Vietnam's food supplement compliance framework: what brands entering SEA's fastest-growing market need to know

Vietnam has one of the fastest-growing supplement and functional food markets in Southeast Asia. A young, health-conscious population, rising incomes, and increasing awareness of preventive health are driving strong demand. But the regulatory framework is one of the most complex in the region for foreign brands, not because any single requirement is especially stringent, but because responsibility is split across three ministries with overlapping jurisdiction.

The three-ministry structure

MOH (Ministry of Health), through the Vietnam Food Administration (VFA), has primary jurisdiction over food safety and health supplements. VFA administers the announcement-based compliance system (công bố hợp quy) that most imported supplements go through.

MOIT (Ministry of Industry and Trade) handles import licensing and some product categories that overlap with consumer goods classification. Import permits for certain product formats may fall under MOIT rather than MOH.

MARD (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) has jurisdiction over products derived from agricultural or animal origins, which can include some supplement ingredients and certain food categories.

For most imported health supplements, MOH/VFA is the primary authority. But depending on product category and ingredient origin, engagement with MOIT or MARD may also be required.

The announcement system (công bố)

Vietnam uses an announcement-based pre-market compliance system for most food products including supplements. Before a product can be legally sold, the importer or Vietnamese distributor must: prepare a product dossier (formulation, CoA, GMP certificate, CFS, label artwork), submit the announcement (công bố) to the competent authority, and receive acknowledgment before commencing sale.

For ordinary food supplements, the announcement goes to the provincial Department of Health. For products making specific health function claims, it goes to VFA centrally. Timelines vary significantly by province and product type: straightforward announcements can be acknowledged in 3 to 6 weeks; products with health claims or complex formulations take longer.

Health function claims in Vietnam

Vietnam permits health function claims on food supplements under a specific framework. Claims must be from the permitted list published by MOH, and supporting evidence must be included in the dossier. Claims not on the permitted list require separate evaluation. Brands repurposing claim language from Australian, EU, or US products for Vietnam regularly find that their standard claims don't fit Vietnam's permitted wording.

Labelling requirements

Vietnamese labels must be in Vietnamese (mandatory; English may appear alongside but Vietnamese is required), include product name, ingredients, net content, manufacturer details, importer details, country of manufacture, production date, expiry date, storage conditions, and directions for use, include announcement number (số công bố) once the announcement is complete, and must not include claims not supported by the dossier.

New contaminant regulations

Vietnam updated its contaminant regulations for health supplements (QCVN 20-1:2024/BYT) effective August 2025. The updated regulation introduces new maximum levels for certain heavy metals, mycotoxins, and other contaminants. Brands entering Vietnam now need CoA data that covers the parameters in the updated regulation, not just older standard panels.

Practical considerations for market entry

For most foreign supplement brands, the practical entry route involves: identifying a Vietnamese importer or distributor willing to act as the local responsible entity, preparing a complete dossier to Vietnamese requirements (not just repurposing documents from other markets), running label translation and compliance review in parallel with dossier preparation, and factoring announcement timelines into the market launch schedule.

The most common delays: dossier incomplete at submission, label language issues, health claims not matching Vietnam's permitted list.

Taama's Vietnam coverage is on our roadmap, covering MOH/VFA compliance, the announcement system, and label requirements for brands entering Vietnam. See our Vietnam page