Request a DemoIn Vietnam, the regulatory framework for dairy products can be managed by multiple authorities, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) for processed dairy products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) for raw milk, and Ministry of Health (MOH) for functional products. Key regulations include the Food Safety Law 2010 and its implementation rules, which outlines product declaration requirements, labeling, and import conditions.
In summary, dairy products, such as liquid milk, cheese, and powdered milk, must undergo a self-declaration process, animal quarantine, and state inspection for food safety before customs clearance. Manufacturers must comply with specific national technical regulations (QCVN) that set mandatory standards for different dairy products, including physical and chemical criteria and safety limits for contaminants. Additionally, product labels and claims must adhere to regulations detailed in this article, ensuring that consumers are accurately informed about ingredients and nutritional content.
1. Definition
Dairy products in this Pedia refer to common processed milk products, including liquid milk, fermented milk, powdered milk, butter, cheese, etc.
Dairy products served as functional foods, products fortified with micronutrients, and dietary products for children up to 36 months are excluded from this scope.
Recommended resources:
Webinar: Regulatory Pathways for Entering Vietnam’s Dairy Product Market
Food-pedia: Vietnam Food Regulation; Vietnam Infant Formula Regulation
Online course:
- Focus on Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea: Food Compliance and Import Procedure Interpretation;
- Unlock Food Labeling Requirements in Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia
2. Competent authority
Competent authority | Responsibility |
Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) | Management of processed dairy products (e.g. yogurt, cheese, butter…) |
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) | Management of raw milk |
Ministry of Health (MOH) |
|
General Department of Vietnam Customs | Customs inspection, quarantine, and declaration |
MOIT & MOH | Post-market surveillance |
3. Main regulations
No. | Regulation type | Regulation name | Major content |
1 | Fundamental law & Implementation rules | This Law prescribes:
| |
Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP of the Government: Detailing the Implementation of a Number of Articles of the Law on Food Safety (partially revised by Decree No. 155/2018/ND-CP) | This Decree details the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Food Safety regarding:
| ||
2 | Quarantine approval | This Law applies to all food products derived from animals. It provides rules for the prevention, treatment and fighting against animal epidemic diseases; quarantine of animals and animal products; control of the slaughter, preparation and processing of animals and animal products; inspection of veterinary hygiene; management of veterinary drugs; etc. | |
Circular 25/2016/TT-BNNPTNT Providing for the Quarantine of Terrestrial Animals Products (partially amended by Circular 35/2018/TT-BNNPTNT, Circular No. 09/2022/TT-BNNPTNT and Circular No. 04/2024/TT-BNNPTNT) | It sets further details regarding the quarantine of terrestrial animal products in Vietnam, including general provisions, quarantine of terrestrial animals and animal products, sealing the means of transportation and containers of animals and animal products subject to the quarantine, implementation provisions and appendix. | ||
It provides the list of goods under quarantine that fall under MARD's state management jurisdiction, along with their corresponding HS codes. | |||
3 | Customs clearance and inspection of goods at ports | This Law applies to all commodities sold in Vietnam. It stipulates the state management of customs with regard to goods permitted to be imported, exported or transited, and vehicle of domestic and foreign entities which are on exit or entry or in transit within the customs territory; and organization and operation of the customs service. | |
Decree No. 08/2015/ND-CP Stipulating in Details and Measures to Implement the Customs Law on Customs Procedures, Inspection, Supervision and Control (partially amended by Decree 85/2019/ND-CP) | This Decree provides guidance on enforcement of the Customs Law on customs procedures, examination & inspection, supervision and control procedures, which shall be applied to exports, imports and in-transit goods, and incoming, outgoing and in-transit transports. For example, it details the procedures for customs declaration and inspection items, e.g., name, quantity, weights, etc. of goods. | ||
