Public Consultation Drives Regulatory Development

Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) has initiated a significant regulatory development process by seeking public input on proposed halal product regulations during a one-month consultation period from June 25 to July 25. This comprehensive framework addresses diverse sectors including cosmetics, food and beverages, functional foods, health supplements, and related industries.

Addressing Domestic Access Gaps and Global Market Alignment

The proposed decree responds to both domestic needs and international market opportunities. With approximately 90,000 Muslims residing in Vietnam, roughly 41% of the country’s provinces and cities currently lack convenient access to halal-certified products, creating significant supply gaps in local markets.

MOST emphasizes that this regulatory framework aligns with rapidly growing global demand for halal products across both domestic and international markets. The initiative recognizes that establishing proper legal infrastructure is essential for managing halal certification processes, facilitating import and export activities, encouraging business investment in halal product development and trading, and driving overall growth in Vietnam’s halal industry sector.

Five-Pillar Strategic Framework

The regulatory document outlines five fundamental components, with a primary focus on developing national standards and regulations that comply with leading international organizations and align with requirements from Muslim-majority countries throughout the region.

MOST acknowledges that halal consumer products are experiencing worldwide distribution expansion, reaching Muslim and non-Muslim countries alike, spanning developed and developing economies. This growth stems from halal products meeting multiple criteria including safety assurance, clean-label transparency, ethical sourcing, and environmental protection throughout processing and manufacturing stages.

International Standards Harmonization Strategy

Recognizing that halal standards vary significantly across different countries, Vietnam aims to facilitate expansion into overseas halal markets through careful study and formulation of national standards. The approach involves referencing CODEX standards published by the FAO alongside halal standards from Vietnam’s key export destinations, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and other significant markets.

Certification and Labeling Requirements

The draft decree establishes comprehensive certification and product labeling requirements for market participants. Companies engaged in producing, exporting, importing, or distributing halal products within Vietnam must clearly display halal certification marks on packaging and labels, adhering to existing product labeling regulations and applicable halal standards.

The framework permits imported halal products certified by authorized organizations from exporting countries to utilize local halal certification marks, facilitating international trade while maintaining standards compliance.

Quality Control and Enforcement Mechanisms

The proposed regulations include detailed provisions for testing, certification, and quality control of halal products, encompassing testing procedures and methodologies, conformity assessment and mutual recognition agreements with foreign certification organizations, inspection protocols, and penalty structures for regulatory violations.

These measures aim to create effective state management oversight of producers, businesses, and conformity assessment organizations while improving efficiency of halal product quality checks throughout production, import, and export processes. The system is designed to distinguish between quality control measures and inspection of legal compliance requirements.

Export Promotion and International Cooperation

To enhance Vietnam’s halal product exportation capabilities, the country plans to establish agreements with Muslim-majority countries and launch targeted initiatives supporting local brands and enterprises in accessing international markets.

The overarching policy goal centers on providing businesses with confidence to invest sustainably in halal product and service provision, fostering comprehensive development of Vietnam’s halal economic sector. This strategic approach positions Vietnam to capture significant opportunities in the expanding global halal market while serving domestic Muslim communities more effectively.

Original Article:

Cosmetics Design Asia. (2025, September 15). Vietnam looks to formalise regulations for halal products and drive industry growth. Cosmetics Design Asia. Retrieved from https://www.cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/Article/2024/08/08/vietnam-looks-to-formalise-regulations-for-halal-products-and-drive-industry-growth/