Chemical Management in Vietnam

Introduction on Law on Chemical

Vietnam's chemical regulatory framework has undergone a significant transformation. The foundational Law on Chemicals No. 06/2007/QH12, enacted in 2008, established comprehensive lifecycle management for chemicals, covering production, trading, import, export, use, and disposal. 

On June 14, 2025, the National Assembly approved a major amendment, the Law on Chemicals No. 69/2025/QH15, which officially took effect on January 1, 2026, and fully replaces the 2007 version. 

#English Translations

Law on Chemicals (No. 69/2025/QH15 )On June 14, 2025, the Vietnam National Assembly voted to approve the Law on Chemicals (No. 69/2025/QH15). This new law prescribes chemicals, management of general chemical processes; development of chemical industry; chemical information; hazardous chemicals in products and goods; safety and security in general chemical processes. It shall take effect from January 1, 2026.In general, it adheres to the following core policies:Sustainable development of the chemical industry into a modern, fundamental industrySynchronous management of chemicals throughout the entire life cycleManagement of hazardous chemicals in productsImproving the effectiveness of ensuring chemical safety

This new law represents not merely an update but a structural overhaul of Vietnam's chemical management system. Its core objectives are to foster a sustainable, modern chemical industry while strengthening protections for human health and the environment. Key pillars of the reform include:

• Sustainable development of the chemical industry into a modern, fundamental industry

• Synchronous management of chemicals throughout the entire life cycle

• Management of hazardous chemicals in products

• Improving the effectiveness of ensuring chemical safety

Institutional Framework

The Law on Chemicals  designated the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) as the core authority primarily responsible for the state management of chemical-related activities, mainly include the following duties: 

1. Manage chemicals used in industries (including industrial precursors, CWC listed chemicals), and chemicals used in industrial consumer products;

2. Develop, operate and upgrade national chemical database;

3. Inspect and examine compliance with regulations on the management of hazardous chemicals in products and goods;

4. Perform the uniform management of the classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals; chemical registration and declaration and chemical safety information;

5. Compile and report statistics on the status of chemical safety implementation nationwide;
   

6. Carry out international cooperation in chemical activities and chemical safety;

7. Disseminate information, popularize, and educate on the laws regarding chemicals;

Various other ministries are also directly involved in the chemical management as follows: 

• Ministry of Science and Technology: Promulgate and appraise technical regulation in the chemical sectors

• Ministry of Health: Pharmaceuticals, food additives, food processing aids, germicide, insecticide, etc.

• Ministry of Agriculture and Environment: fertilizers, veterinary medicine, plant protection, etc.

• Ministry of Construction: Transportation of hazardous chemicals

• Ministry of National Defense: Resdual toxic chemicals 

• Ministry of Public Security: Fire prevention,  chemical security and safety
  

• Ministry of Home Affairs: Occupational safety and occupational hygiene in chemical activities

• Ministry of Education and Training: Vocational training establishments within national education system

• Ministry of Finance: Chemical database funding
  

This multi-agency approach aims to provide comprehensive oversight across the diverse applications of chemicals in Vietnam. The chemical referred in this pedia page will center on industrial chemicals, which are mainly under the jurisdiction of MOIT.

Implementation Decree to the Law on Chemical 

On January 17, 2026, MOIT issued three Government Decrees and two Ministerial Circulars. These supporting regulations took effect on January 17, 2026, and replace the existing Decree No. 113/2017/ND-CP (and its amendments) and Circular No. 32/2017/TT-BCT (and its amendments).

I. Goverment Decrees

• Decree No. 24/2026/ND-CP Stipulating the list of chemicals governed by the Law on Chemicals

#English Translations

Decree No. 24/2026/ND-CP Promulgating The Lists Of Chemicals Under The Scope of  Law On ChemicalsOn January 17, 2026, the Government of Vietnam published Decree No. 24/2026/ND-CP Stipulating the list of chemicals governed by the Law on Chemicals. This Decree establishes the official lists of chemicals under Law No. 69/2025/QH15 and requires entities engaged in chemical activities in Vietnam to classify their substances according to these lists to meet related licensing, safety, and reporting obligations.

• Decree No. 25/2026/ND-CP Detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Chemicals on development of the chemical industry and chemical safety and security

#English Translations

Decree No. 25/2026/ND-CP Detailing and Measures to Organize and Guide the Implementation of a Number of Articles of the Law On Chemicals Regarding the Development of the Chemical Industry and Chemical Safety and SecurityOn January 17, 2026, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam published Decree 25/2026/ND-CP providing detailed regulations and measures to implement certain articles of the Chemical Law regarding chemical industry development and chemical safety and security.

