Procedures for importing aquatic feed

Posted on: 17/01/2025

Aquatic feed is a product that provides nutrition and beneficial ingredients for the growth of aquatic animals, including mixed feed, supplements, fresh feed and raw materials. Below Just In Time would like to introduce the procedures for importing aquatic feed, HS codes, import tax, VAT and aquatic feed import policy.

1. Aquatic feed import policy

The procedures for importing aquatic feed are stipulated in the following documents:

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

Aquatic feed to be imported must have a product circulation declaration;
Feed for ornamental fish and pets must undergo animal quarantine;
Aquatic feed must be quality checked when imported;
VAT on aquatic feed is 0%.

Above are all the legal documents regulating the procedures for importing aquatic feed. If you do not fully understand the above regulations. Please contact our hotline or hotmail for advice.

2. Labeling imported goods

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 aims 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 aquatic feed from different countries.

2.1. Label content

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

Information of the exporter (address, company name);
Importer information (address, company name);
Goods name and goods information;
Quantity;
Production date;
Expiry date;
Quantitative ingredients;
Instructions for use, storage instructions;
Origin of goods;

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

2.2. Location of labeling on goods

Affixing labels on goods is necessary, however, affixing them in the correct location is more important. When importing, the product 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 correct location will help save time for inspection when carrying out procedures for importing aquatic feed 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 penalty level is specified 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 aquatic feed. If you do not fully understand the regulations on product labels. Please contact hotline or hotmail for advice.

3. HS code for aquatic feed

Looking up HS code is a very important task when doing procedures for importing aquatic feed. HS code is a series of numbers assigned to each specific item worldwide. HS code between countries for an item is usually the same from at least the first 4 to 6 digits. Therefore, when importing aquatic feed, you should refer to the HS code provided by the seller.

Just In Time has compiled some HS codes for aquatic feed. Please refer to the table below:

HS Code	Description
	Aquatic feed
23099013	HS code for shrimp feed
23099019	HS code for other animal feed
	Feed additives
23099020	HS Code of synthetic substance, feed supplement or feed additive
23099090	HS code for other types of animal feed

HS code for aquatic feed is classified into group 2309. Import tax on aquatic feed is from 0% - 3%. Aquatic feed is subject to 0% VAT. The above import tax rate is preferential tax, in addition there is a special preferential import tax. The special preferential tax rate applies to imported goods from countries and territories with which Vietnam has signed a trade agreement.

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

Being fined for declaring the wrong HS code according to Decree 128/2020/ND-CP;
In case of import tax, you will face a fine of at least 2,000,000 VND and the highest is a fine of 3 times the tax amount.

If you have not determined the correct HS code for aquatic feed of all kinds. Please contact hotline or hotmail for advice.

4. Import tax on aquatic feed

Import tax is an obligation that the importer must fulfill with the state. There are two types of import tax on aquatic feed: import tax and import VAT. You can refer to the method of calculating import tax as follows:

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

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

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

According to the above calculations, it can be seen that the import tax on aquatic feed depends on the import tax rate. The import tax rate is determined by the selected HS code of aquatic feed.

In addition to preferential tax rates, there are also special preferential tax rates. The special preferential tax rate is usually 0% applied to goods imported from countries and territories with which Vietnam has signed trade agreements such as: China, Korea, Japan, Chile, Europe, Australia, India and ASEAN countries.

To be eligible for special preferential import tax rates, the shipment must have a certificate of origin, also known as C/O.

5. Documents for importing aquatic feed

Documents for importing aquatic feed in particular, and for importing other goods 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.

Customs declaration;
Bill of lading;
Commercial invoice;
Commercial contract (sale contract);
Packing list (packing list);
Certificate of origin (℅) if any;
Aquatic feed circulation declaration file;
Quarantine file;
Quality inspection file;
Catalogs;

Above are all the documents in the file for aquatic feed import procedures. The following documents are the most important: Customs declaration, bill of lading, commercial invoice. Other documents will be provided upon request from the customs.

Certificate of origin is not a mandatory document. However, this is a very important document for importers to enjoy preferential import tax rates. Therefore, importers should negotiate and request the seller to provide a certificate of origin.

If you do not understand the file for aquatic feed import procedures. Please contact the hotline or hotmail for advice.

6. Animal and plant quarantine

Animal and plant quarantine for food for ornamental fish and pets must be conducted by animal quarantine. For food containing animal products, animal quarantine will be conducted. For food of plant origin, plant quarantine will be conducted. The process of animal and plant quarantine for aquatic food includes the following steps:

Step 1: Prepare documents and register for quarantine
The quarantine registration dossier includes the following documents:

Phyto certificate (for plants);
Health certificate (for animals);
Commercial contract;
Commercial invoice;
Bill of lading;
Packing list;
Basic standards;
Quarantine license;
Quarantine registration form;

After having a set of quarantine documents, you can go to the affiliated Sub-Departments to register for quarantine. The quarantine agency will review the documents and notify the officer in charge of sampling and the sampling time for the enterprise to prepare.

