Government suspends implementation of Decree 46 on food safety until April 15, 2026

The Government has officially issued Resolution No. 09/2026/NQ-CP regarding the suspension and adjustment of the implementation timeline for Decree No. 46/2026/ND-CP dated January 26, 2026, detailing the implementation of the Law on Food Safety, as well as Resolution No. 66.13/2026/NQ-CP dated January 27, 2026, concerning food product registration and announcement.

According to the resolution, this suspension remains effective until April 15, 2026. During this interim period, previous legal documents, specifically Decree 15/2018/ND-CP dated February 2, 2018, which details the implementation of certain articles of the Law on Food Safety, along with its accompanying guidance documents, will remain in full force.

This move follows decisive directives from Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to address cargo congestion at border gates. Previously, in Official Dispatch No. 08/CD-TTg, the Prime Minister ordered ministries and agencies to urgently issue guidelines for the inspection of imported and exported food products to ensure timely customs clearance.

During the Government's regular meeting for January 2026, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that policy management must not disrupt supply chains. He instructed ministries and agencies to include specific transition clauses when drafting legal documents to avoid implementation difficulties for businesses.

Between now and April 16, 2026, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, and local People's Committees are tasked with reviewing and finalizing the necessary conditions to ensure Decree 46 and Resolution 66.13 can be implemented effectively once the suspension period concludes.