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MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE OF VIETNAM |
SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM |
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No. 63/2026/TT-BCT |
Hanoi, September 30, 2026 |
PRESCRIBING THE FOOD DATABASE UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE
Pursuant to the Law on Food Safety No. 55/2010/QH12;
Pursuant to the Law on Protection of Consumer Rights No. 19/2023/QH15;
Pursuant to the Law on Data No. 60/2024/QH15;
Pursuant to the Law on Product and Goods Quality No. 05/2007/QH12, as amended by Law No. 78/2025/QH15;
Pursuant to the Law on Digital Transformation No. 148/2025/QH15;
Pursuant to Resolution No. 15/2026/NQ-CP temporarily suspending the validity of Decree No. 46/2026/ND-CP dated January 26, 2026 and Resolution No. 66.13/2026/NQ-CP dated January 27, 2026 of the Government;
Pursuant to Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP of the Government prescribing in detail the implementation of certain articles of the Law on Food Safety;
Pursuant to Decree No. 55/2024/ND-CP of the Government prescribing in detail certain articles of the Law on Protection of Consumer Rights;
Pursuant to Decree No. 351/2026/ND-CP of the Government prescribing the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Industry and Trade;
Pursuant to Decree No. 165/2025/ND-CP of the Government prescribing in detail certain articles and measures for the implementation of the Law on Data;
Pursuant to Decree No. 278/2025/ND-CP of the Government on mandatory data connection and sharing between agencies of the political system;
Pursuant to Decree No. 37/2026/ND-CP of the Government prescribing in detail certain articles and measures for organizing and guiding the implementation of the Law on Product and Goods Quality;
Pursuant to Decree No. 224/2026/ND-CP of the Government prescribing in detail certain articles and measures for the implementation of the Law on Digital Transformation;
At the proposal of the Director General of the Department of Industry;
The Minister of Industry and Trade hereby promulgates a Circular prescribing the food database under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
This Circular prescribes the establishment, management, updating, connection, sharing and exploitation of the food database under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade for the purposes of state management of the food industry, food safety, product and goods quality, food traceability and the responsibilities of relevant agencies, organizations and individuals engaged in food production and business activities under the management of the industry and trade sector.
1. This Circular applies to:
a) State management authorities for food, conformity assessment bodies, and state inspection authorities for imported food under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
b) Organizations and individuals engaged in food production and business activities (hereinafter referred to as “establishments”) in Vietnam under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and other relevant organizations and individuals.
2. This Circular does not apply to food produced, processed and consumed by households and individuals for personal use and not traded on the market.
Article 3. Interpretation of terms
In this Circular, the following terms shall be construed as follows:
1. The food database under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (hereinafter referred to as “the Database”) is a collection of data arranged and organized for access, exploitation, sharing, management and updating, constituting a component of the industry and trade sector database.
2. Traceability is the activity of tracking, monitoring and identifying a type, batch or unit of a product or goods by time and location through each stage of the supply chain.
3. Critical tracking events are steps that may affect the quality and safety of a product.
4. The “one step back – one step forward” principle is the traceability principle under which establishments shall retain information to ensure the ability to monitor and identify the preceding stage and the subsequent stage in the production and business process in relation to a food product being traced.
Article 4. Applicable principles
1. The establishment, management, updating, connection, sharing and exploitation of the Database shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of law on data, digital transformation and relevant provisions of law.
2. Data established and updated in the Database must ensure accuracy, completeness, timeliness and consistency, verifiability and traceability to the source of data formation as prescribed by law.
3. Food traceability activities shall be carried out in accordance with the “one step back – one step forward” principle. Food information after each critical tracking event shall be stored and identified by an appropriate means for the purposes of traceability. Critical tracking events and the times of occurrence of such events in the supply chain shall comply with Vietnamese Standard TCVN 12850:2020 or the GS1 Global Traceability Standard.
4. Agencies, organizations and individuals shall be responsible for data established, updated and provided by them as prescribed by law.
THE FOOD DATABASE
Article 5. Establishment of the Database
1. The Database shall be built, managed and operated in conformity with the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Data Architecture Framework, the National Data Architecture Framework, the National Data Governance and Management Framework and the provisions of law on data and digital transformation.
2. Data for state management of the food industry, food safety, product and goods quality and food traceability under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall be established and updated from the following sources:
a) Data established and received by state agencies and agencies and organizations assigned or designated to carry out state management tasks in the course of settling administrative procedures, providing public services, complying with the reporting regime and conducting state management activities as prescribed by law;
b) Data connected and shared from the national comprehensive database, national databases, sectoral databases and information systems of state agencies;
c) Data provided, updated, connected and shared by organizations and individuals pursuant to obligations prescribed by law or voluntarily provided and shared in accordance with the provisions of law.
