The Drug Administration of Vietnam issued a directive on 16/12 to provincial and city health departments, urging them to prevent smuggling and trade fraud during the upcoming year-end and Binh Ngo Lunar New Year. The agency has set the key inspection period to run from mid-December this year until 31/3 next year.
A representative from the Drug Administration of Vietnam urged relevant units to promptly assess legal compliance at all pharmaceutical and cosmetic registration, production, and trading facilities within their jurisdictions.
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Police seize counterfeit drugs. Photo: Lam Son |
Police seize counterfeit drugs. Photo: Lam Son
Inspection teams will assess both the legal standing of businesses and the legitimacy of their products. For pharmaceuticals, authorities will specifically examine business eligibility certificates, circulation registration numbers, invoices, expiration dates, and adherence to prescription drug sales regulations. For cosmetics, the review will cover production licenses, product information files (PIF), and consistency between publicly declared information and actual manufacturing practices. Inspectors will also meticulously check labeling for ingredients, features, and uses to identify any discrepancies or violations.
The Drug Administration of Vietnam is also extending its oversight beyond traditional distribution channels to include e-commerce platforms like Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop, as well as social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Authorities will target unlicensed products, items subject to recall or destruction orders that are still openly sold, and instances of false advertising.
A Drug Administration of Vietnam representative emphasized that there would be "no exceptions and no impunity" in addressing violations by organizations and individuals. Cases involving criminal indicators, such as large-scale counterfeit trade, those causing serious harm, organized offenses, or repeat violations, will be immediately referred to investigative agencies for criminal prosecution.
This intensified oversight comes as Vietnam's cosmetics market expands rapidly, presenting significant quality control challenges. Statista data indicates the industry's size is estimated to surpass 2,4 billion USD in 2024, a 3,4% increase year-on-year, with projections reaching 2,7 billion USD by 2027. Imports currently account for 90% of the market supply. Despite traditional retail channels still holding an 80% market share, the strong shift towards online shopping has led to a growing prevalence of unverified and low-quality products.
Le Nga
