Cosmetic products carrying strong claims such as acne treatment, antibacterial action, skin-repair for pathological conditions, melasma treatment, hair-growth stimulation, anti-inflammatory effect or scar reduction should not be handled as ordinary cosmetic SKUs. If the claim crosses the cosmetic boundary, the shipment may require claim correction, notification amendment, relabeling or reclassification into another regulated category such as medicine, medical device, disinfectant or health supplement. This guide provides an E2E review map for HS code, cosmetic notification, label, C/O and post-clearance control.

KEY TERMS AND WHY THIS PROCEDURE MATTERS

Cosmetic claim

A claim is any stated function on the label, dossier, catalogue, website or advertising material. It must remain consistent with the cosmetic nature of the product.

Cosmetic boundary

Cosmetics mainly clean, perfume, protect, keep in good condition or modify appearance. Treatment, disease prevention, disinfection or deep physiological action may trigger another classification.

Product notification

The cosmetic product notification is the key regulatory document for import and circulation. Notification data, label, INCI and claims must be consistent.

Control point: for borderline-claim cosmetics, the core question is not only whether a notification number exists, but whether the claim still fits the cosmetic scope.

Illustration for Import procedure guide for cosmetics with borderline claims / functions — Illustration of the product group and document review before customs clearance.

DETAILED PRODUCT CLASSIFICATION AND IDENTIFICATION

This guide applies to imported cosmetics or products intended to be notified as cosmetics but carrying sensitive claims such as acne treatment, antibacterial/antiviral effect, inflammation reduction, skin-damage repair, melasma treatment, hair-growth stimulation, pain relief, scar treatment, slimming, pathological whitening or any therapeutic implication. It does not automatically apply to medicines, medical devices, health supplements, disinfectants or oral products.

Scope warning: review INCI, concentration, dosage form, application site, mode of action, original label, marketing documents, intended notification content and actual import purpose before concluding.

DETAILED PRODUCT CLASSIFICATION TABLE

Product group / situation	Technical signs to check	Example function	Evidence documents	Possible policy	Dossier to compare	Application note
Skincare with strong claims	Acne treatment, anti-inflammatory, damaged skin repair, acids/retinoids/antibacterial actives	Serum, gel, cream, toner treatment	INCI, concentration, label, brochure, claim sheet	Cosmetic notification; reclassification risk if therapeutic	Notification, formula, CFS/authorization, Vietnamese label	Avoid disease-treatment claims for cosmetic notification
Antibacterial / disinfectant products	Antiviral, medical disinfection, antimicrobial mechanism	Hand gel, body wash, spray, wipes	Label, test report, SDS, use purpose	May fall outside cosmetics	Ingredients, claims, usage instruction, foreign regulatory status	Review disinfectant or medical policy if the claim is too strong
Whitening / melasma products	Melasma treatment, pathological pigment removal	Whitening serum, melasma cream	INCI, efficacy data, artwork	Cosmetic notification and claim control	Notification, original label, Vietnamese claim	Prefer support/even-tone wording, not disease treatment
Hair/scalp growth claims	Hair growth stimulation, alopecia treatment	Hair tonic, scalp serum, shampoo treatment	Composition, mechanism, label, leaflet	May be challenged as medicine if therapeutic	INCI, declared function, import documents	Separate scalp care from disease treatment
Oral beauty products	Capsules, powder, gummies, drink products	Beauty drink, collagen capsule	Label, nutrition facts, ingredients	Not cosmetics; review food/health supplement policy	Food safety dossier, label, C/O	Do not notify as cosmetics merely because the claim is beauty-related
Beauty devices	Electrical device, LED, RF, laser, ultrasound, massage, ion	LED mask, RF device, cleansing device	Datasheet, manual, catalogue, HS, function	Not cosmetics; may require device/electrical policy review	Catalogue, CO/CQ, label, technical documents	Classify separately from cosmetic SKUs

HS CODE – DUTY – C/O

HS classification must follow product form, ingredients, principal function, application site, retail packaging and technical documents. If the product no longer qualifies as a cosmetic, it should not be forced into Chapter 33 only because of its commercial name.

