HCMC – The Ministry of Industry and Trade has issued a new directive strengthening regulatory oversight of tobacco business, aiming to curb domestic consumption and enforce compliance across the supply chain.
The ministry announced the move as part of ongoing efforts to implement the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms and achieve targets set under the National Tobacco Control Strategy, reported the Vietnam News Agency.
The directive mandates agencies from central to local levels to tighten market surveillance, enhance legal enforcement, and conduct public awareness campaigns.
The Department of Industry has been tasked with drafting a new Government decree to replace Decree 67/2013/ND-CP on tobacco trading. The revised regulation will aim to streamline administrative procedures while incorporating rules for next-generation tobacco products. It also calls for a business roadmap that reduces domestic consumption and limits public access to tobacco.
The Market Surveillance Agency will intensify inspections of legal compliance within the tobacco industry. It will coordinate with law enforcement agencies to crack down on smuggling, counterfeit products, and those of unknown origin. Information technology tools will also be employed to support regulatory monitoring.
Meanwhile, the Department of Legal Affairs is reviewing and updating the legal framework governing tobacco production and distribution. The focus will be on unifying legal documents, cutting redundant procedures, and tightening control over wholesale and retail sales, especially to minors.
The Vietnam Competition Commission has been instructed to promote legal education on consumer rights and fair competition. It will also identify and address anti-competitive practices in the tobacco sector.
The Agency of Foreign Trade will revise Circular 37 on the import of cigarettes and cigars, with updates expected in the second quarter of 2025. The department will also step up oversight of duty-free tobacco sales to prevent trade fraud.
