Procedures for importing powdered milk

Posted on: 13/01/2025

Powdered milk is imported to Vietnam from many different countries such as: New Zealand, USA, Australia, France, Netherlands. However, the procedures for this item are the same. The following is the procedure for importing powdered milk.

1. Regulations on procedures for importing powdered milk

Procedures for importing powdered milk are regulated in the following legal documents:

According to the above legal documents, powdered milk is not on the list of goods prohibited from import. However, when carrying out procedures for importing powdered milk, the following points must be noted:

Powdered milk must be declared for food safety when imported;
When importing powdered milk, the goods must be labeled according to 43/2017/ND-CP;
Determine the correct HS code to determine the correct tax and avoid fines.

The above is the entire document regulating the procedures for importing powdered milk. If you do not fully understand the above documents, please contact our hotline or hotmail for advice.

To determine the most accurate procedures for importing powdered milk as well as import tax, the HS code for powdered milk must be determined. Please see the next section.

2. Labeling imported powdered milk

Labeling imported goods is not a new regulation. However, since Decree 128/2020/ND-CP was issued, the labeling of imported goods has been more closely monitored. Labeling goods is intended to help administrative agencies manage goods, identify the origin and the unit responsible for the goods. Therefore, labeling goods is one of the indispensable steps when carrying out procedures for importing powdered milk from different countries.

2.1 Label content

In addition to labeling, label content is also very important. The label content of goods is regulated in Decree No. 43/2017/ND-CP. For powdered milk products, the content of a complete label includes the following information:

Information of the exporter (address, company name);
Information of the importer (address, company name);
Name of goods and information of goods;
Production date and expiry date;
Origin of goods.

These are the basic label contents that need to be affixed to goods. The information shown must be in English or other languages that must be translated. When carrying out import procedures for powdered milk, if the red line is encountered, the customs inspection will pay close attention to the content of the label above.

2.2 Labeling position on goods

Labeling on goods is necessary, however, labeling in the right position is more important. When importing, the label needs to be affixed to the surfaces of the package such as: On cartons, on wooden crates, on product packaging. Or anywhere that is convenient to check and easy to see. Labeling in the right position will help save time for inspection when carrying out import procedures for powdered milk of all kinds.

For retail goods on the market, it is necessary to show more information. Such as the manufacturer, quantity of goods, technical specifications, production date, safety warnings.

2.3 Risks encountered when not labeling

Labeling on goods is caught according to the provisions of law. If the goods are not labeled when imported or the content of the label is incorrect. The importer must face the following risks:

Being fined according to regulations, the fine level is stipulated in Article 22 of Decree 128/2020/ND-CP;
Not enjoying special preferential import tax because the certificate of origin will be rejected;
Goods are easily lost or damaged due to the lack of warning labels for loading, unloading and transportation.

With the above risks, we recommend that you label the goods when doing the procedures for importing powdered milk. If you do not fully understand the regulations on product labels. Please contact the hotline or hotmail for advice.

3. Determine the HS code for powdered milk

Determining the HS code is the most important step when doing the procedures for importing any type of goods. Determining the HS code will determine import tax, VAT and import policy. To correctly determine the HS code for powdered milk, you need to understand the characteristics of the goods: Material, ingredients and characteristics of the product.

3.1 HS code for powdered milk

HS code (Harmonized System) is a series of codes used for all goods worldwide. Between different countries in the world, only the tail number is different. Therefore, the first 6 numbers of the HS code worldwide for an item are the same. Below, Just In Time would like to share with you the HS code table for powdered milk.

HS Code	Description
	– In powder, granules or other solid forms, of a fat content by mass not exceeding 1.5%:
	– – Not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter:
04021041	– – – Packaged with a net weight of 20 kg or more
04021042	– – – Packaged with a net weight of 2 kg or less
04021049	– – – Other
	– – Other:
04021091	– – – Packaged with net weight of 20 kg or more
04021092	– – – Packaged with net weight of 2 kg or less
04021099	– – – Other
	– In powder, granules or other solid forms, of a fat content by mass exceeding 1.5%:
040221	– – No added sugar or other sweeteners:
04022120	– – – Packaged with net weight of 20 kg or more
04022130	– – – Packaged with net weight of 2 kg or less
04022190	– – – Other
040229	– – Other:
04022920	– – – Packaged with net weight of 20 kg or more
04022930	– – – Packaged with net weight of 2 kg or less
04022990	– – – Other
	– – Other:
04029100	– – – No added sugar or other sweetener
04029900	– – – Other

3.2 Risks of applying the wrong HS code

Determining the correct HS code is very important when carrying out procedures for importing powdered milk. Determining the wrong HS code will bring certain risks to you such as:

Delay in customs procedures: Declaring the wrong HS code can lead to delays in customs procedures, due to the time needed to check and verify accurate information about the type of goods.
Penalty for declaring the wrong HS code according to Decree 128/2020/ND-CP;
Delayed delivery: If the goods are found to have declared the wrong HS code, the customs authority may request correction or clarification of information. This can lead to delays in the delivery process and affect the production and business cycle of the enterprise.
In case of import tax, you will face a penalty of at least 2,000,000 VND and a maximum penalty of 3 times the tax amount.

To determine the exact HS code for each specific type of powdered milk. Please contact the hotline or hotmail for advice.

4. Import tax on powdered milk

Import tax on powdered milk depends on the HS code of solar LED lights above. There are two types of taxes when importing LED lights: Import tax and import VAT.

To determine the import tax on powdered milk, you can refer to the import tax calculation below:

Import tax determined by HS code, import tax is calculated according to the formula:
Import tax = CIF value x % tax rate

Import VAT is determined according to the formula:
Value added tax = (CIF value + Import tax) x % VAT rate.