This Decree provides for the implementation of administrative procedures for exported, imported and transited goods; means of transport on exit, entry, and transit under the national single-window system, the ASEAN single-window mechanism; specialized inspection of exported, imported and transited goods; manage, operate, exchange and share data through the National Single Window. | |||
4 | Product requirements |
*Notes: On March 3, 2026, Vietnam issued Circular No. 09/2026/TT-BCT, promulgating the new National Technical Regulation for Fluid Milk Products (QCVN 28:2026/BCT). The new regulation will officially take effect on September 1, 2026. | These are the mandatory national technical regulations for corresponding dairy products. Such regulations regulate general provisions, technical requirements (e.g., physical and chemical indicator and labeling) and management requirements for dairy products. |
5 | Safety and hygiene requirements | Circular No. 24/2019/TT-BYT on the Management and Use of Food Additives (partially amended by Circular No. 17/2023/TT-BYT on Amendments to and Annulment of Certain Legislative Documents on Food Safety) | These regulations list the permitted food additives (including flavorings) and processing aids that can be used in food and their maximum use limit. Permitted processing aids can be found in Appendix 2 of Circular No. 17/2023/TT-BYT. |
| These regulations detail the maximum level of different contaminants in food, including that for dairy products. | ||
6 | Label & claim | *Notes: Enacted January 23, 2026, Decree No. 37/2026/ND-CP now serves as the primary regulation for product labeling in Vietnam, and came into effect on the promulgation date. By consolidating and replacing Decree 43/2017 and Decree 111/2021, it eliminates prior regulatory fragmentation to offer a unified compliance standard for imported and domestic goods, including foods and food ingredients. Read more here: Vietnam Food Labeling Regulation | These regulations prescribe the content, manner of inscription and state management of labels for goods circulated in Vietnam, exported and imported goods. |
4. Market access approval
Dairy products intended to be exported to Vietnam must comply with regulations established by the Vietnamese authorities in Part “3. Main regulations” and complete the following 4 key compliance steps.
Self-declaration of product regarding conformity: must be completed before the importation into the country
Animal quarantine approval: Dairy products are subject to animal quarantine inspection before customs clearance as per Circular 11/2021/TT-BNNPTNT.
State inspection of food hygiene and safety upon importation: Certain dairy products are subject to this procedure. It is done upon importation when the physical products arrive at the Border.
Customs clearance: Customs declaration is made with required documents for customs clearance.
Once dairy products comply with these requirements, they are permitted to be imported into Vietnam. Read details about each step below.
Notes:
Registration for overseas dairy manufacturers is not required in Vietnam.
Different from some food categories, dairy traders are not required to obtain the Certificate of Satisfaction of Food Safety Condition, as the Certificate is not required for pre-packaged food traders.
4.1 Product self-declaration
Before exporting dairy products to Vietnam, overseas enterprises must complete the self-declaration for their products. Usually, their trading partner in Vietnam will help apply for the self-declaration instead.
To complete the self-declaration requirement, enterprises need to prepare the following materials:
No. | Required materials for product self-declaration |
1 | The self-declaration form (Form No. 01 in Appendix I of Decree No. 15/2018); |
| 2 | The original copy or certified true copy of the food safety data sheet issued by a designated laboratory or a laboratory complying with ISO 17025 within 12 months before the self-declaration is made. |
| 3 | Product specification and label |
After preparing the materials, the applicant can follow the procedure outlined below to complete the self-declaration.
Notably, there is no validity term prescribed for the self-declaration so it is required once only.
4.2 Animal quarantine
Dairy and dairy products are subject to animal quarantine requirements in Vietnam. Before the importation, the goods owner shall comply with the following procedure to complete the animal quarantine requirements. The template forms for quarantine registration document and quarantine declaration document (mentioned in Step 2 and 3) can be found in Appendix V of Circular 25/2016/TT-BNNPTNT Providing for the Quarantine of Terrestrial Animals Products (partially amended by Circular 35/2018/TT-BNNPTNT, Circular No. 09/2022/TT-BNNPTNT and Circular No. 04/2024/TT-BNNPTNT).
