This article outlines the legal basis, transition timeline and document checklist for imported goods subject to state quality control. The focus is the legacy Group 2 goods mechanism and the transition to the medium-risk/high-risk framework under Decree 37/2026/ND-CP.

Legal note: Decree 37/2026/ND-CP took effect from its signing date. However, from the effective date until 30 June 2026, the classification of products and goods into Group 1/Group 2 and the management measures for Group 2 continue to follow the previous regulations. From 01 July 2026, the old regulations listed in Article 97 of Decree 37/2026/ND-CP cease to be effective. This English version is for operational reference only and is not an official legal translation.

QUICK SUMMARY

Item	Key point	Recommended action
Regulatory scope	State quality inspection for imported goods subject to quality control, commonly referred to under the old system as Group 2 goods.	Check the relevant sectoral list, HS code, applicable QCVN/TCVN, catalogue, model and import purpose.
Transition timeline	Until 30 June 2026: Group 1/Group 2 rules continue. From 01 July 2026: the medium-risk/high-risk framework becomes the key reference.	For shipments with ETA close to the transition date, confirm the filing route before booking or customs declaration.
Affected parties	Importers, trading companies, factories, EPE/FDI entities, distributors, brand owners, procurement, compliance, operations and logistics providers.	Standardise commercial documents, technical files, conformity certification/declaration, labels and model data.
Operational risks	Incomplete dossier, non-compliant labelling, certificate not matching the applicable regulation or shipment, inconsistent data across documents.	Review documents before ETA to reduce storage, demurrage/detention, customs channel change or delivery delay.

KEY LEGAL INSTRUMENT

Field	Details
Document	Decree 37/2026/ND-CP detailing several articles and implementation measures of the Law on Product and Goods Quality.
Number	37/2026/ND-CP
Issuing authority	Government of Viet Nam
Date of issuance	23 January 2026
Effective date	23 January 2026
Status	In force, with transition rules for Group 1/Group 2 until 30 June 2026 and expiry of old regulations from 01 July 2026.
Relevant scope	Procedures for inspection, exemption/reduction and handling during inspection of imported goods with medium or high risk levels.
Relevant parties	Importers, producers, traders, quality inspection authorities, conformity assessment bodies and logistics parties involved in importation and circulation.

KEY OPERATIONAL POINTS

1. HS code is not enough

Quality inspection cannot be determined only by HS code. Product function, design, applicable technical regulation, sectoral authority and condition of goods must also be reviewed.

2. Conformity certificate must match the shipment

The certificate must match the applicable QCVN and the actual shipment: product name, model, specifications, manufacturer, label and quantity.

3. Labelling is a critical checkpoint

Main label, supplementary label, origin, responsible party and mandatory technical information should be checked before filing.

4. Electronic filing route

Registration for state quality inspection is generally conducted via the National Single Window or the National Public Service Portal, except system incidents or force majeure cases.

AFFECTED GOODS AND PARTIES

Analysis group	Practical review approach	Documents to check
Business groups	Importers, factories, EPE/FDI entities, brand owners, distributors and logistics providers handling regulated goods.	Contract, invoice, packing list, bill of lading/AWB, PO, corporate documents and authorisation if any.
Products	Goods in Group 2 or medium/high-risk lists issued by sectoral ministries, such as electrical/electronic equipment, ICT, toys, steel, construction materials, measuring instruments or goods subject to mandatory QCVN.	Catalogue, datasheet, model list, serial list, QCVN/TCVN, sectoral list and original label.
Affected stage	Pre-import review, customs declaration, quality inspection registration, testing/conformity certification, conformity declaration, customs clearance, market circulation and post-clearance review.	Quality inspection registration, conformity certificate, conformity declaration, test report and inspection result notice.
Triggering conditions	Sectoral list, QCVN, risk level, product model, origin, condition of goods or import purpose.	HS reference, product description, photos, label, intended use and technical file.

IMPACT ON IMPORT-EXPORT AND LOGISTICS

Operational stage	Impact	Pre-ETA control point
Customs declaration	HS code, product description, commodity policy and specialised management code must be aligned.	Confirm Vietnamese product name, model, function, QCVN and responsible authority before declaration.
Commercial documents	Invoice, packing list, B/L or AWB, C/O and catalogue must be consistent.	Cross-check product name, model, quantity, origin and manufacturer.
Specialised dossier	Registration for quality inspection, conformity certificate, conformity declaration, test report, label samples and technical documents may be required.	Confirm whether a valid conformity certificate already exists.
Logistics timeline	Late dossiers or label remediation may delay clearance and cause storage, demurrage or detention.	Review before ETA, especially for sea freight, border-gate shipments and project cargo.
Post-clearance compliance	Goods may still be subject to market surveillance and quality inspection after clearance.	Archive inspection documents, labels, test reports, result notices and customs declarations by shipment.

