Product group · Food & Beverage
Food & Beverage HS Code Lookup & Import Procedure
Food and beverages attract many small importers, from confectionery and soft drinks to functional foods. For this group the HS code and duty are not the biggest challenge — the costliest pitfall is choosing the right product-declaration path: most ordinary foods only need self-declaration, but the high-risk group (health-supplement foods, medical nutrition, products for young children) requires a registered declaration and prior approval. Enter your product in the tool below to find the code, duty and food-safety policy.
Chapters 16 – 22Look up the HS code for this product group
Vietnam HS code (HS Code) & import–export tariff lookup
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Overview
Processed food and beverages sit mainly in Chapters 16–22: meat/fish preparations (16), sugar and confectionery (17–18), cereal preparations and bakery (19), vegetable/fruit preparations (20), other edible preparations (21), beverages and alcohol (22). The defining feature is food-safety management under the Law on Food Safety and Decree 15/2018/NĐ-CP, run on a "post-market" basis: businesses take responsibility and self-declare most products, but the high-risk group requires a registered declaration and prior approval. In addition, imported food undergoes state food-safety inspection at the border (unless exempt), and alcohol also carries special consumption tax and a stamp requirement. Determining whether a product is in the self-declaration or registered-declaration group is the most important decision.
Common HS codes
| HS code | Description |
|---|---|
| 1601 / 1602 | Sausages, processed meat, canned meat |
| 1604 / 1605 | Processed fish, canned fish, processed shrimp/squid |
| 1704 / 1806 | Sugar confectionery (no cocoa); chocolate and cocoa preparations |
| 1902 / 1905 | Pasta/instant noodles; biscuits, cakes, bread |
| 2005 / 2007 / 2009 | Processed vegetables/fruit; jams; fruit juice |
| 2101 | Instant coffee, coffee/tea extracts |
| 2103 / 2104 | Sauces, mixed seasonings; soups, broths |
| 2106 | Other edible preparations (including many health-supplement foods) |
| 2202 | Soft drinks, carbonated beverages |
| 2203 / 2204 | Beer; wine |
| 2208 | Spirits and distilled liquor |
Duty rates & FTA preferences
Processed food carries varied MFN duty, commonly around 10% to 40% depending on the item (confectionery and soft drinks are usually high). VAT is commonly 8–10% depending on the item and period policy. Alcohol and beer additionally carry special consumption tax (SCT) at high rates with a stamp requirement. Goods from FTA partners with a valid C/O may receive special preferential duty — ATIGA, ACFTA/RCEP, VKFTA, AJCEP/VJEPA, EVFTA (many EU foods and drinks), UKVFTA, CPTPP, AANZFTA. Given the large duty gap, the C/O is very valuable for food. Use the tool above to look up the specific HS code for import duty, SCT (if any) and VAT.
Applicable FTAs
Import procedure
- 1
Determine the HS code and product nature
Classify by composition and degree of processing; in particular, determine whether the product is ordinary food or a health-supplement food / high-risk item.
- 2
Declare the product before distribution
Self-declaration (most pre-packaged processed foods) or registered declaration at the Food Safety Authority (for health-supplement foods, medical nutrition, products for children up to 36 months, new additives). Note the self-declaration receiving point may have been devolved to local level (Decree 148/2025/NĐ-CP).
- 3
Register state food-safety inspection on import
Register before/when goods arrive at the border with the designated inspection body; the method (reduced/normal/strict) depends on the product and history. Products with a registered-declaration receipt are exempt from inspection (unless there is a warning).
- 4
Label the goods
Per Decree 43/2017/NĐ-CP and Decree 111/2021/NĐ-CP, with nutrition labelling as required; a full Vietnamese sub-label (name, ingredients, manufacture/expiry dates, instructions, warnings, importer).
- 5
File the declaration, pay duties & clear
Submit the declaration with documents, C/O (if claiming FTA preference) and the passing food-safety inspection notice; pay import duty, SCT (alcohol/beer) and VAT.
