Viet Nam Strengthens Milk Product Standards with New Regulatory Measures

Viet Nam has introduced stricter quality and labeling requirements for milk products, including fluid milk and dairy goods, through two key regulatory initiatives.

Compliance Analysis: Stricter Quality and Labeling Requirements for Milk Products in Viet Nam

Viet Nam has recently strengthened its regulatory framework for milk products and dairy goods through two key legislative updates: the Law on Product and Goods Quality (No. 78/2025/QH15) and the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations (No. 70/2025/QH15), alongside sector-specific measures under the Veterinary Law (No. 79/2015/QH13). These regulations introduce stricter quality controls, labeling obligations, and conformity assessment procedures, aligning with international standards while addressing domestic consumer protection and trade facilitation goals.

1. Regulatory Framework and Key Requirements

1.1 Overarching Laws

1.2 Sector-Specific Measures for Milk Products

A. Quality and Safety Standards

• Technical Regulations: Milk products must comply with national technical regulations issued by STAMEQ and MAE, covering:
  • Composition: Minimum protein/fat content, additives, and contaminants (e.g., antibiotics, heavy metals)^{3, 2}.
  • Hygiene: Pasteurization, sterilization, and storage conditions to prevent microbial contamination³.
  • Traceability: Mandatory batch tracking from farm to retail¹.
• Conformity Assessment: Products must undergo third-party certification or self-declaration (for low-risk items) to verify compliance with standards¹.

B. Labeling Requirements

• Mandatory Information (per Law No. 78/2025/QH15 and Draft Decree on Standards and Technical Regulations²):
  • Product name (e.g., "pasteurized milk," "UHT milk").
  • Nutritional information (per 100g/ml): energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins/minerals².
  • Ingredients list (including additives, allergens in bold)².
  • Origin: Country of production and processing facility details².
  • Expiry date and storage instructions².
  • Barcode/QR code for traceability¹.
  • Language: Vietnamese (English optional for imported products)².
• Prohibited Claims: Misleading terms (e.g., "100% natural" without certification) or unverified health claims².

C. Import/Export Controls

• Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures:
  • Importers must obtain quarantine permits from MAE’s Department of Animal Health³.
  • Certificate of Conformity required for imported milk products, issued by STAMEQ or accredited bodies¹.
  • OIE Alignment: Compliance with Terrestrial Animal Health Code for disease-free certification³.
• TBT Compliance:
  • 60-day comment period for proposed regulations (non-urgent cases)¹.
  • Publication of final texts on STAMEQ portal and Government websites¹.

2. Implementation and Enforcement

A. Timeline

B. Responsible Agencies

• Primary Oversight:
  • STAMEQ (MST): Coordinates standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment¹.
  • MAE: Enforces animal health and food safety for dairy products³.
• Sector-Specific:
  • Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT): Industrial milk products (e.g., powdered milk)¹.
  • Ministry of Health: Public health-related measures (e.g., infant formula)¹.

C. Compliance Pathways

1. For Domestic Producers:
   • Register products with STAMEQ or MAE¹.
   • Obtain conformity certification (e.g., Vietnam Certification Mark (VCM))².
   • Implement HACCP/GMP for processing facilities³.
2. For Importers:
   • Submit import dossier to MAE (quarantine) and STAMEQ (conformity)^{3, 1}.
   • Provide certificates of origin and health certificates from exporting country³.
3. For Retailers:
   • Ensure labeling compliance and traceability².
   • Maintain records for inspections by local authorities¹.

3. Penalties and Non-Compliance

• Violations (e.g., false labeling, non-compliance with standards) may result in:
  • Fines: Up to VND 200 million (≈USD 8,000) for individuals; VND 1 billion (≈USD 40,000) for organizations¹.
  • Product recall or destruction¹.
  • Suspension of business licenses¹.
  • Criminal liability for severe cases (e.g., endangering public health)¹.

4. Stakeholder Engagement

• Public Consultation:
  • 60-day comment period for draft regulations (e.g., Draft Decree on Standards and Technical Regulations)¹.
  • Submissions to:
  • TBT Enquiry Point: `tbtvn@tcvn.gov.vn`².
  • SPS Enquiry Point: `spsvietnam@mae.gov.vn`³.
• Transparency:
  • Drafts published on:
  • ¹(https://tcvn.gov.vn)¹.
  • ¹(https://vanban.chinhphu.vn)¹.
  • ³(http://www.spsvietnam.gov.vn)³.

Summary Answer

Viet Nam’s stricter quality and labeling requirements for milk products are governed by the Law on Product and Goods Quality (No. 78/2025/QH15) and the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations (No. 70/2025/QH15), enforced by STAMEQ (MST) and MAE^{2, 1}. Key obligations include:

1. Compliance with technical regulations for composition, hygiene, and traceability^{3, 2}.
2. Mandatory labeling (nutritional info, origin, expiry date) in Vietnamese².
3. Conformity assessment (certification/self-declaration) for domestic and imported products¹.
4. 60-day public comment period for draft regulations, with final texts published by 1 January 2026^{2, 1}.

Non-compliance risks fines, recalls, or license suspension¹. Importers must align with OIE standards and obtain quarantine permits from MAE³. Stakeholders can submit feedback to TBT/SPS Enquiry Points until 9 December 2025^{3, 2}.

Sources

1. ↩ docs.wto.org — SS / directdoc https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/TBT15_2/NVNM.pdf&Open=True
2. ↩ Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade – Notification – Viet Nam – Law on standards and technical regulations https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/TBTN25/VNM355.pdf&Open=True
3. ↩ Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures – Notification – Viet Nam – Terrestrial animals and terrestrial animal products https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/SPS/NVNM172.pdf&Open=True