DOCUMENT CHECKLIST

Document group	Required documents	Used for	Common errors	Pre-ETA check
Commercial documents	Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Sales Contract/PO, B/L or AWB, C/O if preferential tariff is claimed.	Customs declaration, customs value, origin and quantity.	Generic product name, incorrect model, quantity discrepancy or mismatch between C/O and invoice.	Check product name, model, quantity, origin and manufacturer.
Technical file	Catalogue, datasheet, user manual, product photos, original label, model/serial list.	Commodity policy, QCVN and specialised dossier review.	Catalogue does not show function/specifications or model data.	Request official PDF documents from supplier before final HS/policy decision.
Quality dossier	Conformity certificate, conformity declaration, test report, inspection/certification document if any.	Quality inspection registration and proof of conformity.	Expired certificate, wrong QCVN, mismatch in model/manufacturer.	Check validity, scope, applicable QCVN and designated certification body.
Labelling	Main label, supplementary label draft, mandatory Vietnamese contents, responsible party and origin.	Import inspection and market circulation.	Missing origin, missing mandatory specifications or inconsistent label data.	Review label artwork before cargo arrival.

Group	Document	Authority	Timing	Role	Key points	Review note
Law	Law on Product and Goods Quality 05/2007/QH12	National Assembly	Effective from 01 July 2008; amended.	Core legal basis for quality management and inspection.	Rules on unsafe goods, quality inspection and responsibilities.	Read together with Law 78/2025/QH15.
Amending law	Law 78/2025/QH15	National Assembly	Effective from 01 January 2026.	Updates risk-based quality management.	Relevant amendments to Articles 34 and 45.	Use consolidated text where available.
Key decree	Decree 37/2026/ND-CP	Government	Effective from 23 January 2026.	State inspection of high-risk imported goods; conformity declaration/quality-control measures for medium-risk goods; inspection reduction/exemption and handling during inspection.	Articles 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 97 and Appendix VII.	Main reference for 2026 onward.
Previous/transition decrees	Decree 132/2008/ND-CP, 74/2018/ND-CP, Article 4 of 154/2018/ND-CP, 13/2022/ND-CP	Government	Transition until 30 June 2026; expire from 01 July 2026 as specified in Article 97.	Old legal basis for Group 2 goods inspection.	Quality inspection and import dossier rules.	Critical for shipments with ETA before/near 30 June 2026.
Standards and technical regulations law	Law on Standards and Technical Regulations 68/2006/QH11, as amended by Laws 35/2018/QH14 and 70/2025/QH15	National Assembly	To be checked against the consolidated/current version.	Legal basis for standards, technical regulations, conformity declaration and conformity assessment.	Rules on conformity declaration and conformity assessment.	Important for goods subject to mandatory QCVN.
Decree on standards/technical regulations	Decree 22/2026/ND-CP	Government	Effective from 16 January 2026.	Details implementation of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations.	Conformity declaration, conformity mark and responsibilities.	Should be reviewed together with Decree 37/2026/ND-CP.
Circular	14/2026/TT-BKHCN	Ministry of Science and Technology	Effective from 25 May 2026.	Regulates conformity declaration and conformity assessment methods.	Conformity mark, methods 1–8 and effective provisions.	Replaces Circulars 28/2012/TT-BKHCN, 02/2017/TT-BKHCN and 04/2025/TT-BKHCN from its effective date.
Product labelling	Decree 43/2017/ND-CP and Decree 111/2021/ND-CP	Government	Decree 111/2021/ND-CP effective from 15 February 2022.	Basis for checking original labels, Vietnamese supplementary labels, origin and responsible entity.	Rules on labels of imported goods.	Labelling mismatch is a frequent quality-inspection risk.
QCVN/TCVN	National technical regulations and Vietnamese standards by product group	Competent ministries/agencies	As specified in each QCVN/TCVN.	Technical basis for testing, conformity certification/declaration and quality inspection.	Technical indicators, test methods and certification methods.	Must be reviewed by actual model and datasheet.