The inspection items and inspection method for dairy products are listed below.
Risk type | Product category | Pathogen under testing | Inspection method |
High risk group | Raw milk | Foot and Mouth Disease, Brucella | Sampling inspection of each batch of goods |
Low risk group | Milk and processed milk products | Salmonella spp. | Sampling inspection of every five batches of goods
|
Notes: In addition to the above diseases, Vietnam decides on disease indicators for testing according to regulations and recommendations of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE/WOAH) based on disease developments. | |||
If all are compliant, a quarantine certificate will be issued, which is valid for 60 days for imported animal and animal products. When it is found that imported goods violate the inspection standards, the Veterinary Bureau shall notify the competent veterinary agency of the exporting country in writing, requesting an investigation into the cause, taking corrective measures and submitting a report to the Veterinary Bureau.
4.3 State inspection of imported food safety
During the customs clearance stage, products are subject to the state inspection of imported food safety. The inspection methods can be divided into three types:
No. | Type | Content | Conditions |
1 | Reduced inspection | Document inspection of up to 5% of the shipments within 01 year randomly chosen by the customs authority |
|
2 | Normal inspection | Document inspection only | Applicable to products not subject to reduced or tightened inspections |
3 | Tightened inspection | Both document inspection and sampling inspection |
|
Enterprises should prepare the following materials for corresponding inspection methods:
No. | Type | Needed materials for application |
1 | Reduced inspection |
|
2 & 3 | Normal inspection & tightened inspection |
|
The whole procedure for state inspection is summarized below.
4.4 Customs clearance
In addition to the quarantine and inspection requirements, enterprises need to prepare the following materials for dairy products to complete the customs clearance.
Commercial Invoice
Packing List
Bill of Lading
Health/Export Certificate
Certificate of HACCP or Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), or equivalent required by Circular 25/2016/TT BNNPTNT providing for the quarantine of terrestrial animal products
For overseas enterprises, their agent in Vietnam should then submit the applications via Vietnam national single window platform (https://vnsw.gov.vn/). If all are compliant, goods are allowed to enter Vietnam.
5. Product compliance
5.1 Product safety requirements
Manufacturers of dairy products shall satisfy general food safety conditions specified in Food Safety Law 2010 and Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP of the Government: Detailing the Implementation of a Number of Articles of the Law on Food Safety (partly amended by Decree 155/2018/ND-CP).
Besides the Food Safety Law and its subordinate regulation, it is important to follow specific regulations for dairy products as well as some safety and hygiene requirements.
To be specific, a detailed physical and chemical criteria for different milk products are summarized as below.
Raw milk
No. | Criterion | Unit of Measurement | Regulation Level | Criterion Classification* |
1 | Solid content | % | ≥11.5 | A |
2 | Fat content | % | ≥3.2 | A |
3 | Milk protein content | % | ≥2.7 | A |
4 | Density at 20 ℃ | g/ml | ≥1.026 | A |
5 | Titratable acidity | °T | 16 to 21 | A |
6 | Freezing point | °C | -0.50 to-0.58 | A |
| Notes: * Type A criteria: Required testing to assess conformity. | ||||
Fluid milk products
