越南进口商品辅助标签：第 37/2026/NĐ-CP 号议定要点

Goods imported into Vietnam often carry only a foreign-language label. Before they go on sale, the importer must add a supplementary label for imported goods in Vietnamese. This article summarises the current rules, with article numbers so you can check them against the original text.

Which regulation governs goods labelling now?

It is Decree 37/2026/ND-CP of 23 January 2026, which details the Law on Product and Goods Quality; Chapter IV covers labelling. Under Article 97, the decree took effect on the day it was signed and replaced Decree 43/2017/ND-CP on goods labels and Decree 111/2021/ND-CP, which amended it. The original text is on the Government legal documents portal (Vietnamese) and in the Official Gazette (Vietnamese).

Two transitional rules in Article 98:

• Goods labelled correctly under the old rules and produced, imported or placed on the market before 23 January 2026 may stay on the market until the expiry date on the label (clause 3).
• Labels and packaging printed correctly under the old rules before that date may still be used, but for no more than 2 years from the decree's effective date (clause 4).

Original label vs supplementary label

Under Article 3, the original label is the label first shown on the goods or their commercial packaging (clause 6). A supplementary label shows the mandatory content translated from the foreign-language original label into Vietnamese, plus any mandatory content the original label lacks (clause 7). In short, a supplementary label sits alongside the original label; it does not replace it.

When do imported goods need a supplementary label?

• Article 39(3): if the label of imported goods does not show, or does not fully show, the mandatory content in Vietnamese, a Vietnamese supplementary label is required and the original label must be kept.
• Article 42(2): at customs clearance, the original label must be a physical label showing the product name, origin, and the name and address of the manufacturer or the responsible organisation abroad. The importer must then add the Vietnamese label before the goods are placed on the market.

Article 40(4) exempts some cases, such as spare parts imported for warranty replacement and not sold, raw materials and components imported for production, or samples for testing, certification or trade-fair display.

What must a supplementary label for imported goods show?

Article 42(1) requires labels of goods on the Vietnamese market to show, in Vietnamese:

• Product name: in the largest lettering among the mandatory items, without misleading about the product's nature or use (Article 43).
• Responsible organisation: for imports, the manufacturer's name and address and the importer's name and address (Article 44(2)).
• Origin: using a phrase such as “Sản xuất tại”, “Xuất xứ” or “Made in” plus the country (Article 47(2)); the country name must not be abbreviated (Article 39(1)).
• Other content by product group: listed in Appendix I of the decree.

What do electrical household and personal care devices need?

• Article 49(2): electrical and electronic goods, machinery and equipment must show basic technical specifications.
• Appendix I, group 40 (electrical and electronic equipment, among others): year of manufacture, technical specifications, warnings, instructions for use and storage.
• Appendix I, group 61 (toothbrushes): materials, technical specifications, instructions for use, warnings (if any), month and year of manufacture.
• Goods that fit several groups: the responsible organisation determines the group by the product's main function (Article 42(1)(d)). Products regulated as medical devices also follow group 13 and medical device law.

For example, the published specifications of the M159 water flosser are a 300 ml tank, 40–130 PSI, 4 modes, a 1,500 mAh battery, 6 W power and IPX7 water resistance: exactly the kind of information that must be translated accurately.

Where to apply it: a four-step process

• Position: on the goods or commercial packaging, without covering the original label's mandatory content (Article 40(2)), easy to see without taking the product apart (Article 36(1)).
• Electronic labels: a supplementary label may take electronic form, but the original label must be kept (Article 40(2)); medium- and high-risk goods must still show the name, responsible organisation, origin and warnings on a physical label (Article 53(2)).
• Online sales: sellers on e-commerce platforms must publish the full label content, except unit-specific details such as manufacturing date or batch number (Article 41(5)).

1. Check the original label: match the product name, origin and manufacturer against the shipment documents; note the existing specifications and warnings.
2. Draft the Vietnamese supplementary label: translate the mandatory content accurately, add what is missing under Article 42 and Appendix I, and add the importer's name and address.
3. Apply the label to the product or packaging: choose a visible spot that does not cover the original label; use a label material that sticks firmly.
4. Recheck before sale: sample a few boxes from the batch, proofread spelling, country names and units; photograph the label for your online listing.

Common supplementary label mistakes

• Sticking it over the original label's product name, origin or warnings.
• “Creative” translation that adds benefits not on the original label. Article 40(3) says the supplementary label must reflect the true nature and origin of the goods.
• Missing the importer's name and address, or abbreviating the country name.
• Specifications that differ from the original label, the manual or the online listing.
• Shipping to dealers before the supplementary label is applied.

Inmax products and import documents

Inmax imports through official channels; customs declarations and product notification files are available when partners need to provide them to clinics or hospitals. Wherever you source from, dealers should still check the label on the box before selling, using our guide on how to recognise officially imported water flossers. Marketplace sellers can also read selling water flossers online. To ask about the documents for a specific model, contact Inmax or see the dealer policy.

Frequently asked questions

Can the supplementary label be stuck on top of the original label?

It is attached to the goods or packaging, but it must not cover the original label's mandatory content (Article 40(2)).

Can packaging printed under Decree 43/2017 still be used?

Yes, if it complied with the old rules and was printed before 23 January 2026, but for no more than 2 years from the effective date of Decree 37/2026 (Article 98(4)).

Who is responsible if the supplementary label is wrong?

The organisation or individual doing the labelling is responsible for the accuracy and truthfulness of its content (Article 40(3)); importers must label the goods they import (Article 41(4)).

This article is for reference only. It summarises Decree 37/2026/ND-CP as of October 2026 and is not legal advice. Check the regulations in force and consult the authorities or a lawyer before applying them to a specific shipment.