Vietnam's main chemical management law, the Law on Chemicals, has a draft update that has been finalized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT). MOIT is currently seeking input on the proposed revisions. 

Background on the Law on Chemicals 

The 12th National Assembly, in its second session, passed the Law on Chemicals No. 06/2007/QH12 on November 21, 2007. It became operative on July 1, 2008, institutionalizing, implementing, and expeditiously concretizing the principles and policies of the Party and the State. The enactment of the Law on Chemicals is a significant turning point in the process of formalizing and establishing a national legal corridor for chemical-related activities. 

Current Amendments 

On March 7, MOIT stated that the Ministry's Department of Chemicals should work with the Department of Legal Affairs and other relevant agencies to make further changes to the draft before it is published,. A drafting board and editorial team would be established, MOIT advised, to urgently organise the implementation of the law. 

The Ministry plans to propose an amended draft law at the eighth session of the 15th National Assembly in October 2024, which it hopes will be passed at the ninth session in May 2025. 

Policy development Objectives 

• Create a legal framework that supports the growth of the chemical sector in line with the Party's Ten-Year Socio-Economic Development Strategy, which outlines its goals and directions for 2021–2030. 

• Pay attention to the growth of a number of basic industries, such as energy, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, and chemistry, to meet the economy's needs for basic production materials. 

• Consider the prudent, cost-effective, efficient, and long-term management, utilization, and accumulation of resources. 

• Consider the preservation of the quality of life and public health as primary objectives. 

• In order to "build a green, circular, environmentally friendly economy" and preserve biodiversity and ecosystems, the Party must resolutely reject projects that pollute the environment. This will further consolidate the Party's leadership in chemical management and the chemical industry. 

• Establish a framework of legal documents to stabilize the management of basic chemical activities in the coming years. 

• Align the legal framework for chemical management with international standards to encourage investment from multinational companies and big chemical companies that can expand their operations in Vietnam by utilizing technology, cutting-edge management techniques, and high-value products. This will also help Vietnamese companies to engage in international trade by providing favourable conditions. 

Compared to the 2007 Chemical Law, the draft has one additional chapter and 24 articles, bringing the total to 11 chapters and 95 articles. 

Evaluating the policy impact:  

The following issues will be assessed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade: 

Policy 1: The sustainable growth of the chemical industry as a key sector today. 

Policy 2: Coordinated management of chemicals throughout their life cycle. 

Policy 3: Management of hazardous chemical in products. 

Policy 4: Increasing effectiveness in ensuring the safety of chemicals. 

The Ministry of Industry and Trade analyses each policy using the following procedure: 

1. Identification of the problem (explaining the current state of the problem and examining its causes, effects, and implications). 

2. Aim of the problem solution. 

3. Proposed solution (some of which leave things as they are). 

4. Analysis of the effects of the suggested solution (counting the advantages and disadvantages of each policy option for the state, its citizens, and its companies). 

5. Recommendations and choice of solutions based on effect analysis and evaluation advantages and disadvantages of each solution. 

Submitting Comments 

Comments from agencies, units, organizations, and individuals should be sent in writing to the Ministry of Industry and Trade by email (at KienNV@moit.gov.vn, ThanhNT@moit.gov.vn) or through the Department of Chemicals, No. 21 Ngo Quyen, Trang Tien Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City, by April 10, 2024. 

On 4 March 2024, the Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) issued amendments to the Annexes of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD). At the 38th ASEAN Cosmetic Council (ACC) and the 38th ASEAN Cosmetic Science Council (ACSB), the Drug Administration of Vietnam made the following announcement to the units:

Annexes to the ASEAN Cosmetics Agreement include

• Appendix II. List of substances not allowed to be used in cosmetic products

• Appendix III. List of substances with regulations limiting concentration and content in cosmetic products

• Appendix IV. Colorants allowed for use in cosmetics

• Appendix VI. List of preservatives allowed for use in cosmetic products

• Appendix VII. List of ultraviolet ray filters

Cosmetics list updates

Major amendments have been made to Appendix II and Appendix VII, while references have been updated in the remaining Appendices.

Amendments in Appendix II: The prohibition on 14 components will enter into force on 15 November 15 this year, while the ban on N, N-diethyl-mtoluamide/diethyltoluamide (DEET) will enter into force on 15 November 15 2025.

Amendments to Appendix VII:

The new concentration limits for UV filters are as follows: 

From the date of application specified in the Appendix, only cosmetic products that comply with the regulations will be circulated on the market, and cosmetic products that do not comply with the regulations will be withdrawn from the market.

The Authority requests manufacturers and importers to comply with the provisions of Circular No. 06/2011/TT-BYT to avoid the risk of product recall and waste.