PROPOSED HS CODE – DUTY – C/O TABLE

Reference HS code	Suitable product group	Classification basis	Conditions	Ordinary duty	MFN duty	VAT	C/O/FTA to review	Documents to compare
3304.99.xx	Skincare preparations, serum/cream/gel/lotion, sunscreen if cosmetic	Preparation for skin care / beauty, not medicine	Claim remains cosmetic; notification available	Reference 150% of MFN if no specific rate	Common reference 22%	10%	ATIGA, ACFTA, RCEP, AKFTA/VKFTA, AJCEP/VJEPA, EVFTA, CPTPP	INCI, label, notification, CFS, invoice, packing list
3304.10 / 3304.20 / 3304.30	Lip, eye, nail and makeup products	Makeup or nail/eye/lip preparations	No therapeutic claim; no prohibited ingredient	Reference 150% of MFN	Common reference 22%	10%	Preferential treatment depends on origin and C/O form	Artwork, shade list, SKU list, formula, Vietnamese label
3305.xx.xx	Shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, hair serum, cosmetic hair tonic	Hair/scalp cosmetic preparations	Care/cleaning/beauty claims; no alopecia treatment claim	Reference 150% of MFN	Reference 15%–20% by subheading	10%	ATIGA, ACFTA, RCEP, VKFTA/AKFTA, VJEPA/AJCEP	INCI, label, use instruction, notification
3306.xx.xx	Toothpaste, cosmetic mouthwash, breath spray	Oral/dental hygiene preparation	No disease-treatment or medical disinfectant claim	Reference 150% of MFN	Check final HS	10%	Review by route and 8-digit HS	Label, ingredients, claim, notification
3307.xx.xx	Deodorant, shaving cream, bath preparation, body mist	Personal hygiene/cosmetic preparation	Care/deodorizing claim, not medical disinfection	Reference 150% of MFN	Check subheading	10%	Review FTA by origin	SDS if aerosol/alcohol, label, notification
Not Chapter 33	Oral beauty products, beauty devices, treatment/disinfection products	The product nature is not cosmetic	Oral/device/therapeutic/disinfection purpose	By actual HS	By actual HS	By actual policy	By actual policy	Catalogue, label, technical dossier, relevant policy

FTA/C/O PREFERENTIAL DUTY TABLE BY IMPORT ROUTE

Origin route	FTA	C/O or origin document	Special preferential duty	Conditions	Documents to compare	Application note
ASEAN	ATIGA	Form D	May be deeply reduced depending on HS	Origin rule and direct transport	C/O, invoice, packing list, bill, HS	SKU description must match labels
China	ACFTA/RCEP	Form E or RCEP C/O	Check final HS	Valid origin criterion and consignee/description	C/O, third-party invoice if any, transport docs	Many SKUs require strict quantity/name matching
Korea	AKFTA/VKFTA/RCEP	Form AK, VK or RCEP C/O	Review most beneficial route	Origin criteria and valid documents	C/O, SKU list, packing, invoice	Check country of origin on label and C/O
EU/UK	EVFTA/UKVFTA	Origin statement / eligible document	Review commitment schedule	Origin and documentation compliance	Statement on origin, invoice, bill	Control third-party invoicing if any

DOSSIER SET AND SUBMISSION APPROACH

The dossier should be separated into commercial documents, technical/claim documents and cosmetic notification documents. Sensitive claims must be reviewed before shipment confirmation.

OPERATIONAL DOSSIER CHECKLIST

Dossier group	Required documents	Used for	Prepared by	Common errors	Pre-ETA check
Commercial dossier	Invoice, Packing List, B/L/AWB, contract/PO, C/O if any	Customs declaration, duty, C/O matching	Shipper, buyer, forwarder	Product name/SKU/pack size inconsistent with notification and label	Lock SKU matrix before ETA
Cosmetic notification	Notification form, authorization, CFS if applicable, manufacturer/owner data	Notification number	Regulatory/QA, owner, manufacturer	Claim mismatch or borderline claim	Compare English/Vietnamese claims, INCI and label
Claim and technical file	INCI, concentration, artwork, brochure, website claim, evidence if any	Classification and response to authority queries	Brand owner, regulatory, marketing	Marketing claim implies treatment while dossier is cosmetic	Prepare claim matrix
Vietnamese labeling	Original label, Vietnamese label, notification number, ingredients, function, warnings	Market circulation and post-market control	Importer, regulatory, warehouse	Adding unnotified therapeutic claims	Lock label based on reviewed notification

