Even when dried, fermented, smoked or heat-treated, sausage may still fall under terrestrial animal-product quarantine. Wrong species, processing, packaging, veterinary certificate or establishment data can trigger supplements, sampling and clearance delays.

This guide covers product identification → HS/tax/C/O → animal quarantine → food safety/self-declaration → pre-ETA dossier → customs → circulation and post-clearance records.

Operational reference for import-export businesses · Updated through 10 Sep 2026.

1. QUICK SUMMARY & SCOPE

PRODUCT GROUP

Processed meat product

Dry sausage, salami, smoked or heat-treated sausage made from terrestrial-animal meat/offal.

REFERENCE HS

1601.00.10 / 1601.00.90

Base branches for genuine sausage: airtight retail packaging vs other. Reclassify if the product is actually ham, smoked meat, pâté or another preparation.

SPECIALIZED CONTROL

Animal quarantine + food safety

Circular 01/2026/TT-BNNMT expressly lists sausages and other processed terrestrial-animal products in quarantine scope.

MARKET CIRCULATION

Self-declaration + label

Ordinary processed prepacked food requires review of self-declaration, import food-safety inspection and Vietnamese labeling.

TAX

MFN 15% · VAT review 8%/10%

1601.00.10/.90 have 15% MFN. VAT must be checked against the Decree 174/2025 reduction and exclusion lists.

KEY BLOCKER

Species + process + VHC

Lock species, formula, processing, packaging, storage and official Veterinary/Health Certificate before shipment.

Scope: terrestrial-animal sausages imported as food, including dried, fermented, smoked, cooked, chilled or frozen products that retain sausage character. Not automatically applicable to plant-based sausage, whole smoked meat, ham, pâté or other preparations.

WARNING: dried, cooked or smoked does not mean quarantine-exempt. Appendix I of Circular 01/2026/TT-BNNMT expressly includes sausages and other processed animal products.

2. KEY TERMS & WHY THE PROCEDURE MATTERS

Animal quarantine

Veterinary specialized control for animal products; review origin, species, establishment, certificate and sampling.

VHC

Veterinary / Health Certificate

Official exporting-country sanitary/veterinary certificate; a commercial COA is not a substitute.

Food safety

Import inspection, self-declaration and market-circulation obligations; separate from veterinary quarantine.

AIRTIGHT

Airtight retail packaging

Classification criterion for 1601.00.10; vacuum packaging alone is not conclusive.

SHELF-STABLE

Shelf-stable

Storage condition confirmed by manufacturer specification; it does not remove quarantine.

C/O

Proof of origin

Used for FTA duty preference, not as a substitute for VHC/quarantine/food safety.

Why this matters: retail airtight dry sausage, bulk sausage, chilled sausage and a smoked meat cut may use different HS branches and dossiers.

Key reminder: do not finalize HS from marketing names such as salami or sausage snack without formula, species, process and packaging data.

3. PRODUCT CLASSIFICATION & DETAILED IDENTIFICATION

Before discussing HS or specialized controls, identify the actual product: animal species, ingredient percentages, sausage structure, process flow, heat/drying/smoking/fermentation treatment, casing, storage conditions and packaging at import.

DETAILED PRODUCT CLASSIFICATION

Product/scenario	Check	Example	Evidence	Potential policy	Dossier	Note
Dry/fermented/smoked sausage – airtight retail	Sausage form, meat %, casing, process, package	Dry sausage/salami retail pack	Formula, process, label, package photo	1601.00.10; AQ; FS; self-declaration	VHC, spec, test, commercial docs	Vacuum pack is not automatically the HS airtight criterion.
Dry/smoked sausage – bulk/other package	Still sausage; .10 packaging criterion not met	Bulk smoked sausage	Spec, package photo, contract	1601.00.90; AQ; FS	VHC + commercial docs	Assess package at import.
Cooked/chilled/frozen sausage	Still retains sausage character	Cooked/frozen sausage	Process, temperature, storage spec	Review 16.01; cold chain; AQ	VHC, temperature spec	Cooking/freezing does not automatically move to 16.02.
Whole smoked meat / ham	Not sausage; identifiable meat cut	Smoked bacon/ham	Photos, cut/species, process	Review Ch.02/16.02	Technical + veterinary docs	Do not use 1601 because the word smoked appears.
Pâté/meat loaf/other meat preparation	Spread/loaf/homogenised	Pâté, meat loaf	Formula, process, photos	Review 16.02/other heading	Product dossier	Separate before tax calculation.
Plant-based sausage	No animal-product character	Plant-based sausage	Formula/protein source/label	Outside this animal-origin article	Formula/spec	Trade name alone does not create quarantine.