3. Records, documents and materials formed in the course of settling administrative procedures, providing public services, conducting state management activities and complying with the reporting regime shall be established and converted into digital data for updating into the Database as prescribed by law and this Circular.
Article 6. Contents of the Database
1. The Database comprises the following principal data groups:
a) Data on food production and business establishments;
b) Data on food products;
c) Data on food safety assurance conditions and product declaration dossiers;
d) Data on state inspection authorities for imported food safety, food testing establishments designated for state management purposes, reference testing establishments and the results of the performance of the tasks of such authorities and establishments;
dd) Data on inspection, examination, post-market inspection, handling of administrative violations, alerts, recall and handling of unsafe food;
e) Data on national technical standards, national regulations, product and goods quality and conformity assessment relating to food;
g) Data on food traceability;
h) Reporting and statistical data and other data for state management of food under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade as prescribed by law.
2. The Data Catalog, Structure and Description of the Database shall be issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade and reviewed and updated in accordance with state management requirements and the provisions of law; ensuring consistency of identifiers, data sources, data quality and the ability to connect, share, exploit and use data.
Article 7. Management of the Database
1. The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall organize the management, maintenance and development of the Database as prescribed by law.
2. The Department of Industry shall take the lead and coordinate with units under the Ministry in providing professional guidance, identifying data needs and organizing the exploitation of data for state management of the food industry, food safety, product and goods quality and food traceability in accordance with its assigned functions and tasks.
3. The Department of Science, Technology and Digital Transformation shall, in accordance with its assigned functions and tasks, take the lead and coordinate with units under the Ministry in ensuring the technical infrastructure, management, operation, connection and sharing of data.
Article 8. Updating, connecting, sharing and exploiting data
1. Data established in the course of settling administrative procedures and providing public services in an electronic environment or already existing in databases and information systems of state agencies shall be exploited and re-used for the Database through data connection and sharing as prescribed by law.
2. Where data formed in the course of settling administrative procedures and providing public services has not yet been established in an electronic environment or cannot yet be exploited and re-used through data connection and sharing, agencies and organizations shall be responsible for establishing, digitizing and updating such data into the Database as prescribed by this Circular.
3. The Database shall be connected and shared with the national comprehensive database, national databases, sectoral databases, the National Product and Goods Traceability Information Portal and relevant information systems as prescribed by law.
4. The connection, sharing and exploitation of data shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of law on data, digital transformation and relevant provisions of law.
FOOD TRACEABILITY
Article 9. Information and records for food traceability
1. Establishments engaged in food production and business shall establish and retain complete relevant information on the following production and business activities:
a) Name, address, contact information and enterprise registration number of the food production and business establishment;
b) Business registration certificate or enterprise registration certificate or other certificate as prescribed by law on business registration;
c) Certificate of Eligibility for Food Safety Conditions for establishments subject to the issuance of such a Certificate.
d) One of the following certificates that remain valid: Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System, International Featured Standards (IFS), British Retail Consortium (BRC) Global Standard for Food Safety, Food Safety System Certification (FSSC 22000) or equivalent, for establishments falling within the entities prescribed in Point k of Clause 1 of Article 12 of Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP.
dd) The establishment’s internal control procedures (if any).
2. Food production establishments shall retain records and documents on the entire food production and business process through contracts, written records or other means for the purposes of traceability, including:
a) Product name and images;
b) Brand, trademark and product serial number (if any);
c) Information on packaging specifications, packaging material and food ingredients;
d) Expiry date for food products subject to mandatory expiry date labeling requirements;
dd) Applicable national standards, national technical regulations, international standards, regional standards and establishment standards;
e) Declaration of conformity with technical regulations enclosed with technical regulation conformity certification results for food subject to national technical regulations, or product declaration dossier;
g) Information on the product name, type, quantity, weight and lot/batch code of products manufactured and sold;
h) Location and time of critical tracking events carried out by the production establishment;
i) Name, address, contact information and enterprise registration number of clients, agents, distributors, transportation, storage and warehousing units and raw material/semi-finished product suppliers (if any). Contracts, invoices and sale and transportation documents with clients, agents, distributors, transportation, storage and warehousing units and raw material/semi-finished product suppliers (if any);
k) Information on raw material/semi-finished product lots/batches (name, weight, quantity, date of receipt, expiry date, packaging material, additives); testing results for raw material/semi-finished product lots/batches carried out by the raw material/semi-finished product supplier, the production establishment or a testing establishment (if any);
l) Testing results for finished food product lots/batches carried out by the production establishment or a testing establishment (if any).
