Draft Amendment to Vietnam’s Decree 15/2018 on Food Safety Implementation​

"On March 12, 2025, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health released a draft amendment to Decree 15/2018/ND-CP, which details the implementation of the Law on Food Safety. The proposed changes aim to enhance regulatory clarity, streamline administrative procedures, and strengthen post-market surveillance. Key Proposed Amendments: Expanded Definitions: Clarification of terms such as “food for special dietary uses,” “scientific evidence,” and “small-scale primary production facilities.”​ Product Declarations: Mandatory re-declaration for significant changes in product formulation, labeling, or responsible entities.​ Functional Foods: Introduction of the concept of “first-time marketed functional foods,” requiring detailed product information files (PIFs) and supporting scientific evidence.​ Testing and Inspection: Enhanced requirements for testing facilities, including quality management systems, proficiency testing, and inter-laboratory comparisons.​ Administrative Simplification: Reduction of certain procedures, acceptance of electronic documents, and decentralization of certificate issuance to local authorities"