작성일자: 2014.4.28

작성자: 호치민 무역관 Mr. Hong Suk Kyoon(sukkhong@kotra.or.kr), Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien(kotra.sgn@gmail.com)

 

 

1. VIETNAM’S DRINK MARKET - GENERAL INFORMATION:

 

 ○ Vietnam’s beverage market is developing steadily even during the crisis of economy. It has been developing at two digits level in last 5 years. Due to the development of the economy and improvement of living standard, the people awareness of drink has been changed. Nowadays, drink is not only for thirst-quenching purpose but also must be good for health. Local consumers are more conscious about the drink’s nutrition facts, the healthiness and the harmfulness of drink. As a trend, the carbonated drink are not much interested as in the past due to reputations about its negative affects to health, instead, the drink based on natural sources or healthy drink such as mineral water, herbal tea, ginseng tea, fruit juice, ginseng juice drink, energy drink are more preferable.

 

 ○ Ginseng has been widely sold in Vietnam for a long time and it has been known as a very good product for health, especially for elder people. However, due to the high price, ginseng drinks are not consumed popularly in the country as other drinks.

 

 ○ According to some local dealers, the red-ginseng based product market is rather chaotic. The fake and low quality products are suffusing the market. It is difficult for customers to buy genuine products because their knowledge about ginseng is limited and there is almost no standard or regulations regarding to the management of ginseng quality.

 

 ○ About beverage brands in the market: many brands have appeared in Vietnam for a long time and many brands have just penetrated the market recently. It could be mentioned some popular brands of energy drink and bottle tea such as: Lipovitan, Bufalo, Samural (Japan), Red Bull (Thailand), Number One, Red Tiger, Zero Degree Green Tea (Vietnam), Energy Super Lion (Singapore), Red Korea (Korea), C2, Rong Do (Red-dragon-Philippines), Zero, etc.

 

 ○ Due to the online advertising, TV advertising spots, and wide distribution channels, these brands have soon attracted the attention of local consumers and widely known in the country.

 

 

2. DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL & RETAIL PRICES

 

□ Distribution Channel

 

 ○ For general beverage products, the distribution channels are supermarkets, traditional markets, coffee shops, grocery shops restaurants…After being produced or imported to Vietnam, products will be delivered to wholesale agents and retail agents. Sidewalk shops (streetshops) play an important role in introducing products to customers because of the convenience. Local beverage companies (Tan Hiep Phat, Bidrico, etc.) were successful partly thanks to their dense distribution systems in the country.

 

 ○ For products made of red-ginseng and other Korean red-ginseng drink, the distribution is normally through two main ways: importer and portable (hand carrying). Producers usually appoint a local dealer to be their agent. This agent will sell directly and provide for other agents.

 

 ○ Portable is also a popular distribution channel in Vietnam. This is mostly served for people who have demand to buy genuine products with cheaper price.

 

 ○ Besides, selling online seems to be an attractive distribution method to many Vietnamese people nowadays. Most of distribution companies, portable shops, supermarkets, mini-marts have set up online websites to sell products. In fact, many local customers take time to search about products from internet before making a purchase.

 

□ Retail Price

 

        Source: http://samnamlinhchi.com, hongsamhanquoc.net; http://alphamart.vn, http://kemduongda.edu.vn, http://nhansamhanquoc.soz.vn

 

 

3. REGULATIONS OF IMPORTED FOOD & DRINK

 

 ○ Circular No.28/2013/TT-BCT of November 6, 2013 (proving for State Inspection of foodstuff safety for imported foodstuff under the management responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Trade) contains 21 articles. Below is notable points:

 

□ Article 1. Scope of regulation

 

 ○ This Circular stipulated methods, content, process of, procedures for inspection and organization of state inspection of foodstuff safety for import products and goods, including: Alcohols, beers, beverages, processed milk, vegetable oil, products processed from powder, starch, cakes, jam, candies and packing containing the above products (hereinafter collectively referred to as foodstuff products).