4. HS CODE – TAX – C/O

The HS codes below are reference branches, not a conclusion based on the trade name. Confirm the actual goods, formula, processing and import packaging; if the product is ham, a whole smoked meat cut, pâté or another meat preparation, move to the competing heading before calculating duty.

HS BRANCH

1601.00.10 / 1601.00.90

Base split: airtight retail packaging / other.

CLASSIFICATION BASIS

Nature + packaging

Lock species, formula, processing and import packaging.

MFN / ORDINARY

15% / 22.5%

MFN 15%; ordinary treatment is applied only where that tariff mechanism applies.

VAT

Review 8% / 10%

Eligible 10% goods may receive the temporary reduction under Decree 174/2025 if not excluded.

C/O / FTA

By origin

Review ATIGA, ACFTA/RCEP, VKFTA/AKFTA, CPTPP, EVFTA, UKVFTA etc. under the 2026 schedule.

LOCK BEFORE DECLARATION

HS → tax → C/O

Do not use an FTA 10-digit line as the base HS; crosswalk from the national 8-digit code first.

PROPOSED HS – TAX – C/O

Reference HS	Description	Basis	Condition	Ordinary duty	MFN	VAT	C/O/FTA	Evidence
1601.00.10	Sausages/similar products in airtight containers for retail sale	Heading 16.01 + package criterion	Sausage character + qualifying package	22.5% where ordinary tariff applies	15%	8% if reduction applies; otherwise 10%	Review FTA by origin/detail code	Formula, process, package, commercial docs
1601.00.90	Sausages/similar products – other	Heading 16.01	Bulk/other packaging	22.5% where ordinary tariff applies	15%	8% if eligible; otherwise 10%	Review FTA by origin	Formula, process, package spec
1602.xx / competing heading	Other prepared/preserved meat	Only when no longer sausage	Pâté, meat loaf, ham/cut	Do not use 16.01 rate	Do not use 16.01 rate	Final HS	Recheck FTA after HS	Formula/species/process/photos

C/O / FTA BY IMPORT ROUTE

Origin	FTA	Origin proof	Special rate	Condition	Dossier	Note
China	ACFTA / RCEP	Form E / RCEP proof	Check 2026 special tariff by detailed code	Meet PSR/document rules	C/O, Invoice, B/L, HS crosswalk	Preference does not replace VHC/quarantine.
ASEAN	ATIGA	Form D / ATIGA proof	Check 2026 schedule	Meet origin rules	C/O + transport docs	Veterinary eligibility remains separate.
Korea/Japan	VKFTA/AKFTA/RCEP or VJEPA/AJCEP/CPTPP/RCEP	Relevant origin proof	Check 2026 schedule	Use correct FTA and PSR	Origin dossier	Do not mix FTA conditions.
EU/UK	EVFTA / UKVFTA	EUR.1 / permitted origin proof	Check 2026 schedule	Meet PSR/certification	Origin + commercial docs	Veterinary market access is separate.

C/O CHECKLIST: verify proof type, origin criterion, HS, goods description, issue date, third-party invoice where applicable, transport route, weight and authentication. Where an FTA schedule uses 10-digit detail, create a crosswalk from the national 8-digit base HS before locking the preferential rate.

5. DOSSIER & PREPARATION

Manage the dossier under a “one source of truth – multiple procedures” principle: species, formula, process, manufacturer/establishment, lot and packaging data must remain consistent across HS, quarantine, food safety, labels and customs.

Commercial dossier

Invoice, PL, B/L/AWB, Contract/PO, C/O and temperature instructions if controlled.

Technical/specialized dossier

Formula %, species, process, storage, shelf life, test/COA, package, establishment and VHC.

Registration/cross-check dossier

Quarantine registration/declaration; import food-safety file; self-declaration/test and labels.

