,"Vietnam has released a draft National Technical Regulation QCVN XX:2025/BCT establishing mandatory technical, safety, and management requirements for food cassava starch. The regulation is issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) and is expected to apply nationwide upon adoption.
Scope and Applicability
Applies to dry food-grade cassava starch derived from Manihot esculenta Crantz
Covers products manufactured from cassava roots, dried cassava chips, or cassava flour
Excludes modified cassava starch and cassava flour
Applies to manufacturers, importers, distributors, and related stakeholders operating in Vietnam
Key Technical Requirements
Physicochemical Criteria
Starch content: ≥ 85%
Moisture: ≤ 13%
Total ash: ≤ 0.2%
Crude fiber: ≤ 0.2%
pH (10% suspension): 5.0 – 7.0
Particle size: ≥ 95% passing 150 μm sieve
Whiteness: ≥ 90%
Total hydrocyanic acid (HCN): ≤ 10 mg/kg
Heavy Metals
Lead (Pb): ≤ 0.2 mg/kg
Microbiological Criteria
Total yeasts and moulds: ≤ 10³ CFU/g
Food Additives
Sulphur dioxide (SO₂): ≤ 50 mg/kg
Other permitted additives must comply with:
Circular No. 24/2019/TT-BYT (as amended)
Circular No. 17/2023/TT-BYT
Circular No. 08/2024/TT-BYT
Or CODEX STAN 192-1995 (updated 2024)
Sampling and Testing
Sampling in accordance with Circular No. 01/2024/TT-BKHCN
Analytical methods reference TCVN, ISO, AOAC, EN, and ISI standards, including ICP-MS and AAS for heavy metals
Management and Compliance Obligations
Mandatory product labelling under Decree No. 43/2017/ND-CP (as amended)
Product self-declaration required prior to market placement under Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP
Traceability requirements, including physical labels, electronic labels, or digital product passports, in line with forthcoming MOIT regulations
Responsibilities
Businesses are fully responsible for ensuring product compliance with the technical regulation and related food safety laws
MOIT’s Department of Innovation, Green Transition and Industrial Promotion will oversee implementation and future updates"
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