LAW
ON FOOD SAFETY

Pursuant to the 1992 Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, as amended and supplemented under Resolution No. 51/2001/QH10, the National Assembly promulgates the Law on Food Safety.

Reference translation note: The following English legal text is a structured operational translation prepared from the Vietnamese full text for reading on the website. The Vietnamese official text remains the controlling legal text.

Chapter 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Article sets out the scope of the Law, including rights and obligations in food safety, conditions for production, trading, import and export of food, labelling, advertisement, testing, risk analysis, incident handling, traceability, communication and state management.

Article 2. Interpretation of terms

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 3. Principles of food safety management

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 4. State policies on food safety

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Article 5. Prohibited acts

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 6. Handling of violations of food safety law

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Chapter 2

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS IN ASSURING FOOD SAFETY

Article 7. Rights and obligations of food producers

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 8. Rights and obligations of food traders

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 9. Rights and obligations of food consumers

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Chapter 3

FOOD SAFETY ASSURANCE CONDITIONS

Article 10. General conditions for food safety assurance

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 11. Safety assurance conditions for fresh and raw food

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 12. Safety assurance conditions for processed food

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 13. Safety assurance conditions for micronutrient-fortified food

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 14. Safety assurance conditions for functional foods

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 15. Safety assurance conditions for genetically modified food

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 16. Safety assurance conditions for irradiated food

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 17. Safety assurance conditions for food additives and food processing aids

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 18. Safety assurance conditions for food-packaging tools, packaging materials and containers

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Chapter 4

FOOD SAFETY ASSURANCE CONDITIONS IN FOOD PRODUCTION AND TRADING

Article 19. Food safety assurance conditions for food production and trading establishments

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 20. Food safety assurance conditions for food preservation

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 21. Food safety assurance conditions for food transportation

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 22. Food safety assurance conditions for small-scale food production and trading

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 23. Food safety assurance conditions for producers of fresh and raw food

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 24. Food safety assurance conditions for traders of fresh and raw food

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 25. Food safety assurance conditions for preliminary processors and processors of food

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 26. Food safety assurance conditions for materials, food additives, processing aids and micronutrients used in food processing

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 27. Food safety assurance conditions for traders of processed food

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 28. Food safety assurance conditions for places for processing and catering service business

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 29. Food safety assurance conditions for catering service processors and providers

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 30. Food safety assurance conditions in food processing and preservation

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 31. Food safety assurance conditions for places displaying street food for sale

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 32. Food safety assurance conditions for materials, eating utensils, food containers and street food vendors

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 33. Responsibilities for management of street food sale

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Chapter 5

CERTIFICATION OF FOOD SAFETY ELIGIBILITY FOR FOOD PRODUCTION AND TRADING ESTABLISHMENTS

Article 34. Establishments and conditions for grant and withdrawal of certificates of food safety eligibility

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 35. Competence to grant and withdraw certificates of food safety eligibility

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Article 36. Dossiers, order and procedures for granting certificates of food safety eligibility

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 37. Validity duration of certificates of food safety eligibility

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Chapter 6

FOOD IMPORT AND EXPORT

Article 38. Safety assurance conditions for imported food

Imported food, food additives, processing aids, food-packaging tools, packages and containers must satisfy applicable food safety conditions and import requirements. Functional food, micronutrient-fortified food, genetically modified food and irradiated food may require additional certificates or health-related documents as prescribed.

Article 39. State inspection of food safety for imported food

Imported food is subject to state food safety inspection, except cases exempted or reduced under current implementing regulations. Reduced inspection may apply where Vietnam has recognition arrangements or compliance history permits.

Article 40. Order, procedures and methods of state inspection of food safety for imported food

Food may be moved to storage pending customs clearance only under prescribed inspection registration conditions, and customs clearance is completed when the lot satisfies import requirements according to the applicable inspection method.

Article 41. Safety assurance conditions for exported food

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 42. Certification for exported food

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Chapter 7

FOOD ADVERTISEMENT AND LABELLING

Article 43. Food advertisement

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 44. Food labelling

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Chapter 8

FOOD TESTING; FOOD SAFETY RISK ANALYSIS; PREVENTION, REMEDY AND TRACEABILITY

Article 45. Requirements for food testing

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 46. Food testing establishments

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 47. Testing for settlement of food safety disputes

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 48. Costs of food sampling and testing

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 49. Objects subject to food safety risk analysis

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 50. Food safety risk analysis activities

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 51. Responsibility to conduct food safety risk analysis

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 52. Prevention and stopping of food safety incidents

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 53. Remedying food safety incidents

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 54. Tracing the origin of unsafe food

This Article regulates tracing the origin of unsafe food, including identifying lots, notifying relevant parties, summarizing information and reporting to competent authorities when necessary.

Article 55. Recall and handling of unsafe food

This Article regulates recall and handling of unsafe food, including voluntary or compulsory recall, public notification, remedial measures and disposal according to food safety and environmental rules.

Chapter 9

FOOD SAFETY INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION

Article 56. Purposes and requirements of food safety information, education and communication

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 57. Contents of food safety information, education and communication

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 58. Subjects accessing food safety information, education and communication

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 59. Forms of food safety information, education and communication

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 60. Responsibilities for food safety information, education and communication

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Chapter 10

STATE MANAGEMENT OF FOOD SAFETY

Article 61. State management responsibilities for food safety

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 62. State management responsibilities of the Ministry of Health

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 63. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 64. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Industry and Trade

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 65. State management responsibilities of People’s Committees at all levels

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 66. Food safety inspection

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Article 67. Contents of food safety inspection

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Article 68. Responsibilities for food safety examination

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Article 69. Powers and tasks of food safety management agencies in food safety examination

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Article 70. Examination teams

This Article provides the legal basis, conditions, rights, obligations, authority or procedural rules corresponding to the title above. For exact clause-by-clause legal application, cross-check the Vietnamese official text and current implementing documents.

Chapter 11

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 71. Effect

This Law takes effect on 1 July 2011. Ordinance No. 12/2003/PL-UBTVQH11 on Food Hygiene and Safety ceases to be effective from the effective date of this Law.

Article 72. Implementation detailing and guidance

The Government details and guides the implementation of assigned articles and clauses and other necessary contents to meet state management requirements. The Law was passed by the XIIth National Assembly at its 7th session on 17 June 2010.

CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Nguyen Phu Trong