Dossier preparation principle: species, formula, process, manufacturer, lot, weight, storage and packaging must match across VHC, Invoice, Packing List, B/L/AWB, food-safety dossier, labels, C/O and customs declaration.

OPERATIONAL DOSSIER CHECKLIST

Dossier group	Documents	Used for	Owner	Common error	Pre-ETA check
Commercial	Invoice; PL; B/L/AWB; Contract/PO	Customs/shipment match	Importer + supplier + forwarder	Generic description; weight/lot mismatch	Lock SKU/lot/net-gross/packages before SI.
Technical	Formula %, species, process, storage, package	HS/AQ/FS/label	Manufacturer	Missing species/process; unclear airtight status	Use revision-controlled spec + actual package photo.
Veterinary	Quarantine registration/declaration; VHC; establishment data	Import quarantine	Importer + exporting authority	Wrong/missing VHC; establishment mismatch	Review before shipment.
Food safety	Inspection dossier; self-declaration; test; label	Import FS + circulation	Importer/brand owner	SKU/label/test mismatch	Cross-check before ETA and sale.
Origin/FTA	C/O/origin proof	Preferential duty	Exporter + importer	HS on C/O differs	Crosswalk base/FTA code before declaration.

6. LEGAL BASIS – SPECIALIZED POLICY MATRIX

LEGAL BASIS TO REVIEW

Instrument group	Instrument	Issuer	Effective time	Role	Key article/appendix	Review note
Customs	Customs Law 54/2014/QH13; Decree 08/2015/NĐ-CP as amended by Decree 167/2025/NĐ-CP	National Assembly / Government	Decree 167/2025 effective 15 Aug 2025	Customs procedures, inspection and supervision	Use the amended Decree 08 framework for declarations/inspection	Do not rely on pre-15 Aug 2025 procedures as the current operating rule.
Food Safety Law	Food Safety Law 55/2010/QH12	National Assembly	Effective 1 Jul 2011; amendment bill was still under development as of 10 Sep 2026	Framework for imported food, inspection, labeling and responsibilities	Read with Decree 15/2018 and Resolution 15/2026	The amended law had not yet taken effect at the article review date.
Ordinary import tariff	Decision 15/2023/QĐ-TTg	Prime Minister	Effective 15 Jul 2023	Ordinary import-tariff mechanism	Where its conditions apply, goods may use 150% of the corresponding MFN rate	Supports the 22.5% reference only where the ordinary tariff mechanism actually applies and MFN is 15%.
Goods labeling	Decree 43/2017/NĐ-CP as amended by Decree 111/2021/NĐ-CP	Government	Decree 111 effective 15 Feb 2022	Imported-goods labels and Vietnamese supplementary labels	Also review food-specific ingredient, warning and storage requirements	Artwork should align with self-declaration/food-safety and actual shipment data.
Law	Veterinary Law 79/2015/QH13, amended by 146/2025/QH15	National Assembly	Amendment effective 1 Jan 2026	Veterinary/quarantine framework	Import quarantine provisions	Use current text.
Circular – NEW	01/2026/TT-BNNMT	Ministry of Agriculture and Environment	Effective 1 Jan 2026	Terrestrial animal-product quarantine	Appendix I expressly lists sausages; Arts.10–12 import procedure	Replaces Circular 25/2016 system under Art.30.
Amendment	22/2026/TT-BNNMT	Ministry of Agriculture and Environment	Effective 19 May 2026	Amends/decentralizes procedures	Read with Circular 01/2026	Do not rely on original January text alone.
Consolidated text	67/VBHN-BNNMT	Ministry of Agriculture and Environment	Dated 12 Jun 2026	Consolidates 01/2026 + 22/2026	Arts.10–12 and appendices	Preferred current operational reference.
Specialized HS list	01/2024/TT-BNNPTNT Appendix II	MARD	Use current unrepealed scope	1601.00.10/.90 mapped to quarantine/food-safety review	Appendix II	Circular 27/2026/TT-BNNMT repealed quality-inspection provisions only within its scope.
Food safety – current	Decree 15/2018/NĐ-CP + Resolution 15/2026/NQ-CP	Government	Resolution effective 6 Apr 2026	Suspends Decree 46/2026 and Resolution 66.13/2026; Decree 15 framework applies during suspension	Arts.4–5, 13–19, 14	Processed-prepacked Art.14 carve-out does not cancel veterinary quarantine.
Import duty	Decree 26/2023/NĐ-CP	Government	Effective 15 Jul 2023	MFN tariff	1601.00.10/.90 = 15%	Use final HS/current amendments.
VAT	Decree 174/2025/NĐ-CP	Government	Reduction policy through 31 Dec 2026	2-point reduction for eligible goods	Art.1 + exclusions	Check final HS before locking 8%/10%.
Veterinary fees	Circular 101/2020/TT-BTC	Ministry of Finance	Effective 11 Jan 2021	Veterinary fees	Relevant fee schedule	No single flat fee for every shipment.

