Detailed Explanation of Notification Requirements and Compliance Procedures in the Vietnamese Cosmetics Market

Vietnam, as one of the fastest - growing cosmetics markets in Southeast Asia, attracts the attention of global cosmetics manufacturers with its large consumer group and continuously growing market size. Vietnam has a population of approximately 99 million, ranking third in Southeast Asia after Indonesia and the Philippines. According to Statista data, the retail revenue of the Vietnamese cosmetics market reached $2.2 billion in 2022, is expected to grow to $2.45 billion by 2025, and is有望 to exceed $2.7 billion by 2027. In terms of consumer preferences, products such as lipsticks, facial cleansers, sunscreens, and facial masks are highly sought after, especially those with anti - wrinkle, sun - protection, and whitening effects.

Facing such huge market potential, domestic cosmetics manufacturers naturally do not want to miss the opportunity. However, the process of exporting to Vietnam is not without obstacles. One of the most crucial steps is to complete the product notification.

Vietnamese Cosmetics Notification Requirements
In Vietnam, cosmetics must be notified to the Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) in advance, and the notification procedure must be completed before the product enters the customs. This step is crucial for entering the market, especially for enterprises planning to launch new products. It is worth noting that the validity period of cosmetics notification in Vietnam is five years. If there are major changes to the product, a new notification is required.

Competent Authorities
The Ministry of Health (MoH) of Vietnam is the competent authority for cosmetics management, responsible for drafting and issuing relevant regulations and guidelines. The Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) under it is responsible for accepting and processing notification applications, issuing notification receipt numbers, and conducting post - market supervision of products.

The regulatory framework for Vietnamese cosmetics notification includes the following main documents:

1、ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD)Implementation Date: January 1, 2008
2、Consolidated document No.7/VBHN-BYT包含Circulars 06/2011/TT-BYT和Circular 29/2020/TT-BYT 实施日期：2021年3月16日
Cultural and Religious NormsDecision No.1609/QLD-MPNotification guiding the classification and characteristics of cosmetics, Implementation Date: February 10, 2012
4、Decree No.69/2018/ND-CPforeign tradeGuidance on the management of laws, Implementation Date: May 15, 2018
Settlement and Tax Refund ManagementDecree No.155/2018/ND-CPModification of some business conditions under the management of the Ministry of Health, Implementation Date: November 12, 2018

These documents form the legal framework for Vietnamese cosmetics notification, providing detailed guidance that exporters must follow.

Required Documents and Information
(a) Brand name, product name, color number
(b) Product type and use
(c) Manufacturer, packer, importer, notifier, exporting country
(d) Product formula: List the ingredients and their contents according to the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook
(e) Letter of Authorization (LoA) and Certificate of Free Sale (CFS)

Application Process
The process includes steps such as registering an account on the National Single Window system, submitting a notification application online, paying fees, and the DAV processing the file. It usually takes 1 to 3 months to complete.

Re - notification
If there are major changes in the brand name, product name, color number, notifier, product type, purpose of use, formula, manufacturer, or packer, re - notification is required.

Update of Notification Content
If there are changes in product packaging, company name change or address, importer or importing country name/address, company contact, etc., the notification content needs to be updated.

To ensure a smooth entry into the Vietnamese market, it is recommended that enterprises complete the cosmetics notification before the product arrives at the Vietnamese customs, plan in advance the time required for notification, and confirm the compliance of the product formula. At the same time, since the notification needs to be carried out by a local trading enterprise, it is recommended to confirm the qualifications of local Vietnamese distributors in advance or find a suitable partner.