Specialised management & licences
Self-declaration and registered declaration (Decree 15/2018/NĐ-CP)
This is the main management axis for food. Self-declaration applies to most pre-packaged processed foods, additives, processing aids, and food-contact packaging materials: the business self-declares and may produce/trade immediately, subject to post-market control. Registered declaration (stricter, requiring prior approval) applies to the high-risk group: health-supplement foods, medical nutrition foods, foods for special dietary use, nutrition products for children up to 36 months, and mixed food additives with a new use / not on the list. Imported health-supplement foods also require the manufacturer to meet GMP.
State food-safety inspection on import
Imported food must register state food-safety inspection at the border (the designated body per the assignment among the Ministry of Health / Ministry of Agriculture and Environment / Ministry of Industry and Trade by product type); the list of items requiring inspection follows Circular 15/2024/TT-BYT. There are three methods: reduced, normal and strict. Note: Decree 46/2026/NĐ-CP (effective 15/4/2026) strengthens inspection of imports — update to the latest process.
Lightly-processed animal/plant products
Products of animal or plant origin in lightly-processed form also require quarantine (animal/plant) in parallel with food-safety inspection.
Alcohol and beer
Subject to special consumption tax with a stamp requirement; alcohol also involves distribution-business conditions.
Exemptions
Products used only for producing/processing export goods or for internal production, not sold on the domestic market, are exempt from self-declaration and from state food-safety inspection on import (unless there is a warning).
Common classification mistakes
Health-supplement foods cannot be "self-declared" like ordinary food
This is the most common and costly mistake in the food group. Real-world example: a business imports vitamin supplements / functional foods, classifies them under heading 2106 and self-declares as ordinary food to sell quickly. But health-supplement foods are in the group that must be registered-declared at the Food Safety Authority (Ministry of Health), with a GMP manufacturer requirement and a scientific dossier proving the function — self-declaration is not allowed. Consequence: the self-declaration is invalid, the product is treated as not yet permitted for sale, and the business faces suspension and heavy penalties. Lesson: before importing, determine whether the product is ordinary food or a health-supplement food / high-risk item, as this decides the entire declaration path and time-to-market.
Distinguishing supplemented food from health-supplement food
The boundary between "supplemented food" (can be self-declared) and "health-supplement food" (must be registered-declared) depends on the claimed function and target group. Wrong grouping means the wrong procedure. Check the Food Safety Authority classification guidance.
Forgetting to register state food-safety inspection
Many food shipments are held up because the business has not registered state food-safety inspection before clearance. This is mandatory for listed goods (Circular 15/2024/TT-BYT), unless exempt.
Overlooking special consumption tax on alcohol and beer
Beyond import duty and VAT, alcohol and beer carry special consumption tax and a stamp requirement. Under-counting SCT leads to wrong tax liability and back-tax risk.
Frequently asked questions
Must imported food be self-declared or registered-declared?
Most pre-packaged processed food only needs self-declaration. The high-risk group — health-supplement foods, medical nutrition, products for children up to 36 months, new additives — must be registered-declared at the Food Safety Authority and approved before sale.
What is needed to import functional (health-supplement) foods?
They must be registered-declared at the Food Safety Authority (self-declaration not allowed), with a GMP manufacturer requirement and a dossier proving the function. The self-declaration mechanism for ordinary food does not apply.
Does imported food require state food-safety inspection?
Yes, for listed goods (Circular 15/2024/TT-BYT), unless exempt (e.g. products with a registered-declaration receipt, or used only for export/internal production). Register inspection before/when goods arrive at the border.
What taxes apply to imported alcohol and beer?
Import duty, VAT and special consumption tax (SCT) at high rates, with a stamp requirement. Look up the specific HS code for the applicable rate.
What is the import duty on food?
It depends on the item, commonly around 10% to 40% (confectionery and soft drinks are usually high). Goods from FTA partners with a valid C/O may receive much lower special preferential duty. Look up the specific HS code for the rate.
Advisory
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