POLICY MATRIX BY GOODS SCENARIO

Scenario	Legal basis	Policy	Authority	Trigger
Dried/smoked animal sausage	01/2026 + 22/2026 + 67/VBHN	Animal-product quarantine	Veterinary/border quarantine authority	Dry/cooked/smoked alone is not an exemption.
Processed prepacked food	Decree 15 + Resolution 15/2026	Self-declaration + applicable import FS inspection	Food-safety authority	Food marketed in Vietnam.
Art.14 processed-prepacked case	Art.14 Decree 15	Specific carve-out from certain Art.14 country/establishment conditions	Food-safety authority	Does not remove animal quarantine.
Sampled animal-product shipment	Circular 01/2026 / 67-VBHN	Sampling/testing before certificate	Border quarantine body	Risk/species/origin triggers.
Airtight retail package	HS nomenclature + Decree 26	Review 1601.00.10	Customs	Sausage + qualifying package.
Bulk/other or non-sausage preparation	HS + technical dossier	1601.00.90 or reclassify 16.02/other	Customs + specialized authority	Actual product/package differs.

7. PROCESSING TIME, FEES & RISK COSTS

OPERATIONAL TIMELINE

Step	Time	Condition	Fees	Logistics risk
Pre-shipment preparation	Variable by supplier/dossier; no fixed statutory period stated	Lock species, formula, process, packaging, storage, establishment, VHC, HS/C/O and food-safety file	Testing/document/service cost where applicable	Late preparation can invalidate certificate wording or force booking changes.
Pre-import quarantine registration	4 working days from complete valid dossier	Animal-product import registration	No single flat total fee	Resolve product/establishment/certificate before shipment.
Border quarantine declaration	1 working day for confirmation/scheduling	Complete valid declaration	Current veterinary fee rules	Late filing can affect free time.
Certificate – no sampling	1 working day if compliant	No sampling required	Circular 101/2020	Documents/package/storage must pass.
Certificate – sampling	5 working days if results pass	Sampling required	Testing may add cost	Failure extends time.
Food safety – normal	3 working days under published procedure	Normal method	Applicable fees	Do not mechanically add to quarantine.
Food safety – tightened	7 working days	Tightened triggers	Testing may add cost	Higher storage risk.
Customs/delivery	Variable by channel/results	HS/tax/AQ/FS complete	Duty + local charges	Missing specialized result can hold cargo.
Post-clearance – self-declaration, labeling and records	No approval waiting period under the self-declaration mechanism; complete properly before market circulation	Product falls under self-declaration and test/label file is valid	Testing, supplementary-label and record-management costs	Clearance does not replace market-circulation or post-market obligations.

Timeline note: do not mechanically add every statutory period. Some items are pre-shipment prerequisites, some may be prepared in parallel, and sampling/tightened inspection only applies when triggered. Storage, DEM/DET and cold-chain costs must be assessed separately if specialized results are delayed.

8. PRACTICAL E2E WORKFLOW

STEP 01

Identify product/data

Lock species, formula, casing, process, storage, shelf life and package; separate plant-based/non-sausage products.

STEP 02

Finalize HS/tax/C/O

Confirm 16.01; split .10/.90; then calculate duty/VAT/FTA.

STEP 03

Review specialized controls

Check Circular 01/2026/TT-BNNMT / 67/VBHN-BNNMT, veterinary eligibility, VHC and food-safety method.

