The Government has issued Resolution 21, aiming to streamline business conditions and administrative procedures within the healthcare sector. A key change involves delegating the authority to approve advertising content for health supplements to local governments.
Shift in regulatory authority Starting July 1, 2026, the power to grant certificates for health supplement advertising content will rest with the Chairpersons of provincial People’s Committees. This responsibility was previously managed by the Vietnam Food Administration (Ministry of Health). This decentralization is intended to facilitate administrative processes and offer greater convenience for businesses.
Procedures and timelines The updated administrative process maintains strict timelines to ensure efficiency:
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Processing time: Local authorities are required to provide a result within 10 working days of receiving a complete and valid application.
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Amendment requests: The receiving agency is permitted to request amendments or supplements to the dossier only once.
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Validity period: Applications will become void if the business fails to provide requested amendments within 90 working days of the notice.
Public disclosure and post-inspection responsibility Once approved, the names of the businesses and their products must be publicly disclosed on the food safety database and the issuing agency’s official website. Advertising activities can only commence after a certificate is obtained and must strictly adhere to the approved content.
The Vietnam Food Administration stated that while authority is decentralized, specialized agencies will intensify post-inspection activities. This focus will particularly target advertisements on social media, e-commerce platforms, and mass media to ensure compliance with legal regulations.