Procedures for self-declaration of imported foods

According to the Food Safety Law and Decree 15/2018/ND-CP, it is stipulated that food businesses are responsible for self-declaring their products before releasing them to the market for consumption, at the competent authority. provincial and city authorities. Therefore, organizations and individuals are only allowed to put products on the market after completing procedures to self-declare product quality and are fully responsible for the safety of food put on the market.

Concept of food: According to the provisions of Clause 20, Article 2, Food Safety Law 2010 No. 55/2010/QH12: “Food is a product that people eat and drink in fresh form or has been preliminarily processed or processed.” processing and preservation. Food does not include cosmetics, tobacco and substances used as pharmaceuticals.”

1. Legal basis when declaring imported products

• Food safety law 2010
• Decree 15/2018/ND-CP guiding the Law on Food Safety
• Decree 111/2021/ND-CP Regulations on goods labels

2. What is self-declaration of imported food?

Announcing imported food is the act of businesses, organizations and individuals registering products and goods within their business activities with competent state agencies voluntarily without being forced by the state.

2.1 Why is it necessary to carry out self-declaration procedures?

• Before being sold on the market, food must be self-declared to confirm that it meets food safety requirements. (Enterprises need to have 1 set of self-declaration documents stored at the production/business facility to present when required for inspection)
• For businesses importing products to Vietnam for business, self-declaration is a required procedure that needs to be carried out before importing goods.

2.2 What products does the self-declaration procedure apply to?

According to the provisions of Article 4, Decree 15/2018/ND-CP on product self-declaration

The self-declaration procedure only applies to products

• Pre-packaged processed foods
• Food additives, food processing aids
• Food containers and packaging materials in direct contact with food.

The self-declaration procedure does not apply to

• Products and raw materials produced and imported are only used to produce and process export goods or serve the internal production of organizations and individuals and are not consumed in the domestic market.
• Health protection foods, medical nutritional foods, foods for special diets. (Need to carry out publication procedures)
• Nutritional products for children up to 36 months old. (Need to carry out publication procedures)

Mixed food additives with new uses, food additives that are not on the list of additives allowed for use in food or are not intended for use as prescribed by the Ministry of Health. (Need to carry out publication procedures)

3. What does the self-declaration profile include?

• Product self-declaration according to Form No. 01 Appendix I issued with Decree 15/2018/ND-CP;
• Food safety testing result sheet of the product within 12 months up to the date of submission, issued by a designated testing laboratory or a testing laboratory recognized in accordance with ISO 17025, including safety criteria determined by ISO 17025. The Ministry of Health promulgates according to risk management principles in accordance with international regulations or safety indicators according to corresponding regulations and standards announced by organizations and individuals in cases where there are no regulations. of the Ministry of Health (original or certified copy)

*Note: Documents in the self-declaration profile must be presented in Vietnamese; In case there are documents in a foreign language, they must be translated into Vietnamese and notarized. Documents must be valid at the time of self-declaration.

4. Process for self-declaration of food

1. Product testing

Customers can provide HPG with the product testing certificate or can send the sample directly to HPG, we will send the sample to the testing unit for the customer and clearly inform the testing cost and time. have resulted. HPG is currently working with reputable testing units, with good testing prices and time to meet customers’ needs.

Product testing time: from 05 – 07 days from the date of receiving the sample and the customer pays the testing cost.

2. Receive product information and prepare food self-declaration documents

Customers only need to send HPG the product label sample (Product label can be in any language), HPG will support customers, translate the label, get information and create a self-declaration form.

For products that do not have a complete label sample, HPG will also support customers in creating product labels that meet food management regulations as well as regulations when importing goods.

After completing the self-declaration dossier, HPG will send it to customers to print, sign and submit the dossier to state management agencies.

Time to file for self-declaration at HPG: 01-02 working days from receiving complete information about the product label sample.

