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Six classes of food products exempted from inspections
The Government issued Decree No.32/2012/ND-CP on April 25, containing regulatory provisions pursuant to the Law on Food Safety.
Decree 32 lists six classes of food items exempt from import inspections: (1) foods brought along for personal consumption and within the cap of existing import tax exemptions, (2) foods packaged in diplomatic and consular packages, (3) foods in transit or transhipment, (4) foods deposited at a bonded warehouse, (5) experimental or research samples, and (6) food products to be displayed at a fair or exposition.
Labeling of food products is also governed by Decree 32. Information on the label must be bona fide, accurate, apparent, and not causing confusion to consumers. The name of the product must be in a large-d font at least three times larger than other fonts displayed on the label.
The decree also addresses expiry dates on food products. Functional, supplemental foods shall be marked with an "expiration date" or "use by [date]", while other products may be marked with a "best before [date]". Products in the first category cannot be introduced on the market after the expiry or use-by date. However, best-before products may be sold after such date if safety is demonstrated to competent authorities and products are relabelled with an expiration or use-by date.
The new decree takes effect on June 11.
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