In a recent announcement on March 20, 2026, the Government’s Standing Committee decided to further delay the implementation of Decree 46 and Resolution 66 regarding food declaration and registration. This suspension will remain in effect until the amended Law on Food Safety and its new guiding documents officially come into force.
Context and reasons for the adjustment:
-
Border Congestion: Following the initial enforcement of these regulations in late January, thousands of shipping containers were stranded at seaports. In just four days, over 700 shipments—totaling approximately 300,000 tons of agricultural products and semi-processed foods—were stalled due to a lack of specific implementation guidelines, disrupting raw material supply chains for production.
-
Transitional Mechanism: During this suspension period, import-export activities and food safety inspections for agricultural products will continue to operate under the previous legal framework (Decree 15) to ensure smooth cargo flow.
-
Key Tasks for the Ministry of Health: Regulatory authorities have been tasked with expediting the completion of the amended Law on Food Safety, expected to be submitted to the National Assembly this October. Simultaneously, post-market surveillance and food safety monitoring must be strengthened to maintain quality standards while awaiting the new law.
Numerous business associations and experts have recommended that new administrative procedures should only be introduced after comprehensive impact assessments are conducted, ensuring they do not disrupt the production and business operations of enterprises.
Source: https://vnexpress.net/tiep-tuc-lui-thuc-hien-nghi-dinh-46-ve-an-toan-thuc-pham-5053346.html