Cheese import shipping procedures – Detailed instructions from A to Z
Cheese is one of the popular dairy products in the Vietnamese market, not only serving daily consumption needs but also supplying the F&B industry, hotels and restaurants. In addition to domestic production, most of the high-quality cheese is currently imported from countries such as New Zealand, Germany, France, and Australia .
To make the import process go smoothly, Indochina247.com would like to share the most complete and updated instructions on cheese import procedures , along with practical experience to help businesses save costs and shorten customs clearance time.
1. Cheese import policy
According to current regulations, cheese is not on the list of prohibited imports . However, businesses need to comply with the following legal requirements:
-
Declare or self-declare products according to food safety regulations.
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Attach a secondary label in Vietnamese (product name, ingredients, manufacturing date – expiry date, instructions for use, importer information).
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Register for food safety inspection before customs clearance.
Some legal documents to refer to: Decision 3742/2001/QD-BYT, Circular 38/2015/TT-BTC (amended by 39/2018/TT-BTC), Decree 69/2018/ND-CP, Decree 15/2018/ND-CP, Decree 128/2020/ND-CP…
2. HS code and import tax
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HS Group 0406 : Cheese and curds.
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Normal import tax: 7.5% .
-
Preferential import tax (with C/O): 5% .
-
VAT: 8% .
|
HS Code |
Description of goods |
Import tax (%) |
Preferential import tax (%) |
VAT (%) |
|
0406 |
Cheese and curd |
|
|
|
|
040610 |
– Fresh cheese (unripened or unprocessed), including whey and curd cheeses: |
|
|
|
|
04061010 |
– – Fresh cheese (unripened or uncured), including whey cheese |
7.5 |
5 |
8 |
|
04061020 |
– – Curd |
7.5 |
5 |
8 |
|
040620 |
– Grated or powdered cheese, of all kinds: |
|
|
|
|
04062010 |
– – Packaged with a gross weight of over 20 kg |
7.5 |
5 |
8 |
|
04062090 |
– – Other types |
7.5 |
5 |
8 |
|
04063000 |
– Processed cheese, not grated or powdered |
7.5 |
5 |
8 |
|
04064000 |
– Blue-veined cheese and other cheeses with veins produced from the yeast Penicillium roqueforti |
7.5 |
5 |
8 |
|
04069000 |
– Other types of cheese |
7.5 |
5 |
8 |
In addition to the normal preferential import tax rates, there are also special preferential tax rates applied to imported goods from countries with which Vietnam has signed free trade agreements, such as ASEAN countries, China and many other countries. Therefore, when importing, businesses need to ask the seller to provide a certificate of origin (C/O) to be able to enjoy preferential tax rates in accordance with the trade agreements that Vietnam participates in.
Important Note:
-
Incorrect HS code declaration can cause customs clearance delays, inspections, and increased tax/penalty costs.
-
Businesses should work closely with reputable logistics units to ensure accurate declarations.
3. Cheese import profile
Businesses need to prepare:
-
Import customs declaration
-
Sales Contract
-
Commercial Invoice
-
Packing List
-
Bill of Lading
-
Certificate of Origin (C/O) – to enjoy preferential tax
-
Product declaration / self-declaration
-
Animal quarantine certificate, health certificate (Health Certificate)
-
Food safety inspection records
4. Cheese import process
-
Declare or self-declare products to the competent authority (10–15 days).
-
Declare electronic customs declaration .
-
Open declaration & register for food safety inspection (2–3 days).
-
Green lane: Clear immediately.
-
Yellow stream: Check profile.
-
Red stream: Check records + reality.
-
-
Pay import tax and VAT .
-
Customs clearance – receiving goods – transporting to warehouse .
5. Practical experience
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Cheese samples should be imported in advance to publicize the product, avoiding delays when the official goods arrive at the port.
-
Always request C/O from supplier to enjoy preferential tax rate.
-
Ensure full Vietnamese sub-label before product circulation.
-
Choose a reputable logistics partner and customs consultant to limit the risk of incorrect HS codes and incorrect documents.
6. Conclusion
Importing cheese seems simple but there are many points to note regarding legality, tax rates, documents and food safety inspection . Careful preparation will help businesses save time, costs and avoid legal risks.
If you are planning to import cheese or other food products, let Indochina247.com accompany you. With a professional team, we are committed to providing dedicated advice and full support from the document stage to customs clearance.
Contact today:
Website: https://indochina247.com/
Hotline: 0868.356.797
Indochina247 – Comprehensive, fast and efficient logistics and import-export solutions!
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