THE NEWEST PROCEDURES OF COSMETIC PRODUCT PROCLAMATION IN VIETNAM

I’m Hoang Lan T.T currently being the owner of a cosmetic shop in Da Nang. In the near future, I am going to import a large number of cosmetic products from Thailand to Vietnam to sell in my shop. I have been granted the written permission on cosmetic product proclamation from the competent authorities. I would like to be advised on the newest procedures of cosmetic product proclamation in Vietnam. Thank you.

FDVN’s opinions:

Thank you for concerning FDVN legal services. Base on your consulting requirements, after studying the legal documents, FDVN Law Firm offers the following opinions:

[1]. Legal provisions on cosmetic product proclamation in Viet Nam

“Cosmetic product is a substance or a preparation which is used for touch with outside parts of the human body (skin, hair system, fingernails, toenails, lip, and outside reproduction organ) or teeth and mouth mucous membrane with the main purpose in order to cleanse, aromatize, change the outward characteristics, form, adjust body’s smell, safeguard body, or maintain the human body in good condition:, according to Clause 1, Article 2 of Circular No. 06/2011/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health providing cosmetic management (“Circular No. 06/2011/TT-BYT”).

Accordingly, it is stipulated in Article 3, Circular No. 06/2011/TT-BYT on the cosmetic product proclamation that:

“1. Organizations or individuals who are responsible for putting the cosmetic product on the market just permitted selling cosmetics when be issued the number of cosmetic product proclamation receiving by the authorized agencies as well as responsible for safety, effectiveness, and quality of product. The authority agencies shall carry out an after-sales inspection when the product has been being sold in the market.

2. Cosmetic product proclamation fee is implemented in accordance with the regulations in force.

3. Organizations or individuals who are responsible for putting the products on the market must have the function of the cosmetic business in Vietnam.

4. Cosmetic product feature proclamation (the cosmetic usage purpose) must satisfy the ASEAN’s instruction of the cosmetic product feature proclamation (Appendix No 3-MP)”.

Therefore, when you want to put the cosmetic products on the market and you are granted the written permission on cosmetic product proclamation from the competent authorities, you have to be responsible for the safety, effectiveness, and quality of the product.

[2] The newest procedures of cosmetic product proclamation in Vietnam

2.1. The application:

Pursuant to Article 4 of Circular No. 06/2011/TT-BYT, the application consists of:

1. Cosmetic product proclamation report (02 versions) with the proclamation data (soft version of proclamation report);

2. Original or notarized copy of the letter of attorney from the producers or the owners of products authorized for organizations, individuals are responsible for putting products on the market in Vietnam (applied to the import or domestic cosmetic of which organizations or individuals are responsible for putting products on the market, be not the manufacturer). For the imported product, the letter of attorney must be a copy notarized sign and consul legalized as provisions of law, except for being exempted from the consul legalization in regard to international treaties in which Vietnam is a member. The letter of attorney must satisfy requirements regulated at the Article 6 of this Circular.

3. Certificate of free sale (CFS) is only applied for import cosmetic product proclamation which satisfies the following requirements:

a. CFS which is issued by the current territory must have been original or legally notarized and still in the day of validity. In case CFS is not provided of the expiry day, it must be a certificate which has just been issued within 24 months.

b. CFS must be consul legalized according to provisions of the law, except consul legalization immunity case according to the international treaties in which Vietnam is a member”.

2.2.  Procedure of receiving and considering the application:

According to Article 7 of Circular No. 06/2011/TT-BYT, the procedure of considering cosmetic product proclamation is:

“1. The collecting and solving cosmetic product proclamation dossier is packed up into one set, submitted directly or posted to the following competent state management agency:

a. Regarding the export cosmetic: organizations or individuals who are responsible for bringing a product into market apply the cosmetic product proclamation dossier at the Medicine Management Bureau – the Ministry of Health.

2. Handling the cosmetic product proclamation dossier:

a. Within 03 working days since receiving the regular proclamation dossier and proclamation fee as provided competent state management agencies are obligated to issue the number of receiving the cosmetic product proclamation report.

b. In case the proclamation dossier which still does not satisfy provisions of this Circular, within 05 working days since receiving the dossier, the dossier receiving agency must announce in writing for organizations or individuals of contents, which has not satisfied yet, to fix, amend dossier   (figuring out unsatisfied contents in details)”.

This is the FDVN Law firm’s opinion for your request basing on studying the relevant legal provisions. Hopefully, our advice will be useful for you.

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