Animal-origin foods require more than HS classification and import duty review. Importers should screen veterinary quarantine, food safety inspection, product declaration, supplementary labeling, cold-chain conditions and traceability documents before ETA to avoid cargo hold, refrigerated storage costs, demurrage/detention, spoilage or circulation restrictions.

KEY TERMS AND WHY THIS PROCEDURE MATTERS

Veterinary quarantine

Specialized control over animals and animal products to manage disease risk and veterinary hygiene requirements upon importation.

Food safety inspection

Regulatory review of product declarations, safety indicators, traceability, labeling and import compliance before circulation.

Health Certificate

A certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country; often critical for meat, seafood, dairy, eggs and animal products.

Self-declaration / registration

Product declaration route depends on the product nature, target users and food safety rules applicable at the time of importation.

Cold chain

Temperature-controlled transport, storage and handover process for frozen, chilled or temperature-sensitive food cargo.

ETA

Estimated time of arrival. It is the latest operational milestone by which the key dossier should already be reviewed.

Operational note: animal-origin foods may trigger overlapping procedures: customs, veterinary quarantine, food safety, product declaration, labeling and cold-chain control. Do not wait until the shipment has departed to review the health certificate and declaration dossier.

PRODUCT CLASSIFICATION AND DETAILED IDENTIFICATION

This guide applies to foods whose main or material ingredients are of animal origin, including meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy, honey, animal-origin gelatin/collagen and processed meat/dairy/fish/seafood products. For mixed foods, review the ingredient ratio, essential character, degree of processing, target users and actual storage conditions.

Do not apply one conclusion to all variants. Fresh, frozen, heat-treated, canned, dried, fermented, infant nutrition, medical nutrition, samples, warranty goods and imports for EPE/FDI/factory use may trigger different requirements.

Product group / situation	Technical points to check	Examples	Supporting documents	Possible policy trigger	Documents to cross-check	Application note
Frozen/chilled meat and edible offal	Species, form, temperature, country of origin	Frozen beef, poultry, edible offal	Catalogue, label, health certificate, temperature packing list	Veterinary quarantine, food safety, labeling, origin review	Invoice, PL, B/L/AWB, C/O, health certificate	Check eligible country/facility requirements where applicable.
Seafood and aquatic products	Wild-caught/farmed, live/fresh/frozen/dried, storage form	Frozen salmon, dried squid, frozen shrimp	Health certificate, traceability papers, catalogue, images	Aquatic quarantine/food safety, IUU review where relevant, labeling	Certificate, packing, temperature, lot code, manufacturing/expiry date	Review by product condition and origin route.
Dairy, dairy ingredients, eggs, honey	Powder/liquid/frozen form, composition, target users	Milk powder, whey powder, egg powder, honey	COA, health certificate, specification	Food safety, product declaration/registration, quarantine if applicable	COA, test report, label, declaration dossier	Infant/medical/special nutrition products may require product registration.
Processed meat/fish/dairy foods	Degree of processing, packaging, sterilization, ready-to-eat status	Sausage, pâté, canned fish, cheese product	Process flow, ingredient list, label, test report	Food safety, declaration, quarantine if required by product nature	Declaration, test report, Vietnamese label, shipment documents	Do not rely only on trade name; review animal ingredients and circulation purpose.
Mixed foods containing animal ingredients	Ingredient ratio, essential character, use, retail format	Soup mix with meat, noodles with meat sachet, seafood snacks	Ingredient list, process flow, specification, label	Food safety, declaration, labeling; quarantine may arise	Ingredient list, COA, test report, declaration dossier	Classify by essential character and actual intended use.

HS CODE – DUTY – C/O

HS code should be determined based on product nature, species, processing level, storage form, composition, essential use and the current HS classification rules. The duty notes below are for operational screening only. For a real shipment, the final 8-digit HS code, current tariff schedule, preferential C/O, technical dossier and tax rules at declaration date must be checked.