3. Submit food self-declaration application

– Method 1: Organizations and individuals self-announce products on the mass media or their electronic information pages or publicly list them at the headquarters of the organization or individual and announce them on the information system. Updated data on food safety

– Method 2: In case there is no updated data information system on food safety, organizations and individuals submit 01 copy by mail or directly to the competent state management agency appointed by the Commission. The People’s Committee of the province or centrally run city is designated to store records and post the names of organizations, individuals and names of self-declared products on the receiving agency’s website.

Note: In case an organization or individual has 02 or more production facilities producing the same product, the organization or individual will only submit an application to a local state management agency where the production facility is located. selected by organizations and individuals. Once you have selected a state management agency to submit your application, subsequent self-declarations must be submitted to the previously selected agency.

Self-declaration implementation time: About 7 – 10 working days, depending on different management agencies

4. Complete self-declaration procedures and record keeping at the enterprise

After completing the self-declaration procedure, customers need to store a set of self-declaration documents at the enterprise to present when requested for inspection from a state agency.

5. Change self-declared information (if any)

In case the product has a change in product name, origin, or composition, customers must re-declare the product themselves.

In cases of other changes, customers notify in writing the content of the change to the competent state management agency and are allowed to produce and trade products immediately after sending the notification. HPG will assist customers in preparing official documents requesting information changes and sending them to state agencies in accordance with regulations.

5. Some frequently asked questions when making self-declaration

1. How long is the self-declaration form valid?

The self-declaration form has no time limit. If there is no change in product name, origin, or composition, customers can still use the existing self-declaration form. If there is a change to this information, customers need to re-disclose it themselves.

2. What needs to be provided to HPG to make self-declaration?

Customers only need to provide HPG with product samples (If customers do not have the product testing certificate). For liquid goods, customers only need to provide HPG with about 300 – 400 ml, and for dry goods about 300-400g.

In addition, customers need to provide HPG with an actual sample of the product’s label.

3. How much does testing cost?

Depending on each item, different testing criteria will be applied, leading to different testing costs. For example, for beverage products, the testing cost ranges from 800,000 – 1,200,000 VND/1 product, or for biscuit products, the testing cost will range from 1,100,000 – 1,300,000 VND/1 product. product

Customers can provide HPG with information about the items that need to be self-declared, and we will quote a testing price for customers’ reference before implementation.

4. For each imported shipment, do I need to re-do the self-declaration?

If the same item has been self-declared, and the product has not had any changes in product name, origin, or composition, then the next time you import, you do not need to re-do the self-declaration. but the old self-declaration can still be applied.

5. If I do not follow the self-declaration procedure, will I be fined?

According to Article 20 of Decree 115/2018/ND-CP, a fine of 15 – 20 million VND is imposed for the following acts:

– Do not notify, post or post the product self-declaration.

– Failure to submit the product self-declaration to the competent state agency according to the provisions of law…

In addition, a fine of 40 – 50 million VND will be imposed for producing or importing products subject to self-declaration without a self-declaration of the product.

6. If there is no English or Vietnamese on the product label, can I make a self-declaration?

Customers can absolutely self-declare labels that are not in Vietnamese or English. HPG will assist customers in translating product labels from there into self-declaration documents.

Product self-declaration service at HP Global Logistics

• Consulting on legal issues and conditions related to product self-declaration.
• Consulting on foods that need standard declaration, self-declaration, etc.
• Consulting on documents needed to complete self-declaration
• Consulting on processes related to import procedures for goods
• Representing customers to prepare and complete documents, submit documents and receive results at state agencies or other related issues.

Contact us to receive advice on self-declaration of imported products

Logistics HP Global Vietnam

Freight forwarder, Customs Broker and Vietnam Import/export license

Building No. 13, Lane 03, N003, Van Khe, La Khe, Ha Dong, Hanoi

Website: hpgloballtd.com / hptoancau.com

Email: info@hpgloballtd.com

Phone: ++84 24 73008608 / Hotline: ++84 984870199/ ++84 8 8611 5726

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