Customs Department issues urgent guidance on food safety inspection of imported animal products
The customs authorities will still apply the current regulations when conducting food safety inspections for imported animal derived and aquatic products
The Customs Department in Vietnam released urgent guidance on September 10 regarding the food safety inspection of imported animal products to ensure smooth customs clearance. The guidance came in the form of Official Letter 21545/CHQ-GSQL, which provided instructions on the inspection process for these products. According to Circular No.22/2026/TT-BNNMT, the process of state inspection of food safety for imported agricultural products has been decentralized to local agencies.
This change, implemented from September 1, left many shipments of animal-derived food products at risk of delays due to unclear identification of the specialized inspection agency. In response to this issue, the Customs Department issued an urgent directive on September 9, instructing regional Customs branches to unify temporary handling measures until new legal regulations were issued.
While waiting for these regulations, customs authorities will continue to follow the handling mechanism outlined in previous guidelines, specifically Official Letter 358/TY-KD (March 2019) and Official Letter 3581/BNN-QLCL (May 2019). For shipments of fresh and frozen terrestrial and aquatic animal products used as food, customs authorities will allow immediate clearance if an Import Quarantine Certificate is presented by the veterinary authority.
This mechanism aims to streamline administrative procedures, expedite goods release, and maintain disease safety control. Despite this flexible approach, customs authorities still advise businesses importing animal products to verify legal conditions before filing declarations to avoid unnecessary warehousing costs. The proposed amendments to the Customs Law in Vietnam include expanding automated data control, strengthening inter-agency data sharing, and establishing a regulatory framework for the growing cross-border e-commerce sector.
These changes, which were discussed at a workshop organized by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry with the Customs Department in June 2026, aim to enhance transparency and efficiency in customs procedures.
Written by urgent.news from Vietnam Investment Review's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
