PROCEDURES AND PROCESSES FOR IMPORTING CONFECTIONERY

22/05/2026 11:58 AM 230 Views

I. The 4-step process for importing confectionery into Vietnam

To clear a shipment of confectionery through customs, you need to follow these steps in the correct order:

Step 1: Request the manufacturer to provide samples and product documentation.

Before shipping goods to Vietnam, you need to prepare the legal documentation for the product. Ask your foreign partner to provide the following:

Product samples (for testing in Vietnam).
Certificate of Free Sale (CFS): Certificate of Free Sale.
Certificate of Analysis (CA): Manufacturer's test results certificate.
The ingredient analysis, detailed product information, and original product label.

Step 2: Complete the product self-declaration procedure (According to Decree 15/2018/ND-CP)

Confectionery is a pre-packaged, processed product, therefore businesses are allowed to complete the self-declaration procedure before importing the goods to the port.

Sample testing: Bring product samples to laboratories designated by the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Industry and Trade for testing of safety indicators (heavy metals, microorganisms, toxins, etc.).
Submitting Self-Declaration Dossier: Businesses submit self-declaration dossiers for their products to the competent state management agency designated by the People's Committee of the province/city (for example, the Food Safety Management Board or the Department of Health/Department of Industry and Trade, depending on the locality).
The file includes:
- Product self-declaration form (Form No. 01 issued with Decree 15/2018/ND-CP).
- A food safety test certificate for the product, valid for 12 months from the date of application submission.
- Product label sample or proposed label sample (including a supplementary label in Vietnamese).

Important note: Immediately after the self-declaration is posted on the electronic information system of the receiving agency, the business has the right to import and trade the product and is fully responsible for the product's safety.

Step 3: Register for state inspection of imported food safety.

When goods arrive at ports/airports in Vietnam, before completing customs procedures, businesses must register for state inspection of food safety.

According to Decree 15/2018/ND-CP, ordinary confectionery products will be subject to the standard inspection method (only document verification). Businesses submit registration documents to the inspection agency designated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (or the customs agency if the national single window portal is used).

The application for the exam includes:

Import Food Inspection Registration Form (Form No. 04 issued with Decree 15/2018/ND-CP).
The product self-declaration was submitted in Step 2.
Packing List.
Commercial Invoice.
Bill of Lading.

After the documentation is verified and deemed satisfactory, the inspection agency will issue a Notice of Food Approval for Import .

Step 4: Complete customs clearance procedures.

After receiving notification that the food meets import requirements, the business proceeds to open the official customs declaration to clear the shipment.

Customs documents include:

Import customs declaration form.
Commercial Invoice.
Packing list.
Bill of Lading.
Notification that food meets import requirements (result from Step 3).
A Certificate of Origin (C/O), if available, is required to qualify for preferential tax rates.
Vietnamese supplementary label (affixed to the product packaging).

II. HS Code and Import Tax on Confectionery

The HS code for confectionery is usually found in Chapter 17 (Sugar and confectionery products) or Chapter 19 (Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; cakes).

Businesses can refer to some common HS codes below:

Code 1704.90: Other confectionery products (hard candies, soft candies, chewing gum, etc.).
Code 1806.31 or 1806.32: Chocolate candies and other preparations containing cocoa.
Code 1905.31: Sweet biscuits.
Code 1905.90: Other types of cakes (sponge cakes, snack cakes...).

Types of taxes to be paid:

Preferential import tax: Usually ranges from 15% to 30% depending on the specific HS code. However, if importing from countries with free trade agreements with Vietnam (such as ASEAN - Form D, China - Form E, Europe - EVFTA,...) and with a valid Certificate of Origin (C/O), the import tax may be reduced to 0% - 5% .
Value Added Tax (VAT): For regular confectionery items, the rate is 10% (or subject to the government's VAT reduction policies from time to time).

III. Regulations on labeling (Decree 43/2017/ND-CP)

When circulating in the Vietnamese market, imported confectionery products are required to have a supplementary label in Vietnamese affixed to the product packaging, displaying complete information:

Product name.
Name and address of the organization or individual responsible for the goods (Importing company).
Origin of goods.
Quantitative (Net weight).
Production date and expiration date (Must be clear, not ambiguous).
Ingredients or quantitative composition.
Warning information (if any, for example: "contains flour, milk...").
Instructions for use and maintenance.