Permission for Production of Tobacco Products Bearing Foreign Brands for Domestic Consumption

The Permission for Production of Tobacco Products Bearing Foreign Brands for Domestic Consumption is an important step enabling enterprises to expand their product portfolio and promote international cooperation. Correctly following the procedure ensures transparency in production and business activities and enhances competitiveness. This article summarizes current regulations and provides specific instructions.

Conditions for businesses to manufacture tobacco products bearing foreign brand names for sale in Vietnam.

Based on Article 22 of Decree 67/2013/ND-CP (amended by Decrees 106/2017/ND-CP, 08/2018/ND-CP, 17/2020/ND-CP), tobacco products may only be consumed in Vietnam when meeting the following conditions:

• Intellectual Property: The tobacco product must be legally protected regarding intellectual property rights in Vietnam.
• Approval: Enterprises producing tobacco products bearing foreign brands for domestic consumption must be permitted by the Prime Minister (delegated to the Ministry of Industry and Trade under current specific regulations).
• Labeling: Only enterprises with a Tobacco Product Production License are allowed to print labels or contract with printing establishments to print tobacco packaging labels.

>>> See more: Conditions for granting certificates of eligibility to invest in tobacco cultivation

The competent authority receives and processes applications for permits to manufacture tobacco products bearing foreign brand names for consumption in Vietnam.

According to Clause 1, Article 18 of Decree 146/2025/ND-CP, the authority belongs to the Minister of Industry and Trade.

• The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) is the agency responsible for receiving dossiers, appraising, and issuing decisions permitting the production.

Required Dossier to apply for permission to manufacture foreign-branded tobacco products for consumption in Vietnam.

The dossier must be prepared according to Section I, Part B, Appendix V of Decree 146/2025/ND-CP, including:

• Request Form: Request for permission to produce tobacco products bearing foreign brands for domestic consumption (Using Form No. 71, Appendix of Decision 2866/QD-BCT).
• License: Tobacco Product Production License.
• Business Plan: Production and business plan of the enterprise.
• Explanatory Statement on Current Status:
• Production process and facilities (workshops).
• Machinery and equipment: List of rolling and packaging equipment; capacity of each stage converted to 20-cigarette packs; measuring and quality inspection equipment.
• Production capacity and output of each type of tobacco product (current and planned).
• Plan for investment in machinery and handling of replaced equipment.
• Efficiency of producing tobacco products bearing foreign brands.

Procedures for obtaining permission to manufacture foreign-branded tobacco products for consumption in Vietnam.

The procedure follows Section I, Part B, Appendix V of Decree 146/2025/ND-CP:

Step 1: Submission The enterprise submits 01 dossier set via one of two methods:

• Online: Declare and submit on the National Public Service Portal. Procedure Code: 1.013775
• Direct: Submit directly to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and receive a receipt.

Step 2: Processing & Decision Within 30 days from the date of receiving a complete dossier and written request, the Ministry of Industry and Trade reviews and decides. If refused, a written reply stating the reason must be provided.

>>> See more: Renewing Retail Tobacco Product Sales License

Long Phan Consulting provides consulting services on procedures for obtaining permits to manufacture and sell foreign-branded tobacco products in Vietnam.

Long Phan Consulting Company provides comprehensive support services for Permission for Production of Tobacco Products Bearing Foreign Brands for Domestic Consumption:

• Consulting & Evaluation: Assessing the request dossier.
• Dossier Preparation Support: Assisting in preparing documents (Request, Business Plan, Explanatory Statement) according to regulations.
• Representation: Submitting the dossier to the competent state agency.
• Monitoring & Explanation: Tracking progress and working directly with agencies to explain the dossier.
• Supplementation: Handling requests for additional information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below, Long Phan Consulting provides some frequently asked questions regarding the procedures for obtaining permission to manufacture foreign-branded tobacco products for consumption in Vietnam. We invite interested clients to refer to this information:

Can I produce foreign brand tobacco for domestic consumption without IP registration in Vietnam?

No. A prerequisite is that the tobacco product must be legally protected for intellectual property rights in Vietnam. The enterprise must complete trademark registration or have a legal trademark use contract before applying. (Legal Basis: Clause 1, Article 22, Decree 67/2013/ND-CP).

How detailed must the machinery capacity report be?

The enterprise must list rolling and packaging equipment, where the capacity of each stage must be specifically converted into the unit of “20-cigarette packs.” Additionally, all accompanying measuring and quality inspection equipment must be listed. (Legal Basis: Section I, Part B, Appendix V, Decree 146/2025/ND-CP).

What if I replace old machinery to produce the new brand?

The dossier must include a plan for investing in new machinery and a plan for handling (liquidating, destroying, re-exporting…) the replaced machinery. (Legal Basis: Section I, Part B, Appendix V, Decree 146/2025/ND-CP).

Can an enterprise without a Tobacco Production License apply?

No. The Tobacco Product Production License is a mandatory component. Only licensed enterprises in the industry are eligible. (Legal Basis: Section I, Part B, Appendix V, Decree 146/2025/ND-CP).

What key contents must the Request include?

It must include contents on scale, production output of each foreign brand product, conformity with business plans, project efficiency, and equipment investment plans. (Legal Basis: Section I, Part B, Appendix V, Decree 146/2025/ND-CP).

Conclusion

The Permission for Production of Tobacco Products Bearing Foreign Brands for Domestic Consumption requires thorough preparation regarding technical dossiers and production capacity. To ensure legal rights and production progress, please contact Long Phan Consulting Company via Hotline 1900.63.63.89 for timely and professional legal support.