Step 2: Sampling
The enterprise will keep in touch with the quarantine officer to conduct sampling according to regulations. Quarantine sampling must be conducted at the border gate or port. To be able to take samples, it is necessary to have confirmation from the customs to be allowed to take samples.

Step 3: Receive sample test results
After taking samples, the competent authority will conduct an epidemiological inspection of the goods. To determine whether the goods meet the standards for import into Vietnam or not.

Step 4: Receive quarantine certificate
The quarantine agency will issue a quality certificate when the inspection results are suitable. If not, an official dispatch will be issued requesting the enterprise to re-export the shipment. When receiving the quarantine certificate, the quality inspection certificate can be supplemented at this time. If there is no quality inspection certificate, it can be supplemented later.

7. Check the quality of aquatic feed

Quality inspection is mandatory when carrying out procedures for importing aquatic feed. Quality inspection will be carried out in parallel with the import procedures. Checking the quality of aquatic feed includes the following steps:

Step 1: Prepare documents and register for inspection
Aquatic feed can be registered on the one-stop website or by registering on paper. Registration for quality inspection will be carried out at centers approved by the Department of Animal Husbandry. The file for checking the quality of aquatic feed includes the following documents:

Commercial contract;
Commercial invoice;
Packing list;
Bill of lading;
Customs declaration;
Application for quality inspection;

Register the file by submitting paper documents to the competent Quality Inspection Centers. Or you can register on the national single window system.

Step 2: Take samples of goods
Sampling will be carried out at the port or where the goods are gathered. Sampling will be taken at the same time as taking quarantine samples, if possible, it will save sampling costs for the business.

Step 3: Wait for quality inspection results
After having the sample, the inspection center will check the sample according to the relevant quality standards. If the sample meets the standards, the inspection center will issue a sample certificate.

Step 4: Submit the quality inspection certificate to the relevant agencies
If there is a certificate, it is necessary to supplement the certificate to the customs and the animal quarantine department, each side has an original. It is necessary to supplement the quality certificate to the relevant agencies to clear the goods.

Note: Goods are only cleared through customs when they have a certificate of quality according to regulations.

8. Import procedures

The procedures for importing aquatic feed are the same as for other goods. They are very specifically regulated in Circular 38/2015/TT-BTC dated March 25, 2015, amended and supplemented by Circular 39/2018/TT-BTC dated April 20, 2018. We summarize the steps briefly so that you can visualize the whole picture. The following are the main steps for importing aquatic feed of all kinds.

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 aquatic feed. Then you can enter the declaration information into the customs system via the customs declaration software.

Declare customs declaration on the customs software. Requires importers to have knowledge of data entry into the software. Do not declare customs declarations on your own when you do not fully understand this work. Declare on your own can easily cause points 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 goods at the port, the customs declarant must declare the 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 office 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 Department to open a customs declaration. After 15 days, the declaration will be canceled and you will face a penalty fee from the customs.

Step 3: Take samples for quarantine and quality control
Taking samples is an important step when carrying out procedures for importing aquatic feed. Customs will confirm that businesses and competent authorities are allowed to take samples. For quarantine, sampling will be conducted at the border gate, port, airport. For quality control, sampling can be conducted at the warehouse.

Step 4. Clearing goods
After checking the documents, if there are no questions, the customs officer will accept the declaration. You can now pay the fees and import tax 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 procedures to clear the declaration. If it is overdue, you will face penalties and it will take a lot of time.

Step 5. Bring the goods back 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. To be able to bring the goods back to the warehouse, you need to prepare in advance the delivery order, the port pick-up slip and arrange the means to pick up the goods. Avoid the situation where the declaration is completed but there is an order from the shipping line to take the goods out of the port.

The above are the five steps to import aquatic feed. If you do not understand the steps, please contact us via hotline or hotmail for advice.

9. Notes when importing aquatic feed

When importing aquatic feed, you need to note the following points:

Import tax is an obligation that the importer must fulfill to the state;
Determining the exact HS code of aquatic feed is very important to determine the tax and avoid being fined for applying the wrong HS code;
VAT on aquatic feed is 0%;
Only conduct animal quarantine for food for ornamental fish and pets;
When importing aquatic food, it is necessary to label the goods;
Goods can only be consumed on the market when the declaration is cleared by customs;

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.

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