Vietnam tightens food safety laws to boost trade, industry trust

VIETNAM – Vietnam has announced new food safety updates aimed at boosting trade confidence and creating opportunities for local firms in the food industry. 

The country has finalised all changes made to the local food safety regulations on the global stage by notifying the World Trade Organisation (WTO), making these changes final and irrevocable. 

A significant change made in the WTO notification focused firmly on where responsibility lies once a violation is uncovered, a section which was previously unclear in the regulations.

It specifically includes the clarification of the ‘food product owner’ of a product, defined as an organization or individual that owns the formula, production process, standard or trademark of a food product or is certified by a competent authority.

“Several clauses have been added to Vietnam’s regulations which will strengthen the management of self-declared products, enhance the oversight of product registration declarations, supplement post-marketing surveillance regulations and enforce stricter food safety law compliance,” the Vietnam Food Agency (VFA) said via a formal statement. 

This differs slightly from the companies or individuals responsible for placing food products on the market, typically the owners or their authorized representatives, who previously submitted applications such as Product Self-declarations or Product Declarations to obtain approval from Vietnamese authorities. 

Under the new regulations, responsibilities are clearly defined, leaving no room for either the brand or the importer to shift blame in the event of any issues.

“Other areas that have been defined include ‘Quality management systems’, ‘Interlaboratory comparisons’ and ‘Proficiency tests’ [so] there can be no doubt about the type and level of quality and safety testing that food products must go through before entering Vietnam,” the agency added.

The agency stated that areas such as quality management systems, interlaboratory comparisons, and proficiency tests have now been clearly defined, eliminating confusion about the testing requirements for food products entering Vietnam. 

These improvements are part of a new food safety system developed in collaboration with South Korea, which was launched in March, along with updated regulations and local inspections.

Enforcement actions 

Between April and June 2025, several notable changes were observed in Vietnam’s food industry, particularly regarding the enforcement and violations of food safety regulations. 

According to the Vietnam Food Administration, the inspections went beyond food product manufacturers and ingredient producers to include laboratories responsible for safety testing. 

The agency reported that several testing facilities were found to be non-compliant with national standards. Three laboratories, in particular, were discovered to have conducted between 61 and 280 tests that failed to meet Vietnam’s regulatory requirements.

Each of the offending laboratories was fined VND75 million (approximately US$2,871) and ordered to return all profits gained from the unauthorized food safety and quality tests.

Collectively, these developments signal a significant transformation in Vietnam’s approach to food safety, grounded in transparency, enhanced accountability, and scientific oversight. 

By combining regulatory updates, stricter enforcement, and digital innovations such as the new online safety system and the Vietnam Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment (VFSA), the country aims to enhance the credibility of its food industry.

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