SPECIALISED TERMS

Term	Brief explanation	Operational note
Group 2 goods	Goods potentially unsafe under the former product and goods quality management framework.	The old Group 1/Group 2 mechanism applies during the transition period until 30 June 2026.
Medium-risk goods	Under the new framework, such goods generally require conformity declaration or another applicable quality-control measure before market circulation.	Do not automatically treat them as subject to import-stage quality inspection; review Article 82 and the applicable QCVN.
High-risk goods	Imported goods subject to state quality inspection registration under Decree 37/2026/ND-CP.	Forms in Appendix VII are critical for operational filing.
Conformity certification/declaration	Certification/declaration that a product conforms to a mandatory technical regulation.	Must match the QCVN, model, manufacturer, label and commercial documents.
QCVN / TCVN	QCVN means national technical regulation; TCVN means Vietnamese standard.	Review by actual catalogue, datasheet and product function, not only by trade name.

VIEW / DOWNLOAD ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS

Enterprises should verify the original legal text on official government portals or the issuing authority’s website before applying it to an actual shipment.

View Decree 37/2026/ND-CP Download signed PDF Download appendices/forms View Circular 14/2026/TT-BKHCN National Single Window Public Service Portal

FULL TEXT / DIRECT PDF PREVIEW

Because Decree 37/2026/ND-CP and its appendices are long documents, this web version uses direct PDF previews to preserve the full signed text, appendices and official forms.

Preview full Decree 37/2026/ND-CP – signed Vietnamese PDF

Source: Government Portal of Vietnam. This English version is an operational translation only and is not an official legal translation.

Preview appendices/forms issued with Decree 37/2026/ND-CP

Appendices/forms should be reviewed together with the decree, especially Appendix VII for quality inspection registration forms.

FAQ

1. Is “Group 2 goods” still used after Decree 37/2026/ND-CP?

During the transition period until 30 June 2026, Group 1/Group 2 classification continues. From 01 July 2026, the new risk-based framework must be reviewed.

2. Is quality inspection still required if a conformity certificate is available?

Do not apply a blanket conclusion. For high-risk imported goods with a conformity certificate, Decree 37/2026/ND-CP still requires registration and dossier review by the inspection authority.

3. What if the shipment does not yet have a conformity certificate?

The importer should register for state quality inspection, prepare product description/photos and label information, and work with a designated certification body for conformity assessment.

TGIMEX SOLUTIONS

Operational recommendation: For goods that may trigger state quality inspection, conformity certification, conformity declaration or labelling control, enterprises should review the dossier before ETA instead of waiting until the cargo arrives at port or border gate. The section below describes execution support across logistics, documentation, customs and specialised regulatory control; it is not a formal legal conclusion for any specific shipment.

Capability group	Control scope	Documents to cross-check	Operational value
Legal review	Read the source regulation, identify effective dates, transition milestones, scope of regulation, affected product groups, related legal instruments and policy trigger conditions based on the actual dossier.	Decree 37/2026/ND-CP, appendices/forms, QCVN/TCVN, specialised management lists and circulars issued by the relevant line ministry.	Reduces the risk of applying the old Group 2 mechanism incorrectly during the transition period or confusing medium-risk goods with high-risk goods.
Document control	Cross-check product name, model, serial number, quantity, origin, manufacturer, technical specifications and labels between commercial documents and specialised dossiers.	Commercial Invoice, Packing List, B/L/AWB, Sales Contract/PO, catalogue, datasheet, user manual, original label, C/O, test report and certificate of conformity.	Limits data discrepancies that may lead to dossier supplementation, inspection escalation or longer customs clearance time.
Logistics coordination	Set risk checkpoints before booking, before cargo departure, before ETA and before customs declaration; coordinate suppliers, forwarders, agents, documentation teams, customs declarants and warehouse/port operators.	Pre-alert, booking, container/truck information, storage location, state quality inspection registration, inspection result notices, licences/authorisations if applicable.	Reduces the risk of storage, DEM/DET, production or delivery delays, and unplanned logistics costs.
Post-clearance completion	File documents by shipment, retain inspection/certification/declaration evidence, monitor Vietnamese sub-labels, conformity marks, corrective evidence and post-clearance obligations.	Customs declaration, inspection result notice, certificate of conformity, conformity declaration, test report, Vietnamese sub-label, product photos and circulation dossier.	Helps accounting, compliance and operation teams maintain a consistent file for reconciliation, retention and explanation during post-clearance or market inspection.

Review key data before ETA: HS code, Vietnamese product name, model, applicable QCVN, label, C/O and conformity certification status.
Set a separate checklist for each product group instead of using one generic dossier template for all Group 2 products.
Prioritise common delay points: missing catalogue/datasheet, inconsistent labels, certificates not matching the model, or unclear authority/submission portal.
Store final records by customs declaration number, bill number, certificate number and internal shipment code for post-clearance traceability.

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