In the context of deep global integration, increasingly complex supply chains, and sophisticated origin fraud, determining a product's origin is no longer just an administrative procedure. It has become a core competitive strategy to protect Vietnamese brands, create a fair playing field, and strengthen consumer trust.
For many years, Vietnam's rules of origin primarily served exports under FTAs. For goods circulating domestically, a legal vacuum has allowed many products of unclear origin to "wear the mantle" of Vietnamese goods. The consequences are:
Consumers find it difficult to distinguish a genuine "Made in Vietnam" product, making them susceptible to buying fake or low-quality goods.
Reputable businesses have to compete with products that undergo only a few simple stages, such as packaging or labeling.
The credibility of "Made in Vietnam" is eroded right at home.
Therefore, the Ministry of Industry and Trade's move to finalize a set of criteria for "products of Vietnam/produced in Vietnam" for domestic use is a foundational step: it cleanses the market, protects consumers, and elevates the national brand.
The new criteria are expected to reference international standards while being adjusted to suit Vietnam's specific conditions. The core principles include:
Wholly Obtained Origin: The product is entirely produced in Vietnam.
Substantial Processing: The product achieves a certain level of change in its HS code (CC/CTH/CTSH) or reaches a minimum domestic value content (RVC) ratio. The specific RVC threshold may vary by industry; many frameworks reference a level of around 30% or more, but businesses should monitor the official regulations when they are issued.
Exclusion of Simple Processes: Operations like packaging, washing, sorting, and labeling are not sufficient to confer Vietnamese origin.
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Businesses should proactively get ahead of this trend:
Legal Compliance, Reduced Risk: Products certified with the correct origin reduce the risk of being fined or removed from distribution systems.
Brand Enhancement: Transparent origin helps increase consumer trust and loyalty, especially for food, fast-moving consumer goods, fashion, and pharmaceutical-cosmetic products.
Leveraging International Benefits: Being compatible with the global rules system makes it easier to utilize FTAs and expand exports.
Optimizing Competitive Advantage: This prevents unfair competition, promotes localization, and fosters deeper integration into the supply chains of multinational corporations.
As Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang - Director of the WTO and Integration Center (VCCI) - stated, this will be "an important technical barrier to prevent origin fraud, and at the same time, strengthen consumer confidence in Vietnamese goods".
For origin criteria to work effectively, they must be paired with a reliable traceability system. This is where technology proves its power. GCheck - an electronic authentication stamp developed by the Ministry of Public Security in collaboration with the technology company CyberTech - is being implemented under Project 06, adhering to international GS1 standards and current legal frameworks.
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Product images of Camlamonline with GCheck label
GCheck offers businesses:
✅ Complete Product Journey Transparency: Information about the manufacturer, raw material batches, processing stages, and inspections is digitized; consumers can simply scan a code to check.
✅ Clear Origin Verification: Traceability data helps businesses cross-reference against origin criteria, creating a reliable file for market checks or partner interactions.
✅ Increased Trust and Anti-Counterfeiting: The electronic authentication stamp helps limit counterfeiting; each scan is a validation of the brand's reputation.
✅ Flexible Implementation: It is compatible with the GS1 barcode system and can be integrated with ERP/QR traceability systems, making it convenient for both large enterprises and SMEs.
Investing in traceability is not just about meeting regulations. It's a sustainable competitive advantage: businesses win through transparency, consumers choose based on trust, and partners prioritize based on standardized data.
The new origin criteria for the domestic market are a foundation for cleaning up the market and elevating Vietnamese brands. Businesses that proactively standardize origin and digitize traceability will gain a leading advantage. By combining transparent criteria with technology like GCheck, the journey from "doing well" to "being trusted" will be significantly shortened - and that is the decisive difference in an era where competition is driven by trust.
