording, storing, and managing data related to the traceability of product origins as updated by traders; it also creates codes for display, inquiry, and linking of data.2. Traders shall create accounts and update information on the System according to the features, data fields, and technical guidelines provided by the System.

3. The Ministry of Commerce manages and operates the System; during its operation, it conducts checks for completeness and technical compliance of recorded data; it may suspend the effectiveness of traceability codes as stipulated in Clause 11 of this Circular.

4. The system for tracing origin of goods by the Ministry of Commerce ensures the capability to connect and share data with the National Product Origin Information Portal.

Article 11. Management and Use of Identification Codes and Traceability Codes

1. Traders are responsible for managing and using codes in accordance with their intended purpose, attaching them to the carrier as specified in Clause 12 of this Circular.

2. Upon detection of violations, risks to safety, or receipt of a written request from an authorized state agency, the Ministry of Commerce shall conduct a review of information on the System.

In cases where violations arise from complaints by organizations or individuals, the Ministry of Commerce will notify traders to provide explanations and clarifications within 24 hours, except when immediate measures are required to suspend the display of traceability information to prevent risks, protect consumer rights, or as per a request from an authorized agency.

The suspension of traceability information display is carried out on the Ministry of Commerce's goods origin tracing system and is restored upon conclusion by an authorized body.

3. The Ministry of Commerce shall cancel the confirmation of displaying traceability information in the following cases:

a) Traders provide inaccurate, untruthful, or misleading information about product origins;

b) They fail to maintain and update origin tracing data fully and continuously as required by this Circular;

c) There is an official conclusion regarding violations of laws related to products or goods associated with traceability information;

d) They do not comply or only partially comply with the requirements for rectifying violations within the time limit notified by the Ministry of Commerce.

d) Failing to comply with, or partially complying with, the requirements for rectifying violations as notified by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

 

Article 12. Provisions on Data Carrying Objects

1. The product identification code and origin traceability code shall be printed or affixed to the data carrying object for origin traceability, and directly displayed on the goods or packaging through methods such as sticking, printing, attaching, casting, engraving, or other suitable means.

2. The use of data carrying objects must comply with the national standard TCVN 13275:2020 Origin Traceability - Data Carrying Format.

3. Traders may choose a form of representation for the data carrying object that is suitable for the characteristics of the goods, but they must ensure the ability to identify and access origin traceability information.

Chapter IV

ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

Article 13. Responsibilities of Traders Subject to Origin Traceability Implementation

1. Traders may choose one of the following methods to implement origin traceability for products or goods:

a) Establish and operate an internal origin traceability system that meets specified requirements, ensuring connection and data sharing with the Ministry of Commerce's commodity origin traceability system;

b) Update and declare origin traceability information on the Ministry of Commerce's commodity origin traceability system in accordance with technical guidelines provided by the system.

2. Establish, maintain, and operate an internal origin traceability system for products or goods produced, traded, or imported, ensuring compliance with requirements specified in Article 9 of this Circular.

3. Declare and update information on the Ministry of Commerce's commodity origin traceability system; ensure bidirectional data connection and sharing with the Ministry of Commerce's commodity origin traceability system.

4. Bear legal responsibility for the origin traceability information of products or goods as specified in this Circular.

5. Be subject to inspection and supervision by competent state management agencies regarding product or goods origin traceability according to laws.

6. Responsibilities for tracing based on each category

a) For traders required under paragraph 1, point a of Article 4 of this Circular: Traders must implement origin traceability before placing products or goods into market circulation.

b) For voluntary origin traceability traders: Encourage traders to fully comply with the provisions specified in this Circular for origin traceability.

7. Print or affix the origin traceability code on the data carrying object and display it on the product or packaging according to the provisions of Article 12 of this Circular.

8. Ensure accuracy, completeness, and integrity of traceability data; bear legal responsibility for all declared information and use of the origin traceability code.

9. Bear the responsibility to request and ensure compliance with laws on confidentiality and information security when using third-party technology service solutions; ensure that data collection, storage, and transmission are in accordance with agreements and technical requirements of the system.