Indicative HS code	Suitable product group	Classification basis	Application condition	Ordinary import duty	MFN duty	VAT	C/O/FTA to review	Documents to verify
0201–0208	Meat and edible offal, fresh, chilled or frozen	Species, part and storage condition	Goods remain meat/offal and are not deeply processed	Check current tariff by final HS	Check current tariff by 8-digit HS	Check VAT policy by product	ATIGA, ACFTA, RCEP, VKFTA/AKFTA, CPTPP, EVFTA where relevant	Health certificate, catalogue, label, packing, C/O, temperature documents
0301–0308	Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic products	Aquatic species, preservation form, processing level	Aquatic products not deeply processed	Check final HS tariff	Check 8-digit HS	Check by actual product	RCEP, CPTPP, EVFTA, AANZFTA, ATIGA	Health certificate, traceability, packing, temperature, label
0401–0409	Milk, cream, whey, butter, cheese, eggs, honey	Product form, composition, content, target users	Not automatically applied to special nutrition/infant products	Check current tariff	Check 8-digit HS	Check by product type	EVFTA, CPTPP, AANZFTA, VKFTA, RCEP	COA, specification, health certificate, declaration dossier
1601–1605	Prepared meat, fish and seafood products	Processing level, canning, ready-to-eat format	Processed food products	Check current tariff	Check 8-digit HS	Check VAT policy	ATIGA, ACFTA, RCEP, EVFTA, CPTPP	Ingredient list, process flow, test report, declaration, labeling
1901 / 2106 or other headings	Mixed foods with animal-origin ingredients	Essential character, use and presentation	When not classified as pure meat/fish/dairy	Check current tariff	Check 8-digit HS	Check by product nature	Depending on origin route and rules of origin	Ingredient list, COA, label, declaration dossier, C/O

C/O checklist: form, origin criterion such as WO/RVC/CTH/CTSH, third-party invoicing, direct transport, product description, HS code, quantity, weight, origin country, stamp/signature, issuance date and validity.

Origin route	FTA/agreement	C/O form or origin document	Preferential rate if determined	Application condition	Documents to verify	Application note
ASEAN	ATIGA	Form D	May be lower than MFN depending on HS	Valid origin criterion and direct transport	C/O, invoice, B/L, packing, product description	Review multi-country ingredients carefully.
China	ACFTA / RCEP	Form E or RCEP document	Depending on HS and tariff schedule	Valid C/O and matching goods description	C/O, third-party invoice if any, HS, weight	Common risks: mismatched description/HS or missing third-party invoice details.
Korea	AKFTA / VKFTA / RCEP	Form AK, VK or RCEP	Depending on HS and chosen agreement	Choose the agreement that matches duty and dossier	C/O, origin criterion, transport route	Do not assume one agreement is best for every HS code.
Japan	VJEPA / AJCEP / CPTPP / RCEP	VJ/AJ/CPTPP/RCEP document	Depending on HS	Origin and documentation requirements fulfilled	Origin proof, invoice, B/L	Review processed foods with multi-origin ingredients separately.
EU	EVFTA	EUR.1 or origin statement where eligible	Depending on EVFTA schedule	EVFTA origin rules met	Proof of origin, invoice, direct transport	Check exporter eligibility for origin statements.
Australia/New Zealand	AANZFTA / CPTPP / RCEP	AANZ, CPTPP or RCEP document	Depending on HS	Suitable agreement and supporting dossier	C/O, transport document, origin criterion	Particularly important for dairy, meat and multi-origin ingredients.

DOSSIER SET AND SUBMISSION METHOD

The dossier should be divided into three layers: commercial documents, technical/specialized documents and authority submission documents. The key rule is full consistency among product name, HS code, specification, weight, lot number, manufacturing date, expiry date, storage condition, origin and health/quarantine certificates.

Dossier group	Required documents	Used for	Usually prepared by	Common error	Pre-ETA check
Commercial documents	Commercial Invoice, Packing List, B/L/AWB, Sales Contract/PO, C/O if preferential duty is claimed	Customs, valuation, origin review	Shipper, seller, importer, forwarder	Mismatch in product name, weight, packages or temperature condition	Cross-check invoice, packing, bill, C/O and label
Technical/specialized documents	Health Certificate, COA, test report, specification, ingredient list, process flow, original label	Quarantine, food safety, declaration, specialized explanation	Manufacturer, exporting authority, importer	Missing health certificate, lot code or required indicators	Request draft documents before booking
Declaration/food safety	Self-declaration/registration, test result, standard document, draft Vietnamese label	Product circulation and import food-safety inspection	Importer, compliance team, laboratory	Declaration inconsistent with label or specification	Lock recipe/specification and label before ETA
Quarantine dossier	Quarantine registration, health certificate, goods list, transport documents, shipment details	Specialized quarantine submission	Importer/forwarder with shipper support	Certificate absent or incorrect format	Check eligible country/facility and certificate draft
Labeling dossier	Original label, Vietnamese supplementary label, expiry date, storage condition, net quantity, origin	Post-clearance/circulation compliance	Importer/brand owner	Missing responsible entity, storage instructions or ingredients	Review against declaration dossier before printing