The CIF value is determined by the factory value of the goods plus all costs to bring the goods to the first border gate of the importing country.

Import tax is also a cost that the importer must pay. Determining the correct HS code is very important when carrying out procedures for importing powdered milk. To determine the correct HS code for powdered milk, please contact hotline or hotmail for advice.

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5. Documents for importing powdered milk

Documents for importing powdered milk in particular, and other items in general. Stipulated in Circular 38/2015/TT-BTC dated March 25, 2015; amended and supplemented by 39/2018/TT-BTC dated April 20, 2018.

Documents for importing powdered milk include the following documents:

Customs declaration;
Commercial invoice;
Bill of lading;
Sale contract;
Food safety declaration and food safety inspection dossier;
Packing list;
Certificate of origin (C/O) if any;
Catalog (if any).

In the above import dossier, the most important documents are: Customs declaration, commercial invoice, bill of lading, certificate of origin and food safety declaration dossier. These are the most important documents, and other documents will have to be provided if requested by Customs.

For the import procedure of powdered milk, the food safety declaration dossier is the most important. The declaration dossier must be made before importing to avoid wasting time on import procedures.

6. Food safety declaration of imported powdered milk

According to Article 6 of Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP dated February 2, 2018, powdered milk products. Must make a food safety declaration when importing and before putting them on the market. The process of making a food safety declaration for powdered milk requires the following steps:

Step 1: Prepare documents
The food safety declaration dossier for powdered milk products is stipulated in Article 7 of Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP. The dossier for registering food safety declaration for powdered milk will include:

Product declaration;
Certificate of Free Sale or Certificate of Exportation or Health Certificate;
Food safety test results. Enterprises must register and test samples with competent agencies and centers of the Ministry of Health;
Certificate of food safety qualified facility;
Product catalog if available.

Note: All of the above must be in Vietnamese, if in English, it must be notarized.

Step 2: Food Safety Declaration
Food safety declaration for powdered milk products is done on the national single window or send a paper dossier to the Ministry of Health.

Step 3. Wait for feedback and supplement the dossier if requested
The time to receive results for food safety declaration for powdered milk products is 7 working days. Within 7 days, there will be a response from the Ministry of Health. At this time, according to the request, supplement the dossier as requested.

Step 4. Receive the declaration results
The above are 4 basic steps for food safety declaration procedures for powdered milk products. Carrying out food safety declaration procedures for powdered milk must be carried out before importing goods. Because the time to make food safety declaration is very long, even lasting 30 days.

If you cannot complete the food safety declaration registration dossier for powdered milk products. Please contact our hotline or hotmail for advice and service quotes.

7. Procedures for importing powdered milk

Self-declaration can be carried out in parallel with import procedures. Especially the step of checking the quality of imported food safety for powdered milk. Customs will base on the results of the quality inspection to proceed with customs clearance of goods. The procedures for importing powdered milk are carried out in the following steps:

Step 1: Declare customs declaration
After having complete import and export documents: Contract, commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, notice of arrival and determining the HS code of powdered milk. Then you can enter the declaration information into the customs system via software.

Declaring customs declaration on customs software. Requires the importer to have knowledge about entering data into the software. Do not arbitrarily declare customs declaration when you do not fully understand this work. Arbitrary declaration may result in errors that cannot be corrected on the customs declaration. At that time, it will cost a lot of money and time to fix.

Within 30 days from the date of arrival of the goods at the port, the customs declarant must make a customs declaration. If this deadline is exceeded, the importer will face a penalty fee from the customs.

Step 2: Open the customs declaration
After completing the customs declaration, the customs system will return the declaration flow results. If there is a declaration flow, print the declaration and bring the import documents to the customs branch to open the declaration. Depending on the green, yellow, or red flow, perform the steps to open the declaration. Opening the declaration must be done as soon as possible, no later than 15 days from the date of declaration. The declarant must bring the documents to the customs branch to open the customs declaration. After 15 days, the declaration will be canceled and you will face a penalty fee from the customs.

At this time, you will register for food safety inspection to collect samples and check actual quality. Registration documents and procedures Please contact Just In Time for advice.

Step 3. Clearing the customs declaration
After checking the documents, if there are no questions, the customs officer will accept the declaration. You can now pay the import tax on the boiler for the customs declaration to clear the goods.

In some cases, the declaration will be released to bring the goods to the warehouse for storage first. After completing the documents, the customs will proceed to clear the customs declaration. When the declaration has not been cleared, it is necessary to carry out the procedures for the declaration to clear customs. If it is overdue, you will face a penalty fee and it will take a lot of time.

Step 4. Bring the goods to the warehouse for storage and use
After the customs declaration, proceed with the declaration liquidation step and complete the necessary procedures to bring the goods back to the warehouse and be able to bring the goods to the market for consumption.

The above are the 4 basic steps to carry out the procedures for importing powdered milk. In the import procedure, the most difficult step is making a food safety declaration. Please contact our hotline or hotmail for advice and service quotes.

8. Notes when carrying out procedures for importing powdered milk

When carrying out procedures for importing powdered milk, you need to note the following:

Goods are only cleared through customs when tax obligations to the state are completed.
Food safety declaration must be made before importing powdered milk.
Product quality testing should be carried out before importing. Avoid the situation where the goods arrive at the port and then carry out the food safety declaration procedures. Will cause storage costs and damage to goods.
The product must be labeled on the main label, there must be a secondary label.
Determining the HS code is very important and needs to be determined accurately to avoid import tax.
Food safety inspection will be carried out in parallel with customs procedures. The inspection results will be compared with the food safety declaration.

If you have difficulty with customs procedures, you can choose Just In Time as your companion.

Just In Time's staff is always enthusiastic to support you to handle your work quickly and professionally.