Market
Licorice root powder (Cam thảo; Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae) in Vietnam is primarily an input for traditional-medicine use and herbal-product manufacturing. Vietnam’s traditional-medicine sector relies heavily on imported medicinal materials, and importers/traders must comply with Ministry of Health requirements on traceability, origin documentation, and quality standards for herbal ingredients.
Market RoleImport-dependent traditional-medicine ingredient market (net importer)
Domestic RoleHerbal ingredient used in traditional medicine compounding and manufacturing
Risks
Regulatory Classification and Origin Documentation HighLicorice root powder may be regulated in Vietnam as an imported herbal ingredient for traditional medicine (dược liệu) or as a food/supplement depending on intended use and claims. For herbal-ingredient trading, Ministry of Health rules require lot-level traceability and specific origin/quality documentation (including C/O, C/Q, and lot test reports); document gaps, mistranslations, or pathway misclassification can delay clearance or block market entry.Align intended use, HS/commodity description, and regulatory pathway with the Vietnam importer before shipment; compile a lot dossier (C/O, C/Q, test report with Vietnamese translations) and keep traceability records from supplier to end customer.
Quality Adulteration and Enforcement HighVietnam’s traditional-medicine supply chain has documented concerns about substandard/adulterated medicinal materials; quality failures can trigger enforcement actions, delisting/negative public notices, or commercial rejection. This risk is acute for powdered herbal ingredients where visual inspection is less effective than for whole roots.Require pharmacopoeia-aligned incoming QC (identity and marker assays) using GLP/ISO 17025-capable labs; implement supplier qualification and routine authenticity/adulterant screening for each lot.
Supply Constraint MediumUpstream licorice resource pressure in major producing markets can translate into supply tightness and price volatility for import-dependent buyers, especially when demand rises and wild/available resources decline.Diversify qualified origins/suppliers and secure forward coverage for critical production windows; maintain safety stock for regulated manufacturing schedules.
Logistics MediumVietnam’s herbal-medicinal-material supply chain includes substantial cross-border flows (notably from China through northern border gates); congestion, policy tightening, or inspections at border points can create delays that disrupt manufacturing input availability.Build lead-time buffers around peak border-congestion periods, use pre-clearance document checks, and consider alternative routing/ports for critical lots.
Sustainability- Upstream resource pressure and supply sustainability concerns in major producing areas (reported resource depletion and increased reliance on imports in producer markets).
Labor & Social- Supply-chain integrity risk (substandard/adulterated imported medicinal materials have been publicly reported in Vietnam’s traditional-medicine supply chain), creating compliance and reputational exposure.
FAQ
Which documents are required to prove origin for imported herbal-ingredient lots in Vietnam?For imported herbal ingredients that fall under the Ministry of Health’s herbal-ingredient quality rules, Vietnam requires lot-level origin/quality documentation, including a Certificate of Origin (C/O), a Certificate of Quality (C/Q) with Vietnamese translation, and a lot test report with Vietnamese translation.
If licorice root powder is marketed as a food product in Vietnam, what declaration step may apply?Vietnam’s Decree 15/2018/ND-CP implements food-safety procedures that can require product self-declaration (and, for certain categories, product declaration registration). These pathways generally rely on the supplier’s declaration forms and recent laboratory food-safety test results from designated or ISO 17025-compliant labs.
Is 'Cam thảo' recognized in Vietnam’s pharmacopoeial system?Yes. Vietnam’s National Institute of Drug Quality Control lists Cam thảo (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae) as a DĐVN reference standard item, supporting its pharmacopoeial recognition in Vietnam’s traditional-medicine context.