Vietnam
Like other Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam is facing diverse environmental issues due to its rapid economic growth and industrialization