Vietnam looks to formalise regulations for halal products and drive industry growth

The authority sought public comment over a one-month period from June 25 to July 25.

Halal products encompass a wide range of sectors, including cosmetics, food and beverage, functional foods, health supplements, and more.

According to MOST, the aim of this decree is to align with the growing demand for halal products both in Vietnam and countries across the globe.

There are reportedly about 90,000 Muslims in Vietnam, and approximately 41% of its provinces and cities do not have easy access to halal-certified products.

As such, it has become imperative to establish a legal framework to manage the certification, import and export of halal products, encourage businesses to invest in producing and trading halal products, and drive the growth of the halal industry in Vietnam.

The document outlines five main points, one of which is the development of national standards and regulations that are compliant with that of leading international organisations, and that of Muslim-majority countries in the region.

“Halal consumer products are increasingly distributed worldwide ​— from Muslim to non-Muslim countries, and from developed to developing economies — because they meet many criteria in ensuring safety, clean-label, ethicality, and environmental protection in processing and manufacturing. ​

“Halal standards are different in each country. To help Vietnam expand into overseas halal markets, the MOST will study and formulate national standards mainly by taking reference from CODEX [published by the FAO] and halal standards in Vietnam’s key exporting countries, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, et cetera.” ​

Comprehensive development ​

Another notable point of the draft decree pertains to halal certification and product labelling.

Companies involved in producing, exporting, importing, or distributing halal products in Vietnam will be required to clearly display the halal certification mark on packaging and labels, in accordance with existing product labelling regulations and applicable halal standards.

Imported halal products certified by an authorised organisation from the country of export are permitted to use the local halal certification mark.

In addition, the stipulation of regulations for the testing, certification, and quality control of halal products, was proposed.

These include testing procedures and methods, conformity and mutual recognition with foreign certification organisations, inspection activities, and penalties for violations.

“The objective is to create state management pressure on producers, businesses, and conformity assessment organisations; improve the efficiency of quality checks of halal products in the market during production, import and export; and distinguish between quality control and inspection of compliance with legal regulations.”​

To promote the exportation of Vietnam’s halal products, the country intends to sign agreements with Muslim-majority countries and launch initiatives to support local brands and enterprises.

“The goal of the policy is to help businesses feel secure about investing in the provision of halal products and services in a sustainable manner, which would comprehensively develop Vietnam’s halal economic sector.” ​