Exporting Cosmetics to Vietnam: Notification, CFS and Labels

Who files the notification, and where

Only a Vietnamese organisation or individual whose business scope covers cosmetics can file. The foreign manufacturer or brand owner authorises it with a letter of authorisation (LoA).

Imported products are notified to DAV, online through the National Public Service Portal, in person or by post. A complete dossier with the fee paid gets its receipt number within 3 working days; otherwise DAV lists the defects within 5 working days.

The number is valid for 5 years and must be renewed by notifying again before it expires. Some product changes need a new notification.

Certificate of Free Sale and legalisation

The CFS must be issued by a competent authority in the country of manufacture or export and still be valid; if it has no expiry date, it must be under 24 months old.

No CFS is needed for products made in a CPTPP country (such as Japan, Canada or Australia) or already notified in an ASEAN country; proof of that authorisation is filed instead.

The CFS must be consular-legalised unless a treaty exempts it, the issuing authority confirms it to DAV, or it can be verified on the issuer's website. The LoA must be signature-certified and legalised unless a treaty exempts it.

The Apostille Convention has applied to Vietnam since 11 September 2026, except with Germany, Austria and Czechia. The cosmetics rules still refer to consular legalisation, so confirm with DAV before relying on an apostille.

Ingredients and claims

Formulas must meet the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive annexes, which are updated regularly (most recently in June 2026), so re-check at each update.

Since Circular 34/2025, the notification lists ingredients by INCI name in descending order, with percentages for restricted ones. Claims must follow ASEAN guidelines; untrue or non-cosmetic claims, such as treating a disease, risk rejection or withdrawal.

• Annex II: prohibited substances
• Annex III: restricted substances and conditions
• Annex IV: permitted colourants
• Annex VI: permitted preservatives
• Annex VII: permitted UV filters

Labels and Vietnamese sub-labels

The label must show name and function, directions, full ingredients, country of manufacture, the Vietnamese responsible company's name and address, net quantity, batch number, manufacturing or expiry date and warnings. At least the directions, company details and warnings must be in Vietnamese.

Under Decree 37/2026/ND-CP, which replaced Decrees 43/2017 and 111/2021, the original label of imported goods must show product name, origin and manufacturer name and address. A Vietnamese sub-label carrying the mandatory content is added before sale without covering the original.

Product Information File (PIF)

Each product needs a PIF in four parts (administrative and summary, raw materials, finished product, safety and efficacy), kept at the Vietnamese responsible company's address.

Part 1 must be shown immediately on inspection, the rest within 15 to 60 days as required. A missing PIF is a ground for withdrawing the number, so agree that the manufacturer supplies the technical parts.

Customs clearance and pending changes

Importers no longer present the paper notification to customs; they declare the number and customs checks it electronically. Keep product names consistent across invoice, packing list and notification; Triplicate's free invoice and packing list generator and HS code lookup can help.

A new cosmetics decree was still in draft in September 2026. Rules change, so confirm current requirements with DAV or a licensed customs broker or regulatory consultant before shipping.