Criteria | Specified limit | Test methods |
I. Fresh milk | ||
1. Milk protein content, not less than | 2.7% | TCVN 8099-5:2009 (ISO 8968-5:2001) |
2. Density at 20°C, not less than | 1.026 | TCVN 5860:2007 TCVN 7028:2009 |
II. Reconstituted milk and composite milk | ||
Milk protein content, not less than | 2.7% | TCVN 8099-5:2009 (ISO 8968-5:2001) |
III. Condensed milk and sweetened condensed milk | ||
Milk protein content in milk solids-non-fat, not less than | 34 % | TCVN 8099-5:2009 (ISO 8968-5:2001); TCVN 8099-1:2015 (ISO 8968-1:2014) |
Powder milk products
Criteria name | Specified limit | Test methods | Criterion Classification* |
I. Pure milk powder | |||
1. Moisture content, % by weight, not more than | 5 | TCVN 7729:2007 (ISO 5537:2004) | A |
2. Protein content of skim milk in the dry matter, % by weight, not less than | 34 | TCVN 7774:2007 (ISO 5542:1984), TCVN 8099-1:2009 (ISO 8968-1:2001), TCVN 8099-5:2009 (ISO 8968-5:2001) | A |
3. Milk fat content, % by weight | From 26 to under 42 | TCVN 7084:2002 (ISO 1736:2000) | B |
II. Partially skimmed milk powder | |||
1. Moisture content, % by weight, not more than | 5 | TCVN 7729:2007 (ISO 5537:2004) | A |
2. Protein content of skim milk in the dry matter, % by weight, not less than | 34 | TCVN 7774:2007 (ISO 5542:1984), TCVN 8099-1:2009 (ISO 8968-1:2001), TCVN 8099-5:2009 (ISO 8968-5:2001) | A |
3. Milk fat content, % by weight | Greater than 1.5 and less than 26 | TCVN 7084:2002 (ISO 1736:2000) | B |
III. Skimmed milk powder and skimmed milk powder with added vegetable fat | |||
1. Moisture content, not exceeding % by weight | 5 | TCVN 7729:2007 (ISO 5537:2004) | A |
2. Protein content of skim milk in the dry matter, % by weight, not less than | 34 | TCVN 7774:2007 (ISO 5542:1984), TCVN 8099-1:2009 (ISO 8968-1:2001), TCVN 8099-5:2009 (ISO 8968-5:2001) | A |
3. Milk fat content, % by weight, not more than | 1.5 | TCVN 7084:2002 (ISO 1736:2000) | B |
IV. Cream powder | |||
1. Moisture content, % by weight, not more than | 5 | TCVN 7729:2007 (ISO 5537:2004) | A |
2. The protein content of milk powder, % by weight, not less than | 34 | TCVN 7774:2007 (ISO 5542:1984), TCVN 8099-1:2009 (ISO 8968-1:2001), TCVN 8099-5:2009 (ISO 8968-5:2001) | A |
3. Milk fat content, % by weight, not less than | 42 | TCVN 7084:2002 (ISO 1736:2000) | B |
V. Whey powder | |||
1. Moisture content, % by weight, not more than | 5 | TCVN 7729:2007 (ISO 5537:2004) | A |
2. Milk protein content, % by weight, not less than | 10 | TCVN 7774:2007 (ISO 5542:1984), TCVN 8099-1:2009 (ISO 8968-1:2001), TCVN 8099-5:2009 (ISO 8968-5:2001) | A |
Notes:
| |||
Cheese products
Criteria name | Specified limit | Test methods | Criterion Classification* |
| Milk fat content, % by dry matter | TCVN 8181:2009 (ISO 1735:2004); TCVN 8173:2009 (ISO 3433:2008); ISO 1854:2008 (for whey cheese) | A | |
- High fat cheese | Not less than 60 | ||
- Cheese has a fairly high fat content | From 45 to under 60 | ||
- Medium fat cheese | From 25 to under 45 | ||
- Partially reduced fat cheese | From 10 to under 25 | ||
- Defatted cheese | Under 10 | ||
Notes: Type A criteria: testing is required to assess conformity. | |||
Dairy fat products
Criteria name | Specified limit | Test methods | Criterion Classification* |
I. Liquid cream | |||
1. Milk fat content, % by weight, not less than | 10 | ISO 2450:1999 | A |
II. Butter | |||
1. Moisture content, not exceeding % by weight | 16 | TCVN 8151-1:2009 (ISO 3727-1:2001) | A |
2. Milk fat content, % by weight, not less than | 80 | TCVN 8151-3:2009 (ISO 3727-3:2003); TCVN 8154:2009 (ISO 17189:2003) | B |
3. Peroxide index, milliequivalents of active oxygen/kg fat | 0.3 | ISO 3976:2006 | A |