3. Food business establishments shall retain records and documents on the entire food business process through contracts, written records or other means for the purposes of traceability, including:
a) Organize the receipt of information and documents from food production establishments and regularly establish and retain complete relevant information as prescribed in Points a, b, c, d, dd and e of Clause 2 of this Article;
b) Contracts, invoices and sale and transportation documents with clients, agents, distributors, transportation, storage and warehousing units and product suppliers (if any);
c) Information on the location and time of critical tracking events carried out by the food business establishment.
4. For imported food products, in addition to the information prescribed in Points a, b, c, d, dd and e of Clause 2 of this Article, food business establishments shall regularly establish and retain complete relevant information as follows:
a) Name, address and contact information of the manufacturer/exporter;
b) Name, address, contact information and enterprise registration number of the importer;
c) Certificate of origin or testing results in the country of origin where required by law;
d) Information on the product name, type, weight, quantity and import customs declaration number of the imported consignment.
5. For exported food products, food production and business establishments shall carry out food traceability in accordance with the requirements of the importing country; food products that are both exported and circulated domestically shall comply with the provisions of this Circular when consumed in the Vietnamese market.
Article 10. Retention of traceability records and documents
1. Food production and business establishments shall be responsible for retaining complete records and documents relating to food product traceability ensuring security, confidentiality and integrity against alteration or falsification, and shall ensure the ready availability for provision and extraction upon request of the competent state authority or when traceability needs to be conducted as prescribed by this Circular.
2. The minimum retention period for records and documents relating to food product traceability is 12 months from the expiry date of the product for food products with an expiry date, and 60 months from the date of manufacture for food products not subject to mandatory expiry date labeling requirements.
3. Food production and business establishments shall ensure that records and documents relating to food product traceability can be provided within 24 hours from the time the competent authority makes a request.
Article 11. Food traceability activities of food production and business establishments
1. Food production establishments shall conduct food product traceability immediately upon self-monitoring and detecting unsafe food or upon request of the competent state authority, in accordance with the following steps:
a) Based on initial information (product name, lot/batch code, date of manufacture), identify the relevant information of the food product lot/batch to be traced;
b) Review the production records and testing records of the food product lot/batch to identify the cause of the violation;
c) Immediately contact the raw material and packaging supplier(s) of the food product lot/batch to request relevant information;
d) Send urgent notifications to distributors and agents that have received the food product lot/batch, requiring them to provide reports on the quantities sold and quantities remaining in stock;
dd) Analyze and identify the cause of the safety failure of the food product lot/batch to be traced;
e) Prepare a report on the results of food product traceability clearly stating the causes and the results of the application of corrective measures in accordance with the Form in the Appendix enclosed with this Circular, and submit it to the competent authority as prescribed by law.
2. Food business establishments shall conduct product traceability immediately upon self-monitoring and detecting unsafe food or upon request of the competent state authority, in accordance with the following steps:
a) Carry out the provisions of Points a, d, dd and e of Clause 1 of this Article.
b) Send urgent notifications to the manufacturer and distributor that supplied the food product lot/batch;
c) Closely coordinate with the food production establishment to conduct product traceability as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article.
3. The recall and handling of unsafe food products shall be carried out as prescribed in Chapter IV of Circular No. 43/2018/TT-BCT dated November 15, 2018 on the management of food safety under the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Article 12. Monitoring, inspection and handling activities of competent state authorities
In the course of monitoring, inspection and handling activities of competent state authorities where unsafe food is detected, the competent state authority shall send a written notification requiring the food production and business establishment to conduct traceability as prescribed in Article 11 of this Circular.
Article 13. Exploiting the Database for traceability purposes
1. Competent state authorities shall exploit data from the Database for the purposes of inspection, post-market inspection, alerts, traceability, recall and handling of unsafe food and the performance of state management tasks as prescribed by law.
2. Where data available in the Database meets the requirements for conducting traceability, state agencies shall exploit and use such data and shall not require organizations and individuals to re-submit it, except where examination and verification is required or otherwise prescribed by law.
3. Organizations and individuals shall exploit open data and publicly disclosed data from the Database for traceability purposes as prescribed by law.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
Article 14. Responsibilities of units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade
1. The Department of Industry shall:
a) Take the lead and coordinate with units under the Ministry in identifying professional requirements and data needs for state management of the food industry, food safety and food traceability;
b) Take the lead and coordinate with relevant units in developing, reviewing and proposing to the Minister the issuance, amendment and supplementation of the Data Catalog, Structure and Description of the Database;
c) Provide guidance on, monitor and compile information on the implementation of this Circular in accordance with its assigned functions and tasks.