• Decree No. 26/2026/ND-CP Detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Chemicals on management of chemical activities and hazardous chemicals in products and goods

#English Translations

Decree No.26/2026/ND-CP Detailing and Guiding the Implementation of a number of Articles of the Law On Chemicals regarding the Management Of Chemical Activities and Hazardous Chemicals in Products And GoodsOn January 17, 2026, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam published Decree 26/2026/ND-CP detailing and guiding the implementation of certain articles of the Chemicals Law regarding the management of chemical activities and hazardous chemicals in products and goods. 

II. Ministerial Circulars

• Circular No. 01/2026/TT-BCT Detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Chemicals and Decree No. 26/2026/ND-CP

• Circular No. 02/2026/TT-BCT Detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Chemicals and Decree No. 25/2026/ND-CP

Who Are Affected?

Organizations and individuals engaged or involved in chemical-related activities in Vietnam, which mainly include:

• Manufacturer

• Importer/exporter

• Domestic trader

• User

Regulated Chemicals 

Decree No. 24/2026/ND-CP designates 4 lists of chemicals governed under the Law on Chemicals, including: 

1. Annex I. List of Basic Chemicals in the Field of Key Chemical Industries

This list includes 39 chemicals that are fundamental to the chemical industry, such as acetic acid, ammonia, benzene, ethanol, and various industrial gases and acids. 

2. Annex II. List of Chemicals subject to Conditional Production and Trading (Conditional Chemicals)

This list contains 786 chemicals. Their production and trade require meeting specific conditions and obtaining a certificate of eligibility from Provincial People's Committee.

3. Annex III. List of Chemicals Requiring Special Control 

This list contains 241 chemicals that are under stricter control for import, export, and use due to their high-risk nature, including industrial precursors and chemicals listed under Stockholm and Rotterdam Convention. 

Note: If a mixture contain both conditional chemicals and chemicals requiring special control, it shall be considered a mixture subject to special control. 

4. Annex IV. List of Hazardous Chemicals Requiring Chemical Incident Prevention and Response Plans 

Include both chemicals on Table A of Annex IV and mixtures containing chemical substances specified in Table A that meets the GHS classifications and specified quantities specified in Table B of Annex IV.

In addition to Decree No. 24/2026/ND-CP, the Law on Chemicals itself also designates a List of Banned Chemicals, which are hazardous chemicals under list of banned chemicals and mineral in accordance with Law on Investment (Annex II). 

Use ChemCheck to identify if your chemicals are listed in the Vietnam chemical inventory by simply entering CAS number or chemical name. Other information including hazard classification, compliance tips are also available for your reference. 

Figure 2 - A Snapshot of Chemcheck website

Obligation for Regulated Chemicals 

Vietnam's chemical legislation framework establishes a risk-based management system, with obligations becoming progressively stricter from Conditional Chemicals to Banned Chemicals. 

Here is a summary table outlining the key obligations for the main categories of chemicals under the new regulatory framework:

In addition, the following products are also exempted from certificate of eligibility for conditional chemicals or licenses for chemicals requiring special control where these chemicals are contained within the products: 

• Pharmaceuticals; germicidal and insecticidal preparations; food; cosmetics;

• Animal feed; fertilizers; plant protection drugs, veterinary medicine;

• Radioactive substances; construction materials; paints, printing inks;

• Products used in the household sector including adhesives, cleaning products, chemical cosmetics;

• Gasoline and oil;

• Batteries, accumulators, medical equipment, laboratory equipment.

Declaration  

All chemicals under Chapters 28 and 29 of the Vietnamese Export and Import Goods List must be declared via the National Single Window before customs clearance. The declared information include: 

• Declarant identity

• Declared chemicals identity

• Commercial invoice in Vietnamese (in case of non-commercial item, arrival notice can be replaced)

• Safety data sheets (SDS)

The following cases are exempted from declaration:

• Import chemicals requiring special control that are already issued license;

• Import chemicals < 10kg;

• Import new chemicals < 1 kg for testing and evaluation;

• Import mixtures that do not fall under Chapter 28 and 29 but contain chemicals that belong to Chapter 28 and 29.

Hazardous Chemicals in Products

The management of hazardous chemicals within products and goods focus on two key areas: internal control during the production process and public disclosure of information. This framework places the responsibility for compliance and information accuracy squarely on the producers and importers.

Confidential Information

Agencies that receive declaration and reports on chemicals shall keep information confidential at the request of the declarants and reporters. The confidential information includes:

• Names and quantities of chemicals produced, imported or traded;

• Information relating to technological know-how and trade secrets.

For the protection of community wellbeing and the environment, the following information shall not be considered confidential:

• Trade names of chemicals

• Names of chemical producers or importers; entities that declare or report chemicals

• SDS information, except CBI aforementioned

• Information for incident prevention and response

• Toxicity and exposure information

• Purity of mixtures and hazards of additives and impurities

Implementation Timeline

All issued 5 documents shall take effect from January 17, 2026. 

For specific list of chemicals already issued licenses or newly listed chemicals, the Decree No. 26/2026/ND-CP provides transitional period as follows: