Confectionery export procedures in Vietnam have several points requiring updates as Decree 292/2026/ND-CP (effective from September 5, 2026, replacing Decree 69/2018/ND-CP) officially applies to the management of import-export activities in general.
Meanwhile, China – one of Vietnam’s major confectionery consumer markets – has been operating under General Administration of Customs China (GACC) Order 280 since June 1, 2026, replacing Order 248, which has changed the way businesses register on the CIFER system. This is the time for confectionery businesses to review their entire self-declaration and destination market registration files before ramping up exports at year-end.
As a sector with diverse products ranging from hard candy, gummy candy, chocolate, cookies, and wafers to cereal snacks, confectionery export procedures do not fall under specialized-management goods categories or require special permits like fruit or seafood, but businesses must still strictly comply with food safety regulations, self-declare their products, and register with the destination market’s authority. The article below compiles all legal grounds, HS codes, procedures, costs, and common risks in confectionery export procedures, updated according to regulations in effect as of September 2026.
1. Potential and Key Confectionery Export Markets
Vietnam’s confectionery industry has production hubs concentrated in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Hanoi, and several northern provinces, with flagship products including coconut candy, sesame candy, cookies, mooncakes, chocolate, and various snacks. China, Cambodia, ASEAN countries, the US, the EU, Japan, and South Korea remain the key markets in confectionery export procedures for Vietnamese businesses.
Each market has a different level of control: China requires businesses to register on the CIFER system under GACC Order 280; the US applies FDA facility registration requirements and the FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification Program); the EU, Japan, and South Korea place heavy emphasis on ingredient labeling, food additives, and permitted residue thresholds.
2. Legal Basis Governing Confectionery Export Procedures
| Legal Document | Regulated Content |
|---|---|
| 2010 Food Safety Law (55/2010/QH12) | General regulations on food safety conditions for confectionery production and trading facilities |
| Decree 15/2018/ND-CP | Regulates product self-declaration, state inspection of import-export food safety, and the authority receiving self-declaration files |
| Decree 43/2017/ND-CP and amending documents on goods labeling | Regulates the content and format of labeling for exported confectionery goods |
| Decree 292/2026/ND-CP (effective from September 5, 2026, replacing Decree 69/2018/ND-CP) | General import-export management procedures; confectionery is not on the list of prohibited exports or specialized-management goods |
| GACC Order 280/2025 (effective from June 1, 2026, replacing Order 248) | Registration of foreign food-manufacturing businesses exporting to China via the CIFER system |
Important new point: Under current guidance, confectionery, sugar, tea, and beverages are not among the 18 product groups that must be introduced through a competent Vietnamese authority; businesses may register directly with GACC on the CIFER system themselves. However, the application still needs all 4 required sections (business information, production information, checklist and commitments, and supporting documents) to avoid rejection due to missing documentation.
3. Requirements for Businesses and Production Facilities
| Requirement | Issuing/Managing Authority | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Product self-declaration | Self-executed by the business, published on its website or the local food safety authority’s information portal | Mandatory before circulation and export under Decree 15/2018/ND-CP |
| Certificate of eligibility for food safety conditions | Department of Industry and Trade / local food safety management board | Small household businesses may substitute a food safety commitment declaration instead |
| HACCP/ISO 22000 certification | Independent certification body | Not mandatory by law but is almost a prerequisite for importers in the EU, US, and Japan |
| CIFER registration under Order 280 (China market) | General Administration of Customs China (GACC) | Confectionery may be self-registered directly, without needing a Vietnamese authority to introduce the application |
| FDA facility registration and FSVP (US market) | FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) | Mandatory to submit Prior Notice for each shipment before goods arrive at a US port |
4. HS Codes and Export Tax on Confectionery
Confectionery mainly falls under Chapter 17 – “Sugars and sugar confectionery” for candies not containing cocoa, Chapter 18 – “Cocoa and cocoa preparations” for chocolate, and Chapter 19 – “Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares” for cookies, wafers, and bread. Correctly determining the HS code based on the main ingredient is an important step in confectionery export procedures.
| Type of Goods | HS Code (Vietnam) | Vietnam Export Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard candy, gummy candy, chewing gum | 1704.90 | 0% | Does not contain cocoa; check the specific 8-digit subheading based on composition |
| Chocolate and cocoa-containing preparations | 1806.31/1806.90 | 0% | Some markets require the minimum cocoa content to be declared on the label |
| Sweet biscuits, savory crackers | 1905.31/1905.90 | 0% | Must clearly declare the ratio of flour, sugar, and fat to determine the correct subheading |
| Mooncakes, wafers, sponge cakes | 1905.90 | 0% | Seasonal mooncake exports require attention to short shelf life |
| Cereal snacks, chips | 1904.10/1904.90 | 0% | Applies to puffed, fried, or extruded cereal products |
Practical note: Vietnam’s confectionery export tax is currently 0% for most HS codes under Chapters 17, 18, and 19. Businesses should note that confectionery is not on the specialized-management goods list, so no special export permit is required; however, self-declaration of the product and compliance with labeling requirements remain mandatory before export.
5. Specific Requirements by Export Market
| Market | Key Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| China | Business registration on the CIFER system under GACC Order 280 | Confectionery is self-registered directly, without needing a Vietnamese authority to introduce the application |
| United States | FDA facility registration, the FSVP program, and Prior Notice submission for each shipment | Ingredient labels must meet FDA standards and clearly state allergens |
| EU | Labeling under Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, control of additives and coloring agents | Some additives commonly used in Vietnam are not on the EU’s approved list |
| Japan, South Korea | JAS labeling standards, inspection of food additives and chemical residues | Requires ingredient and usage instructions translated into the local language |
6. Documentation Required for Confectionery Export Procedures
| Document | When to Prepare | Important Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial contract, invoice, packing list | Before customs declaration | Must clearly state Incoterms, goods description matching the HS code, and figures consistent with the bill of lading |
| Product self-declaration and test result report | Before circulation, and remains valid throughout the export process | Carried out under Decree 15/2018/ND-CP, published on the food safety management authority’s information portal |
| Certificate of Free Sale (CFS) | When required by the importer or destination country | Issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, confirming the product is permitted for circulation in Vietnam |
| Health Certificate (if required by the market) | Before the goods reach the port | Common for markets with strict food safety controls such as the Middle East; some Muslim-majority countries also require Halal certification |
| Certificate of Origin (C/O) | After the export declaration is issued | Needed to qualify for preferential tax treatment under FTAs (ACFTA, EVFTA, CPTPP, RCEP, etc.) |
| Export customs declaration (VNACCS) | Before customs clearance | Must declare the correct HS code based on the main ingredient and packaging |
7. Confectionery Export Process
Step 1: Determine the destination market and its corresponding registration requirements
The business determines the export market and checks the specific registration requirements – this is the foundational first step in confectionery export procedures, which determines the entire legal documentation set that needs to be prepared afterward.
Step 2: Self-declare the product under Decree 15/2018/ND-CP
The business carries out product self-declaration, attaching the food safety test result report, and publishes the file on its own website or on the local food safety authority’s information portal.
Step 3: Register with the destination market’s authority (if applicable)
For the China market, the business registers on the CIFER system under GACC Order 280; for the US market, it carries out FDA facility registration and the FSVP program.
Step 4: Production, packaging, and quality control
Products are manufactured to HACCP/ISO 22000 standards, packaged and labeled according to the importing country’s regulations, ensuring full ingredient and shelf-life information.
Step 5: Apply for additional certifications as required (CFS, Health Certificate, Halal)
The business applies for a Certificate of Free Sale (CFS) at the Ministry of Industry and Trade if requested by the importer, or for Halal certification when exporting to Muslim-majority markets.
Step 6: Complete documentation and file the export customs declaration
The business or its forwarder prepares the invoice and packing list, files the electronic customs declaration on the VNACCS/VCIS system, and attaches the product self-declaration, C/O, and other supporting documents matching the FTA of the destination market.
Step 7: International transport and import clearance at the destination country
Once the declaration is cleared, the goods are handed over to a carrier using standard containers or moisture-protected dry containers depending on the product type. The importer coordinates with the local customs authority, GACC, or the FDA at the destination country to complete the import procedures.
8. Common Risks in Confectionery Export Procedures
| Risk | Symptom | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Product self-declaration not completed before export | Shipment faces delayed clearance or is rejected at the border checkpoint | Complete the self-declaration file and retain full records before signing the export contract |
| CIFER application rejected due to missing documents | Application status changes to “Unapproved,” requiring resubmission from scratch | Prepare all 4 required sections of the application per GACC requirements before submitting |
| Using additives not on the destination market’s approved list | Shipment flagged with a warning or returned by the importing country | Cross-check the approved additive list for each market before production |
| Labeling does not meet language or ingredient requirements | Goods held pending supplementary labeling, incurring extra cost and delay | Design the label to correctly meet each market’s labeling regulations from the outset |
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Confectionery Export Procedures
Question 1: Does exporting confectionery require a specialized permit?
