HCMC – From April 10, 2026, only State-owned enterprises (SOE) holding a license to manufacture tobacco products can import cigarettes and cigars.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade on February 24 issued Circular 07/2026/TT-BCT amending and supplementing several provisions of Circular 37/2013/TT-BCT on the importation of cigarettes and cigars.
Under the new regulation, the ministry will appoint SOEs with 100% charter capital held by the State and a valid tobacco manufacturing license to carry out imports. These enterprises must directly conduct the importation and are not allowed to authorize or entrust other traders to do so.
The circular also revises provisions on conformity declaration. Importers of cigarettes are required to declare conformity with national technical regulations. Importers of cigars must declare applicable standards in line with current regulations. Several previous provisions and appendices have been annulled or replaced to ensure a unified licensing mechanism.
Permitted imports are limited to goods classified under HS code group 24.02 and code 2402, including cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes made from tobacco or tobacco substitutes, specified at the eight-digit level.
Before carrying out customs procedures, enterprises must submit applications for automatic import licensing to the People’s Committee of the province or city where they are headquartered or via the online system of the licensing authority. Enterprises are responsible for the legality and completeness of their dossiers.
In cases of administrative violations, the licensing authority may suspend confirmation of automatic import registration until violations are remedied. Enterprises subject to criminal proceedings will not be allowed to act as state trading importers until penalties are lifted or criminal records are expunged in accordance with regulations.
