Quick answer: To import DDGS into Vietnam, the importer registers each lot for state quality inspection of imported feed under Decree 13/2020 (as amended by Decree 46/2022), and the cargo passes plant quarantine with a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country. The inspection dossier includes the contract, invoice, packing list, the Certificate of Analysis for the lot, and, for a single feed ingredient such as DDGS, a certificate of free sale and an ISO, GMP or HACCP certificate. DDGS is classified under HS 2303.30. Indian DDGS can enter at 0% import duty under the ASEAN–India Free Trade Agreement with a Form AI certificate of origin.
Why Vietnamese feed mills look at Indian DDGS
Vietnam has one of the largest compound feed industries in Asia, serving pigs, poultry and a very large aquaculture sector for pangasius and shrimp. Most protein ingredients are imported. India is a short sea route away, and Indian ethanol plants now produce two types of DDGS. Rice DDGS (45% protein minimum, 3% fat maximum) suits fish and shrimp feed, while corn DDGS (about 29% protein and 10% fat) supplies protein plus energy for pig and poultry feed. Our corn vs rice DDGS comparison explains which suits which feed.
Rules that apply to DDGS imports
| Requirement | Agency | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| State quality inspection of imported feed, before or after customs clearance | Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (Department of Livestock Production) | Decree 13/2020, Article 18; Decree 46/2022 |
| Plant quarantine and phytosanitary certificate | Plant Production and Protection Department | Law 41/2013 on Plant Protection and Quarantine |
| Limits on undesirable substances in feed | Ministry of Agriculture and Environment | National Technical Regulation QCVN 01-190:2020 |
| Feed use approval for genetically modified products | Ministry of Agriculture and Environment | Decree 69/2010 and Circular 02/2014 |
Vietnam merged its agriculture and environment ministries into the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) on 1 March 2025. Older regulations issued by MARD remain in force.
Documents for the quality inspection dossier
- Registration form for state quality inspection (Form 12.TACN)
- Sales contract, commercial invoice and packing list
- Certificate of Analysis for the lot, issued in the exporting country
- Product label and the importer's declared applicable standard
- Certificate of free sale, or an equivalent document from the country of origin, for single feed ingredients
- ISO, GMP or HACCP certificate, or an equivalent, for single feed ingredients
English-language certificates do not need a Vietnamese translation. Under Decree 46/2022, the agency checks a complete dossier within a few working days, and most feed can be cleared first with test results submitted within 15 working days. After three consecutive satisfactory shipments of the same product from the same producer and importer, the importer can apply for a one-year exemption from state inspection.
Other documents with each shipment
- Phytosanitary certificate issued in India
- Bill of lading
- Certificate of origin Form AI, to claim the ASEAN–India preferential tariff
- A non-GMO statement where the importer asks for it. India does not permit commercial cultivation of genetically modified maize or rice.
Import duty and VAT
| Item | Rate |
|---|---|
| HS code | 2303.30 (residues of brewing or distilling) |
| Most-favoured-nation import duty | 5% |
| ASEAN–India FTA rate, with Form AI | 0% |
| VAT on animal feed | Changed twice since July 2025; confirm the current treatment with your customs broker |
Tariff and tax rules change, so check current rates with your customs broker before you sign a contract.
Ports and shipping
- South: Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai) and Cai Mep, close to the Mekong Delta aquafeed mills.
- North: Hai Phong, for feed mills around Hanoi and the Red River Delta.
- Packing: 50 kg PP bags or jumbo bags, with a minimum order of one full container load.
Quality points to agree in the contract
- Protein and fat: agree the minimum protein and maximum fat based on whether you buy corn or rice DDGS.
- Moisture: our rice DDGS is supplied at 12% moisture maximum, and recent corn DDGS lots tested at about 7.5%. Vietnam's humid climate makes dry storage important.
- Aflatoxin: our rice DDGS is supplied at 30 ppb maximum. For corn DDGS, tell us the limit your mill needs and we will confirm whether a lot meets it before shipment.
- Samples: approve a sample and the Certificate of Analysis before the order is confirmed.
Step-by-step: your first DDGS order from India
- Choose corn or rice DDGS, powder or pellets, and the packing.
- Ask us for a quotation, specification, sample and the supporting certificates for your dossier.
- Agree the contract and payment terms.
- We load the container and send the shipping documents, phytosanitary certificate, Certificate of Analysis and Form AI.
- Your customs broker registers the quality inspection and plant quarantine, and clears the goods.
Buy DDGS for Vietnam from Polybridge Ventures
Polybridge Ventures LLP supplies corn and rice DDGS from India to feed mills and importers across Southeast Asia. Read our general DDGS buyer's guide, see all DDGS grades, or request a quote for delivery to Ho Chi Minh City or Hai Phong.
Sources: Decree 13/2020/ND-CP and Decree 46/2022/ND-CP on animal husbandry; USDA FAS Hanoi, FAIRS Country Report VM2025-0020 (June 2025); USDA FAS note on Vietnam's certificate of free sale requirement for feed ingredients; EY Vietnam tax alert on VAT law amendments (December 2025). This guide is for information only. Check current rules with your customs broker and Vietnamese authorities before importing.