10. Cooperate with state management agencies in verifying product or goods information and related information as required.

11. Traders shall fulfill other responsibilities for origin traceability of products or goods according to the provisions of Decree No. 37/2026/NĐ-CP and relevant laws.

Article 14. Encouragement Policy for Implementing Product Origin Traceability

1. Business entities that implement product origin traceability voluntarily in accordance with this Circular shall enjoy the following encouragement policies:

a) They may be granted a green label indicating their voluntary implementation of product origin traceability, which can be used on products, packaging, promotional materials, and e-commerce platforms during the validity period of the green label. The green label must be accompanied by information on the product origin traceability; it shall not replace quality certificates, conformity assessment certificates, or product certification as required by law; and the green label may not be displayed when the information on product origin traceability does not meet the requirements set forth.

b) They will receive priority technical support and guidance related to connecting with the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Product Origin Traceability System.

c)

They shall be promoted and publicized regarding the implementation of product origin traceability through mass media or promotional activities organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.      2. The Ministry of Industry and Trade will develop and implement a support program for business entities in implementing product origin traceability.

Article 15. Responsibilities of Units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade

1. Department of Domestic Market Management and Development

a) Organize guidance, implementation, and inspection of this Circular;

b) Take the lead in building, managing, operating, and developing the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Product Origin Traceability System to ensure data interoperability and consistency with the National Product Origin Traceability Information Portal;

c) Organize guidance and support for business entities and relevant units on the use of the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Product Origin Traceability System;

d) Organize publicity, dissemination of laws and regulations, and enhance awareness among producers, traders, and consumers regarding product origin traceability;

e) Lead and coordinate with relevant units in conducting inspections, supervision, and handling violations related to product origin traceability as per the provisions of law;

f) Take the lead in organizing research, proposing, and implementing programs, projects, and tasks related to product origin traceability for national industry management purposes.

2. Units under the Ministry

a) Cooperate with the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development in guiding and organizing the implementation of regulations on product origin traceability for products and goods within the scope of the Ministry's management;

b) Cooperate with the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development in conducting inspections, supervision to ensure compliance with product origin traceability regulations, identifying violations, and handling or recommending legal action as per the provisions of law.

a) Cooperating with the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development in guiding and organizing the implementation of regulations on origin tracing for products or goods within the scope of management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade;

b) Cooperating with the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development in organizing inspections, supervision of compliance with the regulations on origin tracing, identifying and handling or recommending handling according to legal provisions.

Article 16. Responsibilities of People's Committees of Provinces and Directly Governed Municipalities

1. To organize the implementation and execution of this Circular and related guiding documents at the local level.

2. To guide, promote legal awareness, and disseminate laws to organizations and individuals engaged in production and business activities within their jurisdiction regarding traceability of goods. To provide support for information provision and guidance to enterprises during the process of implementing product origin traceability (if applicable).

3. To direct relevant law enforcement agencies within their jurisdiction to inspect, supervise, and handle violations related to goods origin traceability in accordance with legal provisions.

Chapter V

TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

Article 17. Transitional Provisions

Merchants who have established and operated a product traceability system prior to the effective date of this Circular may continue to apply such systems. Prior to January 01, 2027, merchants shall conduct reviews, updates, and supplements to their labeling requirements, data structure, and connectivity capabilities to ensure compatibility with the Ministry of Industry and Trade's goods origin traceability system.

Article 18. Implementation Schedule

1. Phase 1: Product Labeling

From the effective date of this Circular, merchants shall register accounts, receive product labeling codes, and verify information for products.

2. Phase 2: Origin Traceability of Products and Goods

Starting January 01, 2027, merchants must fully implement origin traceability before placing products and goods on the market.

3. New merchants or those commencing production and business activities after January 01, 2027 shall comply with all provisions of this Circular upon commencement of operations.

Article 19. Effective Date

1. This Circular will take effect from July 01, 2026.

2. In the event that any legal documents cited in this Circular are amended, supplemented, or replaced, such provisions shall be applied according to the new documents./.