 

 ○ The following cases will be exempted from state inspection of foodstuff safety for import foodstuff:

  - Foodstuff carried together with the entry persons for individual consumption in the quotas eligible for import tax exemption;

  - Foodstuff in diplomatic bags, consular bags;

  - Foodstuff of transit, border-gate transfer;

  - Foodstuff sent into bonded warehouses;

  - Foodstuff being trial or research samples;

  - Foodstuff being models displayed in fairs, exhibitions.

 

□ Article 4. Requirements for imported foodstuff

 

 ○ Foodstuff products defined in Clause 1 Article 1 of this Circular are only allowed circulating, consuming in Vietnamese market after state inspection agencies have issued one of the following papers:

  - Notification of foodstuff of satisfaction of import requirements;

  - Notification of foodstuff only inspected dossier.

 

□ Article 9: Dossier of registering for inspection

 

 ○ A dossier of registering for state inspection of foodstuff safety for import foodstuff includes:

  - Registration for import foodstuff inspection made according to Annex I promulgated together with this Circular

  - Authenticated copy of receipt of technical-regulation conformity announcement or certificate of announcement of conformity with regulations on foodstuff safety which is issued by the Ministry of Health or a competent agency authorized by the Ministry of Health;

  - Notarized copy of goods import contract; enclosed with list of goods (packing list);

  - Authenticated copy and certified by import organizations or individuals; Bill of lading; invoice; declaration of import goods.

 

 ○ Case of applying method of simplified inspection, simplified inspection by only inspecting dossier, a dossier of registering for inspection includes: Authenticated copies, or relevant documents to prove as prescribed in Article 7 and Article 8 of this Circular.

 

□ Article 12. Inspection content

 

 ○ The inspection agencies will, base on result of inspection and test (dossier of registering for inspection and information of the import goods lot), to determine specific method of inspection, quantity of samples, number of targets need test, method of test and conduct inspection on samples for foodstuff products which have been issued the receipt of technical-regulation conformity announcement or certificate of conformity with regulations on foodstuff safety as prescribed, including:

  - Content stated in the receipt of technical-regulation conformity announcement with the product sample for inspection in order to decide on the inspection method as prescribed in Chapter II of this Circular.

  - Expiry date and content of labeling.

  - Other safety requirements upon having information about risks or at request in writing of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

 

□ Article 18. Responsibilities of import goods owners

 

 ○ Before doing the customs procedures, the goods owners must submit dossier of registering for state inspection about foodstuff safety with inspection agencies as prescribed in Article 10 of this Circular, pay the inspection charges and fees in accordance with regulations.

 

 ○ As soon as the goods lot is allowed to gather in warehouse eligible for preservation, the goods owners must take initiative in producing all dossiers of registering for inspection as prescribed for inspection agencies to conduct state inspection about foodstuff safety.

 

 ○ To be allowed putting the import foodstuff into use and circulation only after the state inspection agencies of foodstuff safety issued the notification of foodstuff of satisfaction of import requirements or notification of foodstuff of only inspection on dossier in accordance with regulations.

 

 ○ To take responsibility for preservation of goods inspected during time of waiting for inspection conclusion of the inspection agencies or decision of competent agencies for case of goods lot which has conclusion of failing to satisfy import requirements in accordance with regulations.

 

 ○ To take responsibility for paying all rational cost to agencies supervising the handling of goods lots failing to satisfy the import requirements, including costs for staff of the supervision agencies.

 

 ○ To be handled as prescribed by law for violations of regulations in this Circular.

 

□ Article 21. Effect

 

 ○ This Circular takes effect on December 20, 2013.

 

 ○ In the course of implementation, if there is any arising problem, agencies, organizations and individuals defined in Article 2 of this Circular should report timely to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for consideration and settlement.

 

□ Source: Circular No.28/2013/TT-BCT of November 6, 2013 of The Ministry of Industry & Trade