STEP 04

Complete product dossier

Prepare quarantine registration, VHC, self-declaration/test, label, establishment and process/spec.

STEP 05

Lock documents pre-ETA

Cross-check VHC, Invoice, PL, B/L/AWB, C/O, label and spec.

STEP 06

Declare customs/handle channel

Declare HS/value/C/O/tax; keep formula/process/package rationale ready for Yellow/Red.

STEP 07

Complete controls & pickup

Coordinate quarantine/sampling, food safety, taxes and clearance.

STEP 08

Circulate/retain/post-clearance

Apply supplementary label; retain compliance records and reassess changes.

Before ETA: preferably lock before supplier handover: veterinary eligibility, VHC format/content, species, formula/process, packaging, storage, HS, C/O, self-declaration/food-safety dossier and label artwork.

Main blockers: (1) goods are not actually sausage under heading 16.01; (2) missing/incorrect VHC; (3) establishment/product scope mismatch; (4) species/formula/process inconsistency; (5) packaging changes the HS branch; (6) food-safety/self-declaration dossier does not match the SKU; (7) storage/transport condition conflicts with the specification.

9. FAQ – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Is dried/smoked sausage quarantine-exempt?

No. Circular 01/2026/TT-BNNMT expressly lists sausages among processed animal products subject to quarantine.

2. Which HS branches should be reviewed?

For genuine sausage under 16.01, review 1601.00.10 and 1601.00.90 by packaging.

3. Does species matter?

Yes for veterinary conditions, VHC and disease risk even where the base 1601 code is not simply species-split.

4. Does vacuum packing guarantee 1601.00.10?

No. The actual airtight retail criterion must be proven.

5. Does the processed-prepacked Art.14 carve-out remove quarantine?

No. It concerns a food-safety layer, not veterinary quarantine.

6. Is a VHC normally needed?

The veterinary dossier generally requires official exporting-country certification unless a specific current exception applies.

7. Is self-declaration needed before sale?

Ordinary processed prepacked foods generally follow Decree 15 self-declaration unless registration/exemption applies.

8. Food-safety inspection time?

Published procedure: 3 working days normal; 7 working days tightened.

9. Animal quarantine time?

Pre-import registration: 4 working days; border no-sampling: 1 day; sampled: 5 days if compliant.

10. Can C/O replace quarantine?

No. Origin/tariff and quarantine are separate.

11. Can dry sausage move ambient?

Only if manufacturer spec/label supports it; “dry” does not automatically mean shelf-stable.

12. What to retain after clearance?

HS analysis, formula/process/spec, VHC, quarantine records/certificate, food-safety/self-declaration, tests, labels, shipping docs, C/O and customs/tax records.

10. OUTPUTS & POST-CLEARANCE OBLIGATIONS

Product/classification file

Formula, species, process, packaging and 1601.00.10/.90 rationale.

Shipment file

Invoice, PL, B/L/AWB, lot/weight/temperature aligned.

Specialized file

Quarantine registration/declaration, VHC, certificate and food-safety file.

Customs & tax

Declaration, HS basis, value, duty, VAT, C/O and payment proof.

Label & circulation

Self-declaration/test where applicable and compliant labels.

CHECK

Records & change control

Reassess establishment, species, formula, process, origin and packaging changes.

Target output: the file should simultaneously prove correct goods – correct HS/tax – correct quarantine/food safety – correct market-circulation status. Customs clearance alone does not complete product compliance.

Change management: changes in supplier/establishment, exporting country, meat species, ingredient ratio, drying–smoking–fermentation process, storage or packaging may affect HS, VHC, quarantine, food safety/self-declaration, labels and C/O. Reassess before the next shipment.

11. TGIMEX SOLUTIONS

The main risk with dried/smoked sausage is often that HS – veterinary – food safety – certificates – labels – logistics are built from different data. Lock one operating dataset before shipment rather than fixing isolated documents after arrival.

Pre-ETA review

Lock product, species, formula/process, packaging, HS, veterinary eligibility, VHC, food safety and C/O.

Compliance dossier control

Cross-check commercial, veterinary, technical, food-safety, label and customs data.

Operations/logistics & clearance

Plan quarantine, sampling, food safety, customs, tax, cold-chain/storage and delivery.

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