III. Milk fat (milkfat) and butter oil | |||
1. Milk fat content, % by weight, not less than | 99.6 | TCVN 8154:2009 (ISO 17189:2003) | A |
2. Peroxide index, milliequivalents of active oxygen/kg fat | 0.6 | ISO 3976:2006 | A |
IV. Anhydrous milkfat and anhydrous butter oil | |||
1. Water content, % by weight, not more than | 0.1 | TCVN 7728:2007 (ISO 5536:2002) | A |
2. Milk fat content, % by weight, not less than | 99.8 | TCVN 8154:2009 (ISO 17189:2003) | A |
3. Peroxide index, milliequivalents of active oxygen/kg fat | 0.3 | ISO 3976:2006 | A |
V. Dairy fat spread | |||
1. Milk fat content, % by weight | From 10 to under 80 | TCVN 8154:2009 (ISO 17189:2003) | A |
Notes:
| |||
Fermented milk products
Criteria name | Specified limit | Test methods | Criterion Classification* |
Milk protein content for fermented milk products without heat treatment, % by mass, not less than | 2.7 | TCVN 7774:2007 (ISO 5542:1984), TCVN 8099-1:2009 (ISO 8968-1:2001), TCVN 8099-5:2009 (ISO 8968-5:2001) | A |
Notes: Type A criteria: testing is required to assess conformity. | |||
5.2 Label
The Food Safety Law and its implementation rules specify some requirements for labelling: Food Safety Law 2010 and Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP of the Government: Detailing the Implementation of a Number of Articles of the Law on Food Safety (partly amended by Decree 155/2018/ND-CP Amendments to Some Articles Related to Business Conditions Under State Management of the Ministry of Health).
Besides the fundamental law and its implementation rules mentioned above, Decree No. 37/2026/ND-CP now serves as the primary regulation for product labeling in Vietnam, and came into effect on January 23, 2026. By consolidating and replacing Decree 43/2017 and Decree 111/2021, it eliminates prior regulatory fragmentation to offer a unified compliance standard for imported and domestic goods, including foods and food ingredients. Read more here: Vietnam Food Labeling Regulation.
At last, stakeholders also need to check the labeling requirements raised in the National Technical Regulations (QCVN) for specific dairy products listed in Chapter 4. Product compliance.
For most dairy products, they are mandatory to bear the following labeling items:
No. | Labeling items |
1 | Product name and product nature |
2 | Name and address of the responsible entities |
3 | Origin of goods |
4 | Quantity (weight/volume) |
5 | Manufacturing date and expiry date |
6 | Ingredient list |
7 | Nutrition fact |
8 | Instructions for use and preservation |
9 | Warning (cautions to be paid during the transportation, storage, use that may affect health, including allergen information) |
10 | Mandatory when applicable/added: GMO information |
When labeling the nutrition fact, the label should bear the content of the following nutritional components:
Energy
Protein
Carbohydrate
Fat
Sodium; and
Total sugar (is the product is with added sugar)
Please note that milk products that contain a single ingredient are exempted from nutrition labeling. Details regarding labeling requirements and label sample can be found at ChemLinked's FoodCheck tool.
5.3 Claims
In Vietnam, prepackaged foods can bear ingredient content claims as below.
Claim | Use condition | Example |
Quantity of the ingredient which is stated on the label to attract attention to the goods |
| Example 1: Goods labeled “No Sugar” if:
Example 2: A nutritional product for children allergic to cow's milk protein may state “Does Not Contain Cow's Milk Protein” but must clearly note “Contains Soy Protein.” |
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