WHAT HAPPENED
In early August 2026, Vietnam's Ministry of Health issued a strong demand to major Asian marketplaces Lazada and Shopee. The agency called for the immediate removal of all information related to the Slimaura Care x3 dietary supplement from their platforms. This decision was part of an effort to regulate the dietary supplement market and ensure products comply with established safety and advertising standards.
The Slimaura Care x3 incident demonstrates the increasing strictness of Vietnamese supervisory authorities regarding online trade, especially when it comes to products that directly affect consumer health. Such measures are aimed at protecting the public from unscrupulous sellers and products that lack necessary permits or disseminate false information about their properties.
WHAT THIS MEANS
For Russian entrepreneurs considering entering the dynamic markets of Southeast Asia via large e-commerce platforms like Lazada and Shopee, this case serves as an important warning. Vietnam, like many other countries in the region, has a complex and constantly evolving regulatory environment for dietary supplements and pharmaceutical products. Non-compliance with local requirements can lead not only to product removal from platforms but also to significant fines, account blocking, and serious damage to brand reputation.
A key aspect lies in the strict regulation of product information. In Vietnam, as in Russia, there is a clear distinction between dietary supplements and medicinal products. Claims about medicinal properties, miraculous effects, or the ability to cure diseases are strictly prohibited for dietary supplements unless they are registered as medicinal products. Russian sellers must carefully ensure that all marketing information, images, and descriptions of their products fully comply with local legislation, even if such data is permitted in Russia.
Moreover, the absence of proper permits is a direct path to problems. Selling dietary supplements in Vietnam requires going through a registration procedure and obtaining compliance certificates from the Ministry of Health. This includes laboratory testing, ingredient verification, and production process checks. Simply having Russian or international certificates does not guarantee automatic approval in Vietnam.
The Slimaura Care x3 incident highlights that marketplaces, in their effort to comply with regulators' requirements and protect their reputation, will promptly react to official directives. This means that even if a product is successfully listed, it can be removed at any time at the request of a regulatory body, without the possibility of reinstatement, unless all necessary documents are provided and information is corrected.
VIETSMART EXPERT COMMENTARY
For a Russian entrepreneur targeting Asian markets, the first and most important step is a deep dive into local legislation. It is not enough to simply translate the product description into Vietnamese; it is necessary to adapt the entire marketing strategy and documentation to specific regulatory norms. This includes not only obtaining all necessary permits but also continuous monitoring of changes in legislation, which can change quickly, especially in the healthcare and online trade sectors.
It is important to understand that regulatory requirements in Vietnam can be significantly stricter than in Russia, especially regarding the evidentiary basis for efficacy and advertising claims for health-related products. A proactive approach to compliance, including consultations with local lawyers and experts, is not just a recommendation but a critically important condition for successful and sustainable operations in these markets. Attempts to "bypass" the system or hope that "no one will notice" are almost guaranteed to lead to serious problems and financial losses.
CONCLUSIONS AND WHAT TO DO
- Thorough Legal Due Diligence: Before commencing any operations on Asian marketplaces, conduct an in-depth analysis of Vietnamese (and other target countries') legislation regarding dietary supplements. Consult local lawyers specializing in healthcare compliance.
- Complete Set of Permitting Documentation: Ensure your product has all necessary registrations, licenses, and certificates issued by the relevant regulatory authorities in Vietnam. Russian certificates are not a substitute for local ones.
- Adapt Marketing Materials: Review all product descriptions, advertising texts, images, and claims. Exclude any wording that could be interpreted as attributing medicinal properties to dietary supplements or violates local advertising rules.
- Collaborate with Reliable Partners: Choose local distributors or agents with experience working with regulatory bodies and an understanding of legislative nuances. They can significantly simplify the registration process and ensure timely information updates.
- Constant Monitoring: The regulatory environment is constantly changing. Set up a system for monitoring changes in Vietnamese legislation concerning the import, production, and sale of dietary supplements to promptly adapt your activities.
Source: Vietnam.vn from August 5, 2026