2. The Department of Science, Technology and Digital Transformation shall, in accordance with its assigned functions and tasks, take the lead and coordinate with units under the Ministry in implementing the development, ensuring the architecture, technical solutions, digital infrastructure, operation, integration, connection and sharing of data and the technical conditions of the Database; ensuring the Database is built and operated in conformity with the data architecture, digital architecture and shared platforms of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
3. Units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall be responsible for establishing, updating, connecting, sharing and exploiting data within their management scope as prescribed by law and this Circular.
Article 15. Responsibilities of People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-affiliated cities
1. People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-affiliated cities shall organize the establishment, digitization and updating of data under local management jurisdiction as prescribed in Article 8 of this Circular, including:
a) Data formed in the course of settling administrative procedures and providing public services on food safety; receiving product declaration dossiers as prescribed by law;
b) Data on the assignment or designation of food testing establishments for state management purposes, reference testing establishments and state inspection authorities for imported food safety within their competence;
c) Data formed in the course of inspection, examination, post-market inspection, handling of administrative violations, alerts, recall and handling of unsafe food;
d) Data formed from the periodic reporting regime, ad hoc reports and other state management activities on food safety as prescribed by law.
2. Data arising after the date on which the Database officially comes into operation shall be updated within the time limit consistent with the provisions of sectoral legislation and management requirements, ensuring timely data updating.
3. With respect to records, documents and data formed before the date on which the Database officially comes into operation, People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-affiliated cities shall organize reviews and prioritize the establishment and digitization of:
a) Valid dossiers, certificates and decisions on designation or assignment;
b) Dossiers of operating establishments, products currently being manufactured, traded or circulated;
c) Administrative violation handling dossiers for which enforcement has not been completed;
d) Records relating to alerts, recall, handling of unsafe food and traceability;
dd) Other records and data that retain value for state management purposes.
Article 16. Responsibilities of state inspection authorities for imported food safety, food testing establishments designated for state management purposes and reference testing establishments of the industry and trade sector
1. State inspection authorities for imported food safety that are assigned or designated as prescribed by law shall be responsible for establishing, digitizing and updating data formed in the course of carrying out state inspection of imported food safety and complying with the reporting regime as prescribed by law.
2. Food testing establishments designated for state management purposes and reference testing establishments that are assigned or designated as prescribed by law shall be responsible for establishing, digitizing and updating data formed in the course of carrying out testing and reference testing and complying with the reporting regime as prescribed by law.
3. Where data prescribed in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article has already been established in an information system and can be exploited and re-used through data connection and sharing, it shall be carried out as prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 8 of this Circular.
4. With respect to data formed before the date on which the Database officially comes into operation, agencies and establishments prescribed in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article shall review and prioritize the establishment and digitization of data that retains value for state management purposes.
Article 17. Responsibilities of food production and business establishments
1. Establish, retain and update complete information on food products, their origin, raw materials, production, processing and business processes for the purposes of traceability as prescribed in Article 9 of this Circular. Ensure sufficient resources to carry out food traceability activities effectively.
2. Be responsible before the law for the timeliness, legality, truthfulness and accuracy of stored data.
3. Provide necessary, complete and valid records and documents in a timely manner to state management authorities upon request. Strictly comply with traceability requirements and recall and handling decisions of competent state authorities and bear all costs relating to such activities.
4. Food production and business establishments are encouraged to connect and provide information to the food database under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
5. Food production and business establishments whose products and goods are on the List of High-Risk Products and Goods under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall conduct traceability and provide information to the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Database System for Traceability of High-Risk Goods.
1. Funding sources for research into, building and operation of the food database under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade include:
a) State budget allocations for science and technology, information technology application and digital transformation;
b) Resources from non-state sources and other lawful capital sources as prescribed by law.
2. The management, use and settlement of funds for research into, building and operation of the food database under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall be carried out in accordance with the current provisions of law.
IMPLEMENTATION
1. This Circular comes into force as of November 15, 2026.
2. This Circular replaces Circular No. 11/2026/TT-BCT dated February 27, 2026 on food traceability under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
3. Where the regulatory legal documents cited in this Circular are amended, supplemented or replaced, the new regulatory legal documents that remain in force shall apply.
4. During the implementation of this Circular, where specific difficulties arise, the Minister of Industry and Trade shall provide guidance on the resolution of specific cases or amend this Circular where necessary./.
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PP. MINISTER Truong Thanh Hoai |
