New regulations on origin of goods comes into effect in February

New rules are coming to provide greater transparency in origin of goods

According to Decree 111, manufacturing, exporting, and importing organisations and individuals will have to record the origin of their goods by themselves, ensuring truthfulness, accuracy, and compliance with legal provisions on the origin of goods exported from, imported to, and manufactured in Vietnam or any countries participating in international commitments to which Vietnam is a party.

Notably, the origin of goods indicated on the label is shown by one of the following phrases: "made in"; “manufactured in”; “producing country”; "origin"; "made by"; “product of” accompanied by the name of the country or territory producing the goods. The new decree added the phrase “product of”.

In case the origin of goods cannot be determined through the above provisions, the location of completion needs to be identified with one or a combination of the phrases: “assembled at”, “bottled at”, “mixed at”, “completed at”, “packed at”, “labelled at” followed by the name of the country or territory where the product was completed.

The decree also forbids abbreviating the name of the country or territory where the goods are manufactured or where the goods are completed.

The decree also amends and supplements Article 12.3 on the name and address of the organisation or individual responsible for the goods. Notably, goods imported for circulation in Vietnam must show the name and address of the producing organisation or individual along with the name and address of the importing organisation or individual on the label.

Medical equipment produced domestically or imported for circulation in Vietnam must show the name and address of the owner of the medical equipment and the name and address of the owner of the free-sale registration number. In case medical equipment does not have a free-sale registration number, this information must include the name and address of the owner of the medical equipment as well as of the import organisation or individual on the import permit.