[Updated] Vietnam Issues the List of Milk and Functional Foods for Children Under 6 Years Subject to Price Declaration

Updated on November 19, 2024:

According to an official news issued on November 18, 2024, Vietnam has published Circular 33/2024/TT-BYT, which outlines the milk products and functional foods for children under 6 years old that are subject to price stabilization and declaration (see affected products in the previous report), as well as corresponding declaration requirements.

As per this Circular, price declaration shall include the following technical characteristics:

1. Product name (detailed name);

2. Product classification;

3. Product form (dosage form/use form);

4. Registration receipt number for product declaration or product self-declaration number.

Organizations and individuals declaring milk and functional foods for children under 6 years old in their declaration documents and on product labels (including those declared for multiple age groups that include children under 6) are required to submit a price declaration document to the agency designated by the provincial People's Committee, as stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 17 and Clause 2 of Article 18 of Decree No. 85/2024/ND-CP, dated July 10, 2024.

This Circular will take effect on January 1, 2025, replacing Circular No. 30/2013/TT-BYT and Circular No. 22/2018/TT-BYT on the effective date.

Previously reported on September 2, 2024:

On August 29, 2024, Vietnam announced a consultation on the list of milk and functional foods for children under 6 years old that are subject to price declaration. This draft is to further implement Vietnam’s Law on Price No. 16/2023/QH15 (Price Law 2023) and its elaboration rules, Decree 85/2024/ND-CP. Once approved, it will replace two previous circulars:

• Circular 30/2013/TT-BYT, which lists milk for children under 6 years of age subject to price stabilization.

• Circular 22/2018/TT-BYT, which outlines regulations for functional foods for children under 6 years of age subject to price declaration.

Key Points

The draft document primarily stipulates the list of milk and functional foods for children under 6 years old that are subject to price declaration. Affected products are:

1. Milk for Children Under 6 Years Old:

1. Formulated nutritional products for children up to 36 months of age, in compliance with national technical regulations issued by the Ministry of Health.

2. Milk and nutritional products containing animal milk, whether in powder or liquid form, intended for children under 6 years old, but not compliant with the national technical regulations mentioned in point a.

2. Functional Foods for Children Under 6 Years Old:

• Health supplements.

• Medical nutritional foods.

• Supplemented foods, including nutritional products for children up to 36 months old.

• Foods for special diets.

This draft is applicable to all products circulating on the Vietnam market, including imported products. In practice, organizations and individuals involved in the trade of above milk and functional foods for children under 6 years old are required to declare product prices to relevant authorities. To be specific, traders responsible for the products on the market need to submit dossiers on price declaration to the competent authorities which are the Provincial People Committee. These authorities will then publish relevant lists of the affected products.

Feedback on the draft can be submitted to [email protected] by October 30, 2024.