Vietnam Publishes New Decree on Labeling Goods

On April 14th, 2017, Vietnam published a new Decree No. 43/2017/ND-CP on regulations of labeling circulated and imported goods in Vietnam. This regulation excludes temporarily imported goods for re-export or transit; fuels and materials of agriculture, fishing and minerals to be directly sold; petroleum and gas (LPG, CNG, LNG) without commercial packaging; used goods and radioactive substances.

This Decree defines the conditions and requirements on labeling each type of goods according to its own properties (refer to Annex I for details) and provides instructions on stating manufacture and expiration dates with each type of goods (Annex III).

Decree 43/2017/ND-CP also regulates the obligations of recording the origin of goods and necessary technical specifications and warning information on the label to comply with Vietnam’s law and international treaties’ regulation of which Vietnam is a member.

Decree 91/2016/ND-CP will take effect on June 1, 2017, and replace Decree No. 89/2006/ND-CP on labeling goods. The transitional provisions are as follows:

• Goods which had labels complying with Decree No. 89/2006/ND-CP (on labels of already-manufactured, imported, circulated or used goods) before the effective date of this new Decree shall be allowed to be circulated and used up to the expiration date stated on such label.
• Labels of goods and packages affixed with goods labels specified in Decree No. 89/2006/ND-CP which have been produced or printed before the effective date of this Decree are allowed to continue to be used, but not beyond two years from the effective date of this Decree.

Reference:

The full text of Decree 43 can be found in the Vietnam Chemicals Agency website (Vietnamese only): http://www.cuchoachat.gov.vn/default.aspx?page=legal&do=detail&id=62