The second draft of National Technical Regulation on POPS thresholds limits is published

In September, the ministry of natural resources and environment open the public consultation for the second draft of the national technical regulation proposing thresholds for several persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in raw materials, materials, products, commodities and equipment. The first draft was published in November 2021, specified limits for certain POPs in different substances, covering the maximum amounts of several types allowed in plastic products, electronic devices and other products, and limits on perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in food contact materials, firefighting foam and more. 

The draft of national technical regulation applies for the individuals and organizations imported POPs and raw materials, materials, products, goods, equipment that contain POPs, responsible authorities and assessing organizations involve in the importing process of POPs. According to the second draft, individuals and organizations import POPs, and raw materials, materials, products, goods, equipment that contain POPs, they need to follow the assessment procedure according to the national technical regulation, label and update the information before entering the markets. The second draft consists of the following changes compared to the first draft: 

• The procedure of assessing the POPs content in raw materials, materials, products, goods, equipment must be carried out by the following organizations:  

• Domestic testing organizations and foreign testing organizations have licensed branch or representative offices operating in Vietnam with environmental monitoring services operating eligibility certificate. 

• Foreign testing organization is accredited to the international standard ISO/IEC 17025 by a public organization admitted to be a participant in signing the mutual recognition agreement of International Accreditation Forum (IAF), Asia-Pacific Accreditation Association Ocean (APAC), International Laboratory Accreditation Association (ILAC). 

• Removing limits on tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether for plastic and plastic details in electrical and electronic equipment; limits on hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether for plastic and plastic details in electrical and electronic equipment.  

• Adding limits for hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether for vehicle parts, including plastic parts, thermoplastics, and polyurethane foam in seats and cushions; and limits for PFOA for medical devices intended for implantation. 

The National Technical Regulation is expected to come into effect on 1st January 2023.