LEGAL BASIS AND SPECIALIZED POLICY MATRIX

Legal group	Document	Issuing authority	Effective/application status	Role in procedure	Key point to review	Review note
Law	Food Safety Law No. 55/2010/QH12	National Assembly	Baseline legal framework	Food safety control for imported foods	Food safety conditions, traceability and inspection	Review together with current implementing documents.
Law	Veterinary Law No. 79/2015/QH13	National Assembly	Baseline legal framework	Veterinary quarantine framework	Import quarantine and veterinary hygiene control	Apply depending on terrestrial/aquatic product and condition.
Decree	Decree 46/2026/ND-CP guiding the Food Safety Law	Government	Its effectiveness has been suspended under Resolution 15/2026/NQ-CP; status must be checked at declaration date	New food-safety framework to be monitored	Imported food, product declaration and inspection provisions	Do not apply mechanically; verify legal status before publication/shipment.
Resolution	Resolution 15/2026/NQ-CP	Government	Effective 06 April 2026	Suspends Decree 46/2026/ND-CP and Resolution 66.13/2026/NQ-CP	Suspension status	Critical for determining the food safety regime currently applied.
Decree	Decree 15/2018/ND-CP	Government	Continues to apply during the suspension period of Decree 46/2026/ND-CP; verify status at declaration date	Detailed framework for the Food Safety Law, product self-declaration/registration and state inspection of imported foods	Declaration dossier, exemption/reduced inspection, inspection method and enterprise responsibility	Use as the reference framework when Decree 46 is not yet applicable or is suspended under the current resolution.
Circular	Circular 01/2026/TT-BNNMT	Ministry of Agriculture and Environment	Effective 01 January 2026	Terrestrial animal and animal-product quarantine	Quarantine/ exemption list and procedure	Applies to terrestrial animal products; aquatic goods need separate review.
Labeling decree	Decree 43/2017/ND-CP and amendments	Government	Review current consolidated/amended version	Original label and Vietnamese supplementary label	Product name, origin, quantity, expiry, storage condition	Highly relevant for cold-chain and prepackaged food.
Tariff schedules	Current import tariff and FTA tariff schedules	Government/Ministry of Finance	By applicable period	Ordinary duty, MFN, special preferential duty and VAT	8-digit HS, C/O condition, tariff schedule	Do not quote a duty rate before final HS is confirmed.

Goods situation	Documents to check	Possible policy	Authority/portal if identified	Trigger condition
Frozen meat/terrestrial animal products	Veterinary Law, Circular 01/2026/TT-BNNMT, current food-safety rules	Import quarantine, food safety, labeling, C/O	Veterinary/specialized authority and customs	Animal product imported for food use
Frozen/dried/packed seafood	Veterinary and aquatic product rules, food safety rules	Aquatic quarantine/food safety depending on product	Aquatic/food-safety authority and customs	Fish, shrimp, squid, molluscs or aquatic products
Dairy/eggs/honey	Food safety law, veterinary rules, declaration rules	Declaration/registration, food safety, quarantine if applicable	Food safety authority, quarantine authority, customs	Food or food ingredient imported for sale/production
Processed foods containing meat/fish/dairy	Food safety, labeling and quarantine rules if triggered	Self-declaration/registration, import food-safety inspection, label	Food safety authority, customs, laboratory	Animal-origin ingredient and packaged food format
Imports for EPE/FDI/factory	Customs rules and specialized rules by use purpose	Different treatment may apply by production/circulation purpose	Customs and specialized authority	Import purpose and downstream distribution

PROCESSING TIME, FEES AND RISK COSTS

Stage	Required action	Recommended timing	State fee/charge	Logistics risk cost	Control point
Before booking	Screen HS, product group, quarantine, food safety, declaration, label and storage condition	Several weeks before ETD for cold-chain/quarantine goods	Do not quote unless official fee is confirmed	Wrong screening may force document correction or shipment delay	Lock draft health certificate, label and ingredient list
Before ETA	Prepare/submit quarantine, food-safety and declaration documents	Before cargo arrival	Depending on authority/lab if any	Refrigerated container/storage, demurrage/detention and electricity costs	Check certificate, C/O, lot code and shelf-life details
Upon arrival	Customs declaration, inspection registration, sampling if any	Immediately after arrival notice and transport documents are available	Do not quote absolute amounts without current basis	Document hold, physical inspection and delayed cargo release	Coordinate customs, quarantine and port/warehouse
After clearance	Complete results, labeling and record retention	Before circulation or delivery to project/factory	Depending on remaining obligations	Post-clearance audit, recall or labeling violation	Maintain traceability dossier by lot