No. Confectionery is not on the specialized-management goods list and does not require a special permit; businesses only need to carry out export procedures like ordinary goods at the customs authority, together with a product self-declaration.
Question 2: Is CIFER registration with China mandatory for all confectionery businesses?
Yes. Under GACC Order 280 (effective from June 1, 2026), every confectionery manufacturer exporting to China must register on the CIFER system; since confectionery is not among the 18 product groups requiring a Vietnamese authority to introduce the application, businesses may self-register directly.
Question 3: What is the current confectionery export tax rate in Vietnam?
Confectionery of all types (under Chapters 17, 18, and 19) enjoys a 0% export tax rate in Vietnam for most common HS codes.
Question 4: What special preparation is needed for exporting confectionery to the US?
Businesses need to register their facility with the FDA, join the FSVP program, and submit Prior Notice for each shipment before it arrives at a US port, while also ensuring the ingredient label clearly states allergens in accordance with FDA regulations.
How Does 3W Logistics Support Confectionery Export Procedures?
As a freight forwarding company registered as an OTI-NVOCC with an FMC (Federal Maritime Commission) bond in the United States, holding an SCAC Code to self-file AMS/ISF declarations directly, and with experience handling food and confectionery exports to a wide range of markets, 3W Logistics provides an end-to-end service for businesses on confectionery export procedures – from consulting on the self-declaration file and destination market registration, through to customs clearance in the importing country.
- Consulting on product self-declaration and destination market registration: Guiding businesses to complete the self-declaration file, and CIFER (China) or FDA/FSVP (US) registration correctly.
- Support connecting testing labs and applying for CFS and Health Certificates: Coordinating with the food safety authority so shipments are tested and certified within the required timeframe.
- Tracking GACC and FDA policy changes and EU labeling regulations: Closely monitoring the rollout of Order 280, FSVP requirements, and the list of approved additives to help businesses proactively plan their export strategy.
- Booking vessels and container shipping: Arranging sea or air transport depending on the volume and delivery timeline of each confectionery order.
- Electronic customs declaration (VNACCS) and import procedures at the destination country: A professional team handling export declarations; as an OTI-NVOCC with FMC and SCAC Code, 3W Logistics self-issues House Bills of Lading (HBL) and self-files AMS/ISF directly for shipments to the US.
Why choose 3W Logistics for confectionery export routes: Unlike many intermediary forwarders that must go through a third-party agent, 3W Logistics is an OTI-NVOCC with a direct bond and FMC certification in the US, holding an SCAC Code that allows it to self-file AMS/ISF – shortening documentation processing time and reducing the risk of delays for confectionery shipments with seasonal delivery requirements. With offices in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Hai Phong, and a team that stays closely updated on CIFER and FDA policy changes and each market’s labeling regulations, 3W Logistics is a fitting choice for businesses that want their shipments cleared on time and to standard from the very first export. – Ms. Apple, CCO of 3W Logistics
Head Office – 3W Logistics Ho Chi Minh City Branch
Address: 34 Bach Dang, Tan Son Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
Hotline: +84 28 3535 0087
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3W Logistics Hanoi Branch
Address: 81A Tran Quoc Toan, Cua Nam Ward, Hanoi
Hotline: +84 24 3202 0482
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3W Logistics Hai Phong Branch
Address: 8A Lot 28 Le Hong Phong, Gia Vien Ward, Hai Phong
Hotline: +84 225 355 5939
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3W LOGISTICS CO., LTD – We here serve you there!
Email: info@3w-logistics.com
Website: www.3w-logistics.com
Ms. Apple is the CCO (Chief Commercial Officer) at 3W Logistics, with over 10 years of experience in sales and business operations management.
At 3W Logistics, Ms. Apple is responsible for commercial strategy, corporate customer development, managing a team of more than 50 sales professionals, and improving business performance in the logistics sector.
With practical experience in sales management and market development, Ms. Apple shares professional insights on business logistics solutions, international transportation, freight forwarding, customer management, trade lane development, and growth strategies in the logistics industry.
