On February 12, 2026, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam issued Circular No. 03/2026/TT-BYT, a document that has sent ripples through the Vietnamese cosmetic industry. The core content of this Circular is the repeal of several previously issued legal normative documents, resulting in fundamental changes to the regulations governing the management of cosmetic advertising.
- Repeal of Specific Provisions Regarding the Confirmation of Cosmetic Advertising Content: The Circular completely repeals Circular No. 20/2024/TT-BYT, which was an amendment and supplement to Circular No. 09/2015/TT-BYT. The Circular partially repeals Circular No. 09/2015/TT-BYT. This original Circular provided for the confirmation of advertising content for special products, goods, and services under the management of the Ministry of Health, including cosmetics. Specifically, with the exception of a few clauses reserved for food, milk, and nutritional products for children, the scope of Circular No. 09/2015/TT-BYT regarding the confirmation of “pharmaceutical” advertising content has been explicitly repealed. Since the original scope of this Circular covered various products managed by the Ministry of Health, this repeal signifies that the specific provisions concerning the confirmation of cosmetic advertising content have also been invalidated.
- Transitional Arrangements: Certificates of confirmation for advertising content issued under the repealed Circulars (09/2015/TT-BYT and 20/2024/TT-BYT) prior to the effective date of this new Circular (February 15, 2026) shall remain valid during the transitional period until they are replaced, revoked, or expire in accordance with the law. Applications submitted and currently being processed before the effective date of this Circular will continue to be handled in accordance with the legal regulations that were in effect at the time of submission.
Summary: Pursuant to this Circular, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam has abolished the specific management regulations regarding the confirmation of cosmetic advertising content previously set forth in Circular No. 09/2015/TT-BYT. While existing certificates may still be used during the transitional period, any new regulatory frameworks or requirements must adhere to other valid regulations issued subsequently.
