Vietnam, as one of the fastest-growing cosmetics markets in Southeast Asia, attracts the attention of global cosmetics manufacturers with its vast consumer base and continuously expanding market size. With a population of approximately 99 million, Vietnam ranks third in Southeast Asia, following Indonesia and the Philippines. According to Statista, the retail revenue of Vietnam's cosmetics market reached $2.2 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $2.45 billion by 2025, with expectations to exceed $2.7 billion by 2027. In terms of consumer preferences, products such as lipsticks, facial cleansers, sunscreens, and face masks are highly sought after, particularly those with anti-wrinkle, sun protection, and whitening benefits.

Facing such huge market potential, domestic cosmetics manufacturers naturally do not want to miss the opportunity. However, the process of exporting to Vietnam is not without obstacles. One of the most crucial steps is to complete the product notification.

Vietnamese Cosmetics Notification Requirements
In Vietnam, cosmetics must be notified to the Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) in advance, and the notification procedure must be completed before the product enters the customs. This step is crucial for entering the market, especially for enterprises planning to launch new products. It is worth noting that the validity period of cosmetics notification in Vietnam is five years. If there are major changes to the product, a new notification is required.

Competent Authorities
The Ministry of Health (MoH) of Vietnam is the competent authority for cosmetics management, responsible for drafting and issuing relevant regulations and guidelines. The Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) under it is responsible for accepting and processing notification applications, issuing notification receipt numbers, and conducting post - market supervision of products.

The regulatory framework for Vietnamese cosmetics notification includes the following main documents:

ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD) Implementation Date: January 1, 2008
Consolidated document No.7/VBHN-BYT Includes Circulars 06/2011/TT - BYT and Circular 29/2020/TT - BYT. Implementation date: March 16, 2021
3.Decision No.1609/QLD-MP Notification guiding the classification and characteristics of cosmetics, Implementation Date: February 10, 2012
4.Decree No.69/2018/ND-CP ?Foreign trade?Guidance on the management of laws, Implementation Date: May 15, 2018
5.Decree No.155/2018/ND-CP Modification of some business conditions under the management of the Ministry of Health, Implementation Date: November 12, 2018

These documents form the legal framework for Vietnamese cosmetics notification, providing detailed guidance that exporters must follow.

Required Documents and Information
(a) Brand name, product name, color number
(b) Product type and use
(c) Manufacturer, packer, importer, notifier, exporting country
(d) Product formula: List the ingredients and their contents according to the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook
(e) Letter of Authorization (LoA) and Certificate of Free Sale (CFS)

Application Process
The process includes steps such as registering an account on the "National Single Window" system, submitting the notification application online, paying fees, and DAV processing the files, typically taking 1 to 3 months to complete.

Re - notification
If there are major changes in the brand name, product name, color number, notifier, product type, purpose of use, formula, manufacturer, or packer, re - notification is required.

Update of Notification Content
If there are changes in product packaging, company name change or address, importer or importing country name/address, company contact, etc., the notification content needs to be updated.

To ensure a smooth entry into the Vietnamese market, it is recommended that enterprises complete the cosmetics notification before the product arrives at the Vietnamese customs, plan in advance the time required for notification, and confirm the compliance of the product formula. At the same time, since the notification needs to be carried out by a local trading enterprise, it is recommended to confirm the qualifications of local Vietnamese distributors in advance or find a suitable partner.