When it comes to the import and export of goods, product labels are extremely important for compliance. It’s particularly vital in the labelling of pharmaceutical products and food items as they display the side effects, nutritional details, ingredients, manufacturing date, country of origin, expiry date etc to consumers.
According to a US study, 68% of consumers care for the cruelty-free origin of products and are willing to pay more. The situation is similar in all countries including Vietnam as product labels are the benchmark of consumer protection.
So, as a businessman in Vietnam, you need to keep abreast of the latest updates in goods labelling in Vietnam (Circular No. 29/2023/TT-BYT which came into effect on February 15, 2024) and make the changes to your product labels accordingly. In this article, we will take you through the labelling details necessary for imported and exported goods in Vietnam.
Need Help with Product Labels? Check out InCorp Vietnam’s Product Registration Services in Vietnam
What is a Product Label?
Before we delve deeper into the 2024 goods labelling updates, it is crucial to understand the concept of product labels, including dangerous goods labels meanings. These are specially designed tags that provide critical information about the goods and their manufacturing process, including how dangerous they are or how soon they will go stale. The labels ensure that consumers get a clear idea of the ingredients, storage conditions, usage instructions, safety warnings, and expiry date. It is also an avenue for businesses to supply information about their brand identity, like logos, mottos, taglines, or any other details that help the consumer associate the product with a particular brand.
Product labels in Vietnam need to furnish all information about the goods along with the details of the manufacturer, their address and manufacturer date in Vietnamese language and any other additional language like English. This labelling is essential for businesses to show that they are adhering to goods safety protocols and avoid legal liabilities. It also helps a company to separate and demarcate its products from its competitors. An effective label design can easily attract customers and communicate all the necessary information about the product including its benefits, value and features.
While accurate labelling builds consumer trust and the goodwill of the company in the market, errors in the product labels can be regarded as false claims and tarnish the reputation of the company along with legal issues.
Read More: Product Registration in Vietnam: Regulations on Application Process for Investors
Components of a Good Label
A formidable part of knowing about product labels is understanding the components of a good label. Generally, product labels are printed statements attached to the package or they can be directly imprinted on the product itself like healthcare labels.
Product labels should have the following components to be considered as a good label:
- Product description: This provides all the necessary information regarding the product including the ingredients along with their calorific/nutritional values, weight, usage and storage instructions.
- Brand information: This informs the customers about the brand and has elements like logo, tagline, brand message, motto and other company guidelines.
- Compliance-related legal information: This is vital to know the product fulfils all the safety and regulatory requirements in a particular country as it includes grading and certifications like food safety certification. Nutritional facts, allergy information, the dangerous nature of the goods, manufacturing and expiry dates are also part of it.
- Marketing information: The companies use this to inform the customers about offers and discounts on the product in addition to the actual price of it. Images, illustrations and texts that deliver different attractive messages about the product are also part of the marketing component of the labels.
- Identification marks: Every product is marked by barcodes and UPC codes to make it identifiable for billing and sale- whether offline or online.
- Manufacturer information: This provides information regarding the manufacturer including their address and also if there’s a parent company it should be displayed here.
Requirements for Goods Labeling in Vietnam
As per the updated goods labelling requirements, all product labels in Vietnam should be written in Vietnamese language (additionally English) and have the following displayed:
- The name and origin of the products
- Contact information of the people responsible for it including manufacturer address
- Quantity of the goods, the manufacturing and the expiry date of the product and warning for dangerous goods for commodities
- For food items the labels should display the nutritional value of ingredients like protein, carbohydrates, fat, added preservatives and sugars in 100g or 100 ml of the product
- For electric and electronic goods the ICT mark that certifies the importer, the CR mark that certifies the product and the Energy Efficiency (EE) label supplied by the importer are needed. Apart from these, electronic products also need to display the year of manufacturing, the technical specification of the product, warning information and a guide for maintaining and using it. The manufacturer also had to declare if the electronic goods were refurbished
- For imported goods, foreign language labels should be replaced with Vietnamese labels having all the necessary information like name and country of origin of the products, name and address of the importer, and name of the foreign manufacturer along with customs clearance
In case, the product labels don’t have the contact details of the foreign manufacturer, all documents supporting the information have to be attached to the goods.
Read Related: Your Simple Guide to Customs Procedures for Vietnam Import & Export
Regulations Regarding Goods with Unidentified Origin
The new guidelines make it mandatory for manufacturers and suppliers to furnish the origin of their goods on the product labels to ensure that they are compliant with the import and export regulations in Vietnam and fulfil the trade agreements of the country. Domestically manufactured products also abide by these guidelines. If the goods are of foreign origin and the details aren’t mentioned in Vietnamese on the product labels, it is the responsibility of the importers to introduce new labelling on them to comply with the regulations in the country.
