Imported Food Safety Inspection: Which Imported Products Must Undergo State Food Safety Inspection? (2026)

Imported Food Safety Inspection is one of the procedures that many businesses need to consider when bringing products into Vietnam. However, not every imported shipment is subject to inspection. Understanding the applicable requirements helps businesses prepare the right documentation, shorten customs clearance time, and avoid unnecessary costs.

New Guidance Helps Businesses Identify Products Subject to Inspection

Importing food products, food additives, and manufacturing materials can be challenging, especially when businesses need to determine whether their goods are subject to state food safety inspection. In practice, products with similar names may be treated differently depending on their intended use, leading to uncertainty during customs procedures.

To ensure consistent implementation, on 20 July 2026, the Vietnam Food Administration (Ministry of Health) issued Official Dispatch No. 1391/ATTP-SP, providing guidance on state inspection of imported food under Circular No. 15/2024/TT-BYT. This document replaces Official Dispatch No. 1012/ATTP-SP dated 14 May 2026 and also clarifies cases eligible for inspection exemptions under Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP. The updated guidance is intended to help businesses apply the regulations consistently and reduce confusion during customs clearance.

When Is State Food Safety Inspection Required for Imported Products?

Whether an imported product is subject to state food safety inspection depends on more than its product name. Authorities also consider how the product will actually be used and whether it falls within the regulated product list.

Food additives included in the regulated list are required to undergo state food safety inspection before customs clearance. Businesses importing these products must complete the inspection procedures in accordance with current regulations.

On the other hand, products that share the same name as a food additive are not automatically subject to inspection. If the imported product is not intended for use as food or in food processing, it may fall outside the scope of food safety inspection.

Common Scenarios

Businesses should be prepared to provide supporting documents demonstrating the actual intended use of the imported goods whenever requested by the competent authorities.

Not Every Imported Shipment Must Undergo Inspection

One of the most significant updates introduced by the new guidance is the clarification of situations where businesses may be exempt from state food safety inspection. This helps reduce unnecessary administrative procedures while facilitating manufacturing and export activities.

Imported products used exclusively for internal manufacturing, export processing, or production activities within the importing enterprise, provided that they are not distributed in the Vietnamese market, are exempt from state food safety inspection. These products are also exempt from the product self-declaration procedure unless they are subject to a food safety warning issued by the competent authority.

This exemption offers substantial benefits to manufacturers, export processing enterprises, and companies that regularly import raw materials for production rather than commercial distribution.

Cases Eligible for Food Safety Inspection Exemption

For businesses importing raw materials exclusively for production, these exemptions can significantly reduce customs clearance time, minimize storage costs, and improve overall operational efficiency.

Are Health Supplements Subject to State Food Safety Inspection?

The updated guidance also provides greater clarity regarding imported health supplements, helping businesses avoid unnecessary administrative procedures for products that have already completed the required regulatory process.

If an organization or individual has obtained a Certificate of Receipt for Product Registration, the imported health supplement is exempt from state food safety inspection. The only exception is when the product becomes subject to an official food safety warning issued by the competent authority.

This approach eliminates duplicate administrative requirements for products that have already undergone regulatory review and approval, allowing businesses to complete import procedures more efficiently while maintaining compliance with food safety regulations.

What Should Businesses Do If the HS Code Has Not Yet Been Determined?

The HS code plays a critical role in determining the applicable import management policies for a product. In practice, however, businesses may encounter situations where the classification of goods is unclear or where different parties have different interpretations of the appropriate HS code.

When this happens, businesses should work directly with the Customs authority to obtain an official classification before proceeding with the remaining import procedures.

Determining the correct HS code for imported food at an early stage helps businesses identify whether their products are subject to state food safety inspection, minimizes the need for document amendments, and reduces the risk of customs delays.

How Can Businesses Prepare to Avoid Compliance Issues?

Understanding the regulations is only part of the process. Businesses should also review their import documentation before goods arrive in Vietnam to minimize compliance risks and avoid unnecessary delays.

A well-prepared compliance process not only reduces legal risks but also helps businesses save time, lower operational costs, and improve the efficiency of import activities.

How Does the New Guidance Benefit Importing Businesses?

The newly issued guidance resolves many of the practical questions that businesses have encountered when applying food safety inspection requirements to imported products.

By clarifying which products require inspection and which qualify for exemption, businesses can avoid unnecessary administrative procedures and prepare the appropriate documentation before their shipments arrive. This contributes to faster customs clearance, lower storage and logistics costs, and more predictable production schedules.

For manufacturers and exporters importing raw materials for production or export processing, the guidance also provides a clearer legal basis for claiming inspection exemptions, helping reduce compliance risks and improve operational certainty.

Key Takeaways for Importers

Businesses should not rely solely on a product’s commercial name when determining whether state food safety inspection applies. Instead, the actual intended use of the imported product should always be the primary consideration.

For raw materials imported exclusively for manufacturing, export processing, or internal production, businesses should maintain sufficient documentation demonstrating the intended use in order to benefit from the available inspection exemptions.

Companies importing health supplements that have already obtained the required product registration should also retain all relevant regulatory documents for presentation during customs procedures whenever necessary.

If uncertainty arises regarding the HS classification of a product, consulting the Customs authority before importation can help prevent classification errors and avoid unnecessary delays.

Finally, businesses should regularly review and update their internal compliance procedures to ensure that they reflect the latest regulatory guidance and remain aligned with current import requirements.

Conclusion

Imported Food Safety Inspection becomes much easier to manage when businesses clearly understand which products require inspection, which qualify for exemptions, and what documentation should be prepared before shipments arrive in Vietnam. By staying informed and maintaining proper compliance procedures, businesses can reduce risks, streamline customs clearance, and optimize import operations.

If your business requires professional support with import procedures, product registration, food safety compliance, or other regulatory matters in Vietnam, Green NRJ is ready to provide practical, reliable, and efficient solutions tailored to your business needs.