I get this question every week. A Russian brand has set up production in Ho Chi Minh City or Binh Duong, the first batch has already rolled off the line β and then it turns out that certification must be done differently than it was for imports. I hear this from clients in negotiations all the time: "But we already certified Vietnamese goods when we shipped them from Vietnam to Russia." Yes, you certified them. But that was a different procedure.
What brands usually say in meetings
The most common belief goes like this: "Local production is simpler than import because there's no customs." The logic is understandable. There really is no customs. But certification of locally produced goods in Vietnam is not a simplified version of import certification. It is a separate process with different authorities, different documents, and different liability.
And in 2026, this process changed significantly. Not cosmetically β structurally.
On January 23, 2026, Decree 37/2026/NΔ-CP was issued β a new framework document that rewrites the rules for implementing the Law on Product and Goods Quality. Some old regulations, including provisions of NΔ-132/2008, will cease to be effective from July 1, 2026.
This is not "another circular." It is a change of framework. And if you are launching production now, you are already entering the new system.
What changed in 2026
Three documents define the procedure for a local manufacturer today.
- Decree 37/2026 β framework document. Assigns the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) the task of creating a national quality monitoring system and a national electronic labeling database.
- Circular 14/2026/TT-BKHCN dated April 9, 2026 β procedure for declaration of conformity. Introduces assessment methods, including Method 5: testing of a typical sample plus assessment of the production process.
- Circular 34/2026/TT-BCT dated June 30, 2026 β sectoral requirements for goods under the authority of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Clarifies the manufacturer's obligations before release to the domestic market.
Note the dates. Circular 34/2026 was issued on June 30, 2026. That is literally a few weeks ago. If your contract manufacturer says "we've always done it this way," they are most likely following the old scheme.
Key difference from import certification
For an import batch, you declare conformity based on the manufacturer's documents plus customs documents: B/L, customs declaration, contract. For local production, you declare based on your own production process.
This is fundamental. Because responsibility for quality shifts from the supplier to you as the manufacturer.
According to LuatVietnam, Circular 14/2026 requires organizations to have a certified quality management system β ISO 9001, HACCP, GMP β for certain categories. This is not a formality. Without a valid QMS certificate, you cannot register a declaration under Method 5 for these categories.
Step-by-step procedure for local production
Below is the procedure we follow with partners at VietSmart. It is based on the current provisions of Decree 37/2026, Circular 14/2026, and sectoral circulars of 2026.
Step 1. Determine which regulator your product falls under
This is the first question to resolve before starting certification. A product under MOST β one procedure. A product under the Ministry of Industry and Trade β another, under Circular 34/2026. Food products β a third, with mandatory publication of the declaration.
A mistake at this step costs 2β3 months of rework. I have seen this with partners: they did tests using the wrong method because they incorrectly identified the regulator.
Step 2. Check the quality management system at the production site
If your category requires a certified QMS and your contract manufacturer does not have one, you will not pass the declaration. Either the manufacturer obtains ISO 9001 certification, or you change the manufacturer.
The timeline for QMS certification at a Vietnamese production site is usually 3β5 months. This must be included in the launch plan, not remembered a month before market entry.
Step 3. Conduct testing of a typical sample
Method 5 requires testing of a typical sample plus assessment of the production process. Testing is carried out in a laboratory accredited in a system recognized by the Vietnamese regulator.
According to VNLawFirm, certification bodies must be accredited by accreditation bodies that are participants in MRA/MLA: ILAC, IAF, APAC. This is important not only for the Vietnamese market but also for recognition of certificates upon export.
Step 4. Register the declaration of conformity
For local production, the declaration is registered with the local (provincial) Service of Industry and Trade. This differs from the import procedure, where the declaration is tied to the batch and customs documents.
According to ASEMCONNECT and the Vietnam Trade Portal, for local production the declaration is issued based on the results of production assessment and testing of typical samples. Import documents are not required β but documentary confirmation of the production process is required.
For food products, the situation is stricter. Resolution No. 66.13/2026/NQ-CP and related provisions of Decree 46/2026 introduce mandatory publication of the declaration. According to TGIMEX, the manufacturer may release the product to the market only after publication of the dossier. Not "after submission" β after publication.
Step 5. Apply labeling
Decree 37/2026 assigns MOST the function of creating a national electronic labeling database. This means that labeling is gradually moving to a digital format. For new production facilities, I recommend immediately building in the capability to apply electronic labels, rather than waiting until it becomes mandatory for your category.
What I see from operations
At VietSmart, we manage certification projects for Russian brands that have placed production in Vietnam. And here is what I see.
First: brands underestimate timelines. Certification of local production is not 30 days. It is 4β6 months, counting from the verification of the manufacturer's QMS. If the manufacturer already has ISO 9001 β faster. If not β add 3β5 months.
Second: brands confuse a declaration of conformity with a certificate. A declaration is your statement under your responsibility. A certificate is a document issued by a third party. For some categories, a declaration is sufficient. For others, a certificate from a designated organization is required. The difference in timelines and cost is multiple times.
Third, and most painful: contract manufacturers in Vietnam often say "we have everything" without having valid documents on hand. We check each one. In 2026, after Decree 37/2026 came into force, some documents that manufacturers presented as valid ceased to be effective on July 1, 2026.
According to KOTRA, in 2026 there was a transition from partial self-declaration to stricter registration of declarations. At the same time, the details β which products require mandatory registration before sale β are still being clarified by various sectoral circulars. Sources provide partially inconsistent lists and implementation timelines.
This means one thing: you must check not against a general list, but against the specific circular for your category. And check as of the date β not "in general," but "as of today."
How local certification differs from import certification
Let me put the difference into one picture, because this is where time is lost.
| Parameter | Import batch | Local production |
|---|---|---|
| Basis for declaration | Manufacturer's documents + customs documents | Assessment of production process + testing of typical sample |
| Who bears responsibility | Importer | Manufacturer |
| Where registered | Tied to the batch | Provincial Service of Industry and Trade |
| QMS requirements | Not always | For some categories, certified QMS is mandatory |
| Timeline | Depends on the batch | 4β6 months including QMS verification |
It seems that local production is more complicated. In reality, it is simply different. Import certification is a one-time procedure per batch. Local certification is a permanent system that works as long as production works.
If you have ten batches per year, the import scheme may be simpler. If you produce continuously, the local declaration is done once and updated as changes occur.
What a brand should do: five steps
Here is the specific procedure I recommend to partners at the start.
- Request from the manufacturer a valid ISO 9001 or HACCP certificate and check its validity as of the date β not as of the date of issue.
- Determine the regulator for your category: MOST, Ministry of Industry and Trade, or a separate food procedure.
- Check the current 2026 circular to see whether your category requires mandatory publication of the declaration before market release.
- Order testing of a typical sample in a laboratory accredited by ILAC, IAF, or APAC.
- Include 4β6 months in the launch plan for the certification package β not 30 days.
And separately: do not rely on the manufacturer's verbal assurances. In 2026, documents that were valid in 2024 have ceased to be effective. Check as of the date.
At VietSmart, we complete the certification package for local production in 4β6 months β from verification of the manufacturer's QMS to registration of the declaration with the provincial Service of Industry and Trade. If you are placing production in Vietnam and are not sure which regulator your product falls under, start with that question. It determines everything else.
If you already have production in Vietnam, open the manufacturer's documents. Look at the issue date of the QMS certificate. If it is earlier than 2025, check whether it is valid after July 1, 2026. If not, you will not pass the declaration. This is not about bureaucracy. It is about whether you enter the market this year or next.