In case, the importer can’t locate the source of the goods, they can mention on the label where the product was assembled or processed in the last stage. However, if the final stage is done in a different country than where it was assembled, the importer should use a mix of the following phrases to describe the origin of the product:
- Mixed in
- Assembled in
- Finished in
- Bottled in
- Packed in
- Labeled in
This designates the whole process of manufacturing the product and ensures transparency in goods labelling.
Conformity Marks for Electric and Electronic Goods
As mentioned earlier, product labels on electric and electronic goods have to display certain conformity marks to ensure they are efficient for use and compliant with regulations in Vietnam. This includes the following goods labelling:
ICT Mark
Regulated by the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications, this conformity mark accredits that the importer is registered to VNTA (Vietnam Telecommunications Authority) and displays the company name or brand name. It will also have a CODE given to the importer by VNTA.
The ICT mark should be put by the importer on the original label or the sub-label. If the factory puts this mark it can create confusion as different importers will have different ICT marks for the same product imported at a particular time.
Read Related: Vietnam’s ICT Industry: A Dynamic Market for Foreign Investment
CR Mark
This goods certifying conformity mark on product labels is regulated by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of Vietnam along with some other ministries. The CR Mark will be issued by the certification body when it issues the brand name and certificate number. The factory can place this mark on the original product labels as per MOST regulation at Circular 28/2012/TT-BKHCN.
Energy Efficiency or EE label marking
The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) of Vietnam issues an EE or energy efficiency label marking on products to ensure their energy-efficient nature. The importer has to place this mark on the original label before selling the product to third parties or end-users and after importing it to the country as MOIT gives this clearance to the importers when they complete the EE declaration of conformity process for a particular good.
There is a triangular ‘Energy Efficiency recognition’ mark and a rectangular ‘Energy Efficiency comparative’ mark which are put on the origin label by the factory and the importer respectively. The first one doesn’t reveal any information about the brand or manufacturer while the latter gives information about the importer. The rectangular EE label is crucial when there is more than one importer of the product and hence it shouldn’t be placed by the factory. The EE marking can also come in electronic form.
What Does the Law State for Healthcare Labels?
When it comes to healthcare labels, Vietnam has specific requirements like the circulation number holder of the medical device and the owner’s name and address. In case, the medical equipment doesn’t have a circulation number, the contact details (name and address) of the owner or the licensed importer of the device should be displayed.
What Goods Are Exempt from Decree 111/2021/ND-CP?
Certain goods are exempted from the updated goods labelling guidelines. This includes:
- Public security purpose goods like radioactive materials; goods used in railways, waterways or other public transport; essential products used in emergencies like disease outbreaks and natural disasters
- Real estate goods
- Confiscated goods for auction
- Goods imported for re-export like trans-shipped goods; goods in transit, and imported goods consigned to bonded warehouses to send to a third country
- Personal belongings in entry and exit luggage
- Petrol, oil and gas products like LNG, LPG and CNG
- Liquids not packaged in containers or tankers
- Raw agricultural and marine goods along with raw minerals
- Trash from industry and business
- Construction materials directly supplied to consumers
- Unpackaged fresh, raw or processed food sold directly to consumers
- Used goods
How Can InCorp Vietnam Help?
Given that the product registration process in Vietnam is laborious and time-consuming, it is crucial to enlist the help of certified professionals skilled in navigating the complexities of goods labeling regulations. The intricate requirements for labeling products, such as pharmaceuticals, healthcare items, and dangerous goods, necessitate a thorough understanding of both domestic and international standards. InCorp Vietnam offers comprehensive support to businesses, ensuring that your product labels are fully compliant with all regulatory requirements. Our experts stay updated with the latest changes in legislation and provide tailored advice to meet your specific needs, handling everything from initial assessments to complete redesigns and re-registrations.
By partnering with InCorp Vietnam, you gain access to extensive experience and knowledge that can streamline the labeling process. We ensure your labels accurately reflect necessary information, helping you avoid potential fines and legal complications while building consumer trust and enhancing your brand’s market presence. Our dedicated professionals are committed to making the product registration and labeling process as smooth and efficient as possible. With our support, you can focus on your core business activities, confident that your product labels meet all standards and regulations, ensuring your products are market-ready and compliant.
About Us
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