LEGAL BASIS AND SPECIALIZED POLICY MATRIX

Legal documents to review

Document group	Document	Issuer	Effective status	Role	Key point	Review note
Cosmetic management	Circular 06/2011/TT-BYT	Ministry of Health	Amended/supplemented	Core framework for cosmetic notification, PIF and claim control	Product claim guidance and notification dossier	Check consolidated/current version
Amendment	Circular 34/2025/TT-BYT	Ministry of Health	18 Aug 2025	Amends parts of Circular 06/2011/TT-BYT, including e-dossier aspects	Notification form and submission mode	Use for new dossiers
ASEAN guidance	ASEAN Cosmetic Directive / claim guidance	ASEAN / implemented in Vietnam cosmetic rules	Applied within cosmetic framework	Determines whether claim fits cosmetic scope	5-step claim assessment and examples of unacceptable claims	Useful for treatment/disinfection claims
Labeling	Decree 43/2017/ND-CP and Decree 111/2021/ND-CP	Government	Currently applied; check partial validity	Original label and Vietnamese supplementary label	Imported goods labeling before circulation	Vietnamese claim must not exceed notification
Customs	Customs Law; Decree 08/2015/ND-CP and amendments	National Assembly/Government	Check current version	Customs declaration and clearance	Declaration dossier, inspection and post-clearance	Commercial description must match notification

Policy matrix by scenario

Goods scenario	Documents to compare	Possible policy	Authority / portal if identifiable	Trigger condition
Ordinary cosmetic claim	Circular 06/2011, Circular 34/2025, ASEAN guidance	Cosmetic notification, labeling, customs	Drug Administration of Vietnam / MOH	Claim remains cosmetic
Treatment claim	Cosmetic rules and pharmaceutical rules if triggered	Correct claim or reclassify	Relevant specialized authority	Disease treatment/prevention or physiological intervention
Disinfection claim	Cosmetic and disinfectant/medical policy	May fall outside cosmetics	Relevant authority by final classification	Main purpose is disinfection/antiviral action
Oral beauty product	Food/health supplement rules	Not cosmetics	Food safety authority	Oral dosage form
Beauty device	HS and device/electrical policy	Not cosmetics	Authority by HS/function	Electrical, LED, RF, laser, ultrasound or device function

PROCESSING TIME, FEES AND RISK COSTS

PROCESSING TIMELINE, FEES AND RISK COST TABLE

Step	Recommended timing	Time/fee if supported	Risk cost if delayed	Data to lock
Claim review	Before PO/artwork approval	Depends on SKU complexity	Relabeling, dossier revision, reclassification	Claim matrix, INCI, use form, intended use
Notification submission/update	Before ETA and market launch	Notification fee and statutory timeline under current procedure	Warehouse delay, missed launch, dossier gap	Notification, authorization, CFS, manufacturer/owner data
Import document finalization	Before ETD/ETA	No separate state fee for internal document lock	Manifest/document amendment, storage/DEM/DET	Name, SKU, pack size, value, C/O, quantity
Labeling and circulation	Before market circulation	Printing/labeling cost by actual operation	Post-market inspection, correction, recall risk	Vietnamese claim, ingredients, notification number, responsible organization

PRACTICAL E2E PROCESS

This E2E process is designed for cosmetics with borderline claims, especially acne treatment, antibacterial, dark-spot reduction, skin repair, anti-inflammatory, hair-growth or other wording that may push the product toward medicines, medical devices, food products or disinfectants.

