EXTENDMAX – Food preparation tasks such as defrosting, reheating, cooking rice, baking, and more have never been easier—all thanks to the convenience of a microwave oven. With increasingly advanced features, microwaves have quickly "dominated" the kitchen and become indispensable "assistants" for homemakers. Today, microwaves are widely available on the Vietnamese market, but have you ever wondered about the import procedures and requirements for specialized inspections for microwaves? Join ExtendMax in the following article to uncover all your questions!
What is a microwave? An overview of its structure
What is a microwave? What are its uses?
A microwave, also known as a microwave oven, is a common household kitchen appliance familiar in every home.
Typically, microwaves are used to reheat food. However, this device has evolved to offer more diverse functionalities. Beyond reheating, it can quickly and safely defrost food, cook, or steam simple dishes like vegetables while preserving most of their nutrients. Notably, a microwave can also bake cakes and grill various types of food.
With its versatility and convenience, the microwave has earned the trust of consumers, making cooking easier for homemakers. It’s no surprise that this appliance has quickly become an ideal "companion" in every modern kitchen.
An overview of the microwave’s structure
A basic microwave consists of the following components: a cooking chamber, a turntable, a microcontroller circuit, a control panel, a magnetron (microwave source), a cooling fan, waveguide cover, a thermistor, and an outer casing.
Today, microwaves are widely available in the domestic market. However, not everyone fully understands the details of the import procedures and specialized requirements for this product. Below, ExtendMax will provide a detailed guide on the steps for businesses planning to import microwaves to use as a reference.
Summary of specialized requirements for importing microwaves
The specialized requirements applicable to microwaves are summarized as follows:
| Specialized policies | State Quality Inspection, Certification of Conformity, Declaration of Conformity |
| Applicable Standards / Regulations | QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN and Amendment 1:2016 QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN & QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN - Amendment 1:2018 QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN |
| Exclusions, Inspection Exemptions | Maximum voltage exceeding 250 V. |
According to Vietnam Standard TCVN 5699-2-25:2007 (IEC 60335-2-25:2005) on household and similar electrical appliances - safety - part 2-25: specific requirements for microwave ovens and combination microwave ovens (2007), this standard does not apply to:
- Microwaves used for commercial purposes (IEC 60335-2-90),
- Microwave heating equipment used for industrial purposes (IEC 60519-6),
- Appliances designed for use in special conditions, such as atmospheres containing corrosive or explosive substances (dust, vapor, or gas).
>>> Fun fact: Although microwaves emit electromagnetic waves in the microwave spectrum at a frequency of approximately 2.4GHz, these waves do not carry data or information. Therefore, microwaves are not classified as information technology products and do not fall under the management scope of the Ministry of Information and Communications.
HS Code and Import Tax for Microwave Ovens
Microwave ovens fall under HS code group 8516, which includes:
- Electrical appliances for instant or storage water heating and immersion water heaters;
- Electrical appliances for space heating and soil heating;
- Electrothermal hair styling appliances (e.g., hair dryers, curling irons, and hair straighteners) and hand dryers;
- Electric irons;
- Other household electrothermal appliances;
- Electric heating resistors, excluding those classified under group 85.45.
The table below provides detailed information about the HS code and import tax for microwave ovens:
| HS code | Description | VAT (%) | Preferential import duty (%) | Normal Import Duty (%) |
851660 | Other types of ovens; cooking pots, hotplates, boiling rings, grill-type appliances, and toasters | |||
8516.60.90 | Combination Microwave Ovens | 10 | 20 | 30 |
8516.50.00 | Microwave Ovens | 10 | 25 | 37.5 |
Special preferential import tax rates for microwave ovens from key markets:
| Origin | Special preferential import duty (%) |
| ASEAN (Form D) | 0 |
| Trung Quốc (Form E) | 5 |
| Hàn Quốc (Form AK) | 32 |
| Nhật Bản (Form AJ) | 0 |
Note: Enterprises can easily look up HS codes and tariff schedules for the goods they plan to import on the Vietnam Trade Information Database website at https://vntr.moit.gov.vn/vi or the General Department of Customs website at https://www.customs.gov.vn/.
According to the list of prohibited exports and imports issued with Decree 69/2018/ND-CP of the Government, used microwave ovens are classified as prohibited imports into Vietnam. Only brand-new microwave ovens (100%) are allowed for import, except for 10 specific cases in which used goods may be imported.
>>> See more: 10 special cases for importing secondhand electronic goods.
Legal policy on importing microwave ovens
The legal policy for importing microwave ovens is summarized in the table below:
| Issued by | Regulation | |
| Vietnam MOST | Quality inspection, certification of conformity, and declaration of conformity according to QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN and Amendment 1:2016 QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN; QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN - Amendment 1:2018 QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN | |
| Circular No. 28/2012/TT-BKHCN (amendements and supplements in Circular No 02/2017/TT-BKHCN) | Method of Certification of Conformity and Declaration of Conformity | |
Government | Decree 74/2018/NĐ-CP | Regulations on Documentation and Procedures for State Quality Inspection of Products and Goods |
Documents required for importing microwave ovens
According to Article 16 of Circular 39/2018/TT-BTC, the following mandatory documents are required for importing microwave ovens:
- Customs declaration form
- Bill of lading/Transport document
- Commercial contract (or Purchase Order)
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Product catalogue.
It is recommended to include important documents such as: Certificate of Origin (C/O)
These documents help enterprises qualify for special preferential tax rates under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
Additionally, a dossier for registering the quality inspection of imported goods (including confirmation from the quality inspection authority) is required.
