Key Updates on Decree 15/2018/ND-CP and Related Amendments

Key Updates on Decree 15/2018/ND-CP and Related Amendments 

On 4 March 2025, the Vietnam Food Administration (VFA) published a summary of urgent issues to be addressed in a forthcoming amendment to Decree 15/2018/ND-CP. The proposed amendments aim to streamline administrative procedures, delegate responsibilities, and strengthen post-market food safety supervision.

Key Provisions of Decree 15/2018/ND-CP:

These are the key provisions of Decree 15/2018/ND-CP:

1. Self-Declaration and Registration of Products: Procedures for self-declaration and registration of food products for safety compliance. 
2. Genetically Modified Foods: Regulations to ensure the safety of genetically modified foods. 
3. Food Safety Certificates: Issuance of certificates for establishments that meet food safety standards. 
4. Imported and Exported Foods: State inspection on food safety for both imports and exports. 
5. Food Labelling and Advertising: Guidelines on food labelling and advertising practices to ensure transparency and consumer safety. 
6. Health-Protective Foods: Conditions ensuring safety in the production of health-protective foods. 
7. Food Additives: Standards for the production, trade, and use of food additives. 
8. Traceability: Ensuring the traceability of food origins to enhance safety. 
9. State Management Responsibility: Clear allocation of state management responsibilities for food safety. 

State Inspection Authority for Imported Foods: 

Article 15 of Decree 15/2018/ND-CP designates the State Inspection Authority for Imported Foods as the relevant agency from the Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Rural Development, or Industry and Trade. The authority is responsible for: 

• Deciding inspection methods based on past successful inspections. 
• Ensuring food safety compliance during inspections. 
• Collecting and managing inspection-related fees. 
• Providing transparent and accurate inspection results. 

Recent Amendments and Supplementary Documents: 

• Decree 155/2018/ND-CP: Amends investment and business conditions within the scope of the Ministry of Health
• Decree 85/2019/ND-CP: Addresses the implementation procedures for administrative tasks under the national single-window mechanism. 
• Official Dispatch 2129/BCT-KHCN (2018): Guides the implementation of food safety regulations.