PRACTICAL E2E PROCESS TABLE

Step	Recommended timing	Data to lock	Risk control point	Output / file to retain
1	Before ordering / artwork approval	Collect original labels, artwork, brochures, website claims, INCI, active levels, usage instructions and manufacturer documents.	Do not treat therapeutic, medical antibacterial, physiological-change, ingestible or invasive-use claims as ordinary cosmetic claims.	SKU-based claim review sheet: allowed claims, claims to revise and claims to remove.
2	Before PO / sales contract	Lock the product nature: cosmetic, drug, device, health supplement, disinfectant or another regulated category.	If the product is no longer cosmetic in nature, do not force it into Chapter 33 or a cosmetic notification route.	Internal classification note based on catalogue, INCI, label, function and import purpose.
3	Before ETD/ETA	Lock 8-digit HS, MFN duty, VAT, C/O/FTA, origin, goods description and quantity by SKU.	HS mismatch among C/O, invoice, packing list and customs declaration; overly strong claim in goods description.	HS-duty-C/O matrix and reviewed invoice/packing list/C/O drafts.
4	Before declaration or before circulation	Prepare notification form, authorization letter, CFS if applicable, manufacturer/owner information and proposed Vietnamese label.	Notification number, product name, product form, responsible party and label claim do not match.	Notification/label dossier and data-matching sheet.
5	3–5 working days before ETA	Compare invoice, packing list, B/L/AWB, C/O, goods name, volume, SKU, quantity, packages and importer details.	Logistics documents use therapeutic trade names; shipper/consignee or origin is inconsistent.	Locked customs declaration dossier.
6	During declaration and customs channel handling	Declare goods description, HS, value, notification reference if relevant and prepare claim explanation.	Yellow channel reviews documents; red channel may inspect goods, labels, SKU, quantity and on-pack claims.	Customs declaration, explanation file and inspection records if any.
7	Post-clearance / before sale	Affix Vietnamese label, control e-commerce/advertising claims, retain PIF, notification, claim sheet, C/O and import documents.	Sales claims become stronger than the imported/declared claim; post-clearance review cannot trace claim basis.	SKU/lot post-clearance file and pre-circulation claim checklist.

FAQ

1. Can an “acne treatment” product be notified as a cosmetic?

Not by wording alone. Review ingredients, mechanism, label, English/Vietnamese claim and marketing materials. Therapeutic implications may exceed cosmetic scope.

2. Does a notification number allow all marketing claims?

No. Labels, website, e-commerce and advertising claims must remain consistent with product nature and notification dossier.

3. Is hand sanitizer a cosmetic?

It depends on its main purpose and claims. Medical disinfection or antiviral claims require separate policy review.

4. Are oral collagen products cosmetics?

No. Oral products should be reviewed under food/health supplement rules, not cosmetic notification.

5. Can a LED mask and serum be notified together?

No. The serum may be cosmetic; the LED mask is a device and requires separate HS and policy review.

6. Should the Vietnamese claim be a literal translation?

It does not have to be word-for-word, but it must not increase claim intensity or turn a care claim into a treatment claim.

7. Can goods be imported before authorization or CFS is ready?

The answer depends on the notification status and import purpose. For commercial circulation, lacking a valid notification dossier may create clearance and circulation risks.

8. What should be retained after clearance?

Notification, PIF, INCI/formula records, original and Vietnamese labels, import documents, C/O and approved claim matrix.

OUTPUTS AND POST-CLEARANCE / POST-APPROVAL OBLIGATIONS

Expected outputs

Cosmetic notification number if the product qualifies as cosmetic, cleared customs dossier, Vietnamese supplementary label and shipment-level records.

Post-clearance obligations

Label correctly before circulation, do not add unapproved treatment claims, maintain PIF and be ready for post-market inspection.

TGIMEX IMPLEMENTATION SOLUTIONS

For borderline-claim cosmetics, the highest value is early review before ETA: claims, classification, HS code, notification, labeling and document consistency should be locked before cargo arrival.

Claim and classification review

Compare English/Vietnamese claims, INCI, dosage form, mode of action and marketing materials to determine whether the product remains cosmetic.

Notification dossier control

Review notification, authorization, CFS if applicable, manufacturer/owner data and consistency between dossier, label and import documents.

HS, duty and C/O review

Classify HS by product form, review MFN/VAT/FTA, C/O, invoice, packing list and origin information.

Vietnamese label standardization

Check product name, ingredients, function, warnings, notification number and responsible entity; avoid unauthorized treatment claims.

Logistics and customs coordination

Plan shipment, declaration, lane handling, trucking, warehouse and port operations around ETA to reduce storage and correction costs.

Post-market file retention

Build SKU/shipment records: notification, PIF, INCI, claim sheet, label, customs documents, C/O and classification rationale.

Recommended coordination checklist: send catalogue/artwork, full INCI, original English/Vietnamese claims, proposed Vietnamese label, CFS/authorization, notification form if available, invoice draft, packing list draft, C/O draft, MSDS where aerosol/alcohol/device accessories are involved, and import plan by SKU. For sensitive claims such as acne treatment, antibacterial, regeneration, skin repair, anti-inflammatory, hair growth or dark-spot treatment, prepare a claim-basis sheet and wording adjustment plan before shipment.

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