The information provided above outlines the essential and recommended documents for completing import procedures accurately and efficiently.
>>> Read more: Full set of import export documents
After preparing all the necessary documents, the company will proceed with customs clearance procedures. To avoid violations and penalties due to missing or incorrect documents, check out tips on avoiding mistakes when preparing import and export documents.
The optimized 5-step process for importing microwave ovens
Step 1: Register for quality inspection of imported goods
Register for quality inspection of imported microwave ovens.
| Documents/Materials Required | Registration Category/Standard Applied | Cost | Processing Time | Submission Location |
| 1. Import-export documents including Commercial Invoice, AWB or B/L, P/O or contract. 3. Quality Inspection Registration Form. | Registration Category/Standard Applied: Register according to the standards and regulations applicable to air fryer in the Appendix - Decision No. 2711/QĐ-BKHCN or Appendix 1 | No official fee. | 2~3 working days. | Submit online at the National Single Window Portal https://vnsw.gov.vn/ or directly at the provincial or municipal Department of Standards, Metrology, and Quality with a customs checkpoint. |
*Note: When submitting the quality inspection registration online, choose a sample testing unit authorized by the Ministry of Science and Technology. If you do not have an account, create one in advance as you will need to wait for verification approximately 24 hours after registration.
>>> Read more: In depth knowlege about state inspection for imported goods
Step 2: Submission of Customs Declaration and Clearance of Goods
After completing customs procedures, the company proceeds to submit the registration dossier for product quality inspection, which includes the registration form for quality inspection and the registration for performance testing (if the results are not yet available). If the performance test results are already available, the company only needs to provide these results. Next, the company collects product samples for performance and electrical safety testing at accredited facilities.
| Documents/Materials Required | Processing Time | Submission Location | Note |
| 1. Import-export documents including Commercial Invoice, AWB or B/L, P/O or contract, Packing List, CO (if available). 2. A paper copy of the Quality Inspection Registration Form certified by the Department of Standards, Metrology, and Quality or online registration through the single-window portal. | 2~5 working days depending on the declaration (green, yellow, red channels) and whether inspection is required. | Customs Department at the port of entry or the Customs Department managing the business registration location. | If there are no issues related to pricing or intellectual property protection, the goods will be cleared immediately. Businesses do not need to go through procedures to bring goods for storage. |
Step 3: Registration for Sampling and Product Testing
Electrical safety testing:
| Documents/Materials Required | Registration Category/Standard Applied | Cost | Processing Time | Submission Location |
| 1. Catalogue / datasheet 2. Product sample (minimum 01 pcs). 3. Fill out the sample testing registration form. | QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN and Amendment 1:2016 QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN. | Costs depend on the price list of the testing laboratory and the applicable standards. | 1~2 weeks depending on the product and each stage. | Testing laboratories designated by the Ministry of Science and Technology or registered with the Ministry. |
Thử nghiệm tương thích điện từ EMC
| Documents/Materials Required | Registration Category/Standard Applied | Cost | Processing Time | Submission Location |
|
1. Catalogue / datasheet 2. Product sample (minimum 01 pcs). 3. Fill out the sample testing registration form.
| QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN and Amendment 1:2018 QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN TCVN 7492-2:2010 TCVN 6988 (CISPR 11) | Costs depend on the price list of the testing laboratory and the applicable standards. | 1~2 weeks depending on the product and each stage. | Testing laboratories designated by the Ministry of Science and Technology or registered with the Ministry. |
Step 4: Conduct conformity certification (CR)
Imported microwave ovens must undergo conformity certification through two methods:
Electrical safety conformity certification: QCVN 4:2009/BKCN, conducted under Method 7.
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) conformity certification: QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN, conducted under Method 1.
>>> Read more: Guide for Certification according to Method 7
>>> Read more: Comprehensive guide for conformity certification
| Documents/Materials Required | Registration Category/Standard Applied | Cost | Processing Time | Submission Location |
| 1. Application for conformity certification according to the certifying organization's form 2. Business registration certificate. 3. Technical documentation (specs, datasheet). 4. Information declaration of the test sample. 5. Test and measurement results. 6. Other forms in special cases. | QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN and Amendment 1:2016 QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN; QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN and Amendment 1:2018 QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN | Costs depend on the price list of the testing laboratory and the applicable standards. | 2~3 weeks depending on whether the documentation is complete. | General Department of Standards, Metrology, and Quality or a certification organization registered to conduct certification activities. |
Step 5: Declare conformity and label the goods
After receiving the test results and the Certificate of Conformity, businesses must declare the product's conformity either through the National Single Window Portal or at the local Department of Standards, Metrology, and Quality (for domestically produced products).
Businesses can proceed to affix the CR conformity mark along with supplementary labels in Vietnamese on the product before distributing it on the market.
>>> Read more: Comprehensive guide for Conformity Declaration
ExtendMax: Your trusted partner for importing microwave ovens
ExtendMax boasts extensive experience in quality inspection, conformity certification, and conformity declaration, committed to providing legal advice and guidance to help businesses complete import procedures for microwave ovens in the Vietnamese market. With our professional, fast, and efficient working approach, ExtendMax has earned a strong reputation in the market and is now a service provider for leading multinational corporations worldwide.
At ExtendMax, we handle the entire process from A to Z, including documentation and procedures for importing microwave ovens. We ensure that businesses save maximum time and costs while avoiding unnecessary mistakes.
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