PRACTICAL END-TO-END WORKFLOW

Step	Stage	Action	Risk control point	Output
1	Pre-ETA/ETD screening	Identify the actual product nature: meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, honey, processed or mixed food	Do not rely on trade name; read ingredients and specification	Product classification and policy screening table
2	HS – duty – C/O locking	Review indicative HS, duty, VAT, FTA route and C/O conditions	HS on C/O and customs declaration must be consistent	Shipment HS/duty/C/O matrix
3	Quarantine and food-safety review	Check health certificate, country/facility requirements, product declaration and import food-safety requirements	Missing or incorrect certificate may hold cold cargo	Pre-shipment specialized document checklist
4	Commercial and transport document locking	Cross-check invoice, packing list, B/L/AWB, C/O, label, lot code and temperature	Mismatch in weight, packages, product name or temperature condition	Reviewed document set
5	Specialized dossier submission	Submit quarantine, food-safety or declaration/registration dossiers where required	Avoid late submission after arrival	Submission receipt/result if any
6	Customs declaration and channel handling	Open customs declaration and handle Green/Yellow/Red channel requirements	Yellow channel checks documents; Red channel checks physical goods	Customs clearance/release result
7	Cargo release and post-clearance	Arrange reefer truck/cold storage, labeling, record retention and compliance follow-up	Cold-chain break, wrong label or missing traceability file	Delivery record and post-clearance dossier

FAQ

1. Are animal-origin foods always subject to quarantine?

No universal answer should be given. Meat, terrestrial animal products, seafood, dairy, eggs and processed animal-origin foods must be reviewed against the applicable quarantine list, processing level, import purpose and current rules.

2. If the product is cooked or canned, is quarantine still required?

It depends on the product, process, HS code, ingredient composition and specialized authority guidance. Review health certificate, ingredient list, processing flow and declaration requirements before shipment.

3. Is product self-declaration or registration required?

Usually the declaration obligation must be reviewed. Conventional foods may follow a self-declaration route, while infant, medical or specially regulated foods may require product registration.

4. Can goods be cleared without a Health Certificate?

For many animal-origin products, the Health Certificate is a critical document. Missing or incorrect certificates may lead to supplementation requests, inspection delay or circulation restrictions.

5. Can C/O reduce import duty?

Yes, if the final HS is eligible for preferential duty and the C/O meets the required form, origin criterion, direct transport, goods description, issuance date and signature/stamp requirements.

6. Are samples exempt from specialized procedures?

Not automatically. Samples should still be reviewed based on quantity, use purpose, whether they are consumed/tested and the applicable specialized authority requirements.

7. What should be checked for frozen cargo before arrival?

Temperature condition, reefer container/cold storage plan, free time, quarantine/food-safety dossier and trucking schedule should be locked before ETA.

8. What should be retained after customs clearance?

Customs declaration, invoice, packing list, B/L/AWB, C/O, health certificate, quarantine/food-safety result, product declaration, Vietnamese label, COA/test report, temperature records and delivery documents by lot.

FINAL OUTPUTS AND POST-CLEARANCE OBLIGATIONS

Possible outputs include customs clearance, quarantine result, import food-safety inspection result, self-declaration or product registration receipt, Vietnamese supplementary label, accepted C/O and lot-level traceability dossier.

After clearance, the importer should control Vietnamese labeling, storage condition, shelf-life, declaration/quarantine/food-safety file retention, post-clearance audit readiness and ensure circulation only when the relevant specialized obligations are met.

TGIMEX IMPLEMENTATION SOLUTIONS

For animal-origin food shipments, the operational value lies in pre-ETA screening, document control from the exporting country and synchronized coordination among logistics, customs, quarantine, food safety and cold-chain handling.

Pre-ETA screening

Review HS, animal-origin ingredients, product condition, storage condition, country/facility, health certificate, C/O and label before shipment.

Compliance dossier control

Cross-check invoice, packing, B/L/AWB, C/O, health certificate, COA, original label, declaration dossier and test documents by lot.

Quarantine and food safety coordination

Prepare specialized submissions, track supplementation requests and flag bottlenecks that may delay cargo release.

Cold-chain logistics

Coordinate shipping/air schedules, cold storage, reefer trucking and delivery plan to reduce storage and temperature risk.

Customs, C/O and duty review

Support HS, customs value, tax policy, FTA preference and document explanation when customs reviews the dossier or cargo.

Post-clearance records

Build lot-level traceability files including declaration, certificates, inspection results, product declaration, labels, C/O, temperature and delivery records.

Discuss shipment dossier View customs and permits

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