Vietnam’s society is experiencing a boom in economic. The increase in GDP per capita alongside with the growth in personal spending capability are rousing the personal spending demand of a large number of buyers, especially for food. The fast changing of Vietnam’s society from the old mindset of the 80s era to the modern urban mindset are encouraging customers to looking for compressed, high quality and easy to use food with absolute safety. After the Covid virus spreads out, the customers’ demand for compressed and clean food that can be stored for long period, fitting for long-term use only raised higher. In such a situation, canned food, with canned meat to symbolize, the most used convenience food in the world is becoming more popular day by day.

Taking full advantage of the market’s situation, many export – import companies are joining in the canned meat market, especially in importing products for the internal market. However, despite the fast growth of the canned meat market, companies that want to participate in this market have to take special intentions to the legal process and the formal procedures for importing the product. In this article, the main points of the legal process alongside with the formal procedures will be listed in detail.

 I)            Things you need to know about imported canned meat products in Vietnam:
Canned meat is not a new product to export – import companies in Vietnam and for quite a time has been the processed food with the highest consumption rate in the internal market. Currently, the product is witnessing an impressive growth due to the high increase in customers’ demand for processed food, especially for canned meat.

To import canned meat in Vietnam, the required legal process is not complicated. Firstly, imported canned meat is listed in food category and put under the legal check of the Ministry of Healthcare. To import this product, company doesn’t need to register for “import license” but only need to do a “Product – self declaration”. However, due to being produced from “land animals”, the product has to passed through a strict verification process including food safety check prescribed in Decision 818/QĐ-BYT on March 5th, year 2007 (3/5/2007) (Ministry of Health). On this matter, enterprise will also have to take note of Decree 15/2018/NĐ-CP on February 2nd, year 2018 (2/2/2018) of the government. Due to being a “land animals” based product, enterprise will also have to take a close look on Circular number 25/2016/TT-BNNPTNT on June 30^th, year 2016  (30/6/2016) of the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development. Please keep in mind that different types of meat will have different types of requirement, as such, importing enterprises will have to pay special attention to the type of meat they imported.

II)            Formal procedure and required documents:
To begin with, to import canned meat in Vietnam, enterprise will have to do the “Product – self declaration”. The process will required these documents:
•             The “Product – self declaration”, sample form 01 appendix I proclaimed with Decree number 15/2018/NĐ-CP on February 2^nd, year 2018.
•             The “Food safety test result” form of the product, 12 months duration counted until the submission day of the given documents, done by the assigned testing lab (Ministry of Health) or approved testing lab that can satisfied ISO 17025 including specifications proclaimed by the Ministry of Health.
The food safety testing process can be registered at the Food safety management board (Ministry of Health), the Food safety management board of Ho Chi Minh City is a trustworthy agency for enterprises.
In importing canned meat, there is no complicated requirements and enterprises will only have to pass through basic procedure, these documents are required for the procedure:
•             The “Imported food audit” registration form according to Regulation Sample form number 04 appendix I proclaimed with Decree 15/2018/NĐ-CP;
•             Product – self declaration form;
•             03 (three) notification forms continuously notifying the imported approval confirmation result based on the strict checking protocol for shipment, product that has been converted from strict protocol to basic protocol  (original);
•             Copy of the Packing list;
•             “Certificate of food safety condition” given by competent authorities of the export country (original).
In case of quarantine process, the importer will have to pay close attention to documents as follow:
•             Quarantine submission form (Vietnamese);
•             Quarantine form of the export country;
In the duration of 1 working day, from the receiving day of the Veterinary submission form, legal animal product submission form, the Veterinary Department will decide and notify the registered organization, individual on location and time and time to begin the Veterinary process according to the Veterinary Laws of Vietnam.
Required documents for Customs:
•             Customs clearance following the specifications and information regulated in Form number 01 appendix II proclaimed with Circular 39/2018/TT-BTC.
•             Invoices or L/C that has similar value in case the consignee has to pay the consigner: 01 photographed version.
 
III)          Should know Decisions, Decrees and Circulars:
 
•           Decision number 818/QĐ-BYT on March 5fth, year 2007 (3/5/2007) (Ministry of Health) – Hygiene test (canned meat, canned meat).
•           Decision number 45/2005/QĐ-BNN on July 25fth, year 2005 (7/25/2005) (Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development) - Quarantine.
•           Decree number 15/2018/NĐ-CP on February 2^nd, (2/2/2018) (Government) – Government check on food safety on imported food.
•          Circular number 25/2016/TT-BNNPTNT on June 30^th, (6/20/2016) (Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development) – Regulation on Veterinary, land-based animal product;
•          Circular number 69/2018/NĐ-CP regulate in details on specific articles of Law on Foreign Trade Management;
•          Circular number 26/2016/TT-BNNPTNT on June 30^th year 2016 (6/30/2016) regulate on Veterinary (animals and fishery products);
•          Circular number 38/2015/TT-BTC on March 25^th, year 2015 regulate on Customs process; checking, customs supervising, exporting tax, importing tax and tax management over importing products and exporting products.
•       Circular number 39/2018/TT-BTC revised, implemented specific articles in Circular number 38/2015/TT-BTC on March 25^th, year 2015 of the Ministry of Finance regulate on Customs procedure; checking, customs supervising; exporting tax, importing tax and tax management over importing products and exporting products.
 
Above are the main points that need attention on importing canned meat in Vietnam, please note that this product has many categories and has to pass through quarantine protocol watched directly by the Ministry of Health - Food safety management board, as such there will be specific detailed requirements that importer will have to follow importing the product here. The procedure will required Logistics Company that have excellent capability in logistics for the procedure to be clearest and swiftest.
Thank you for reading the article, the author wished that the article have bring valuable information to readers. If you require more information, please contact to Logistics H-A or go to official page of Ho Chi Minh City Food safety management board, the official page of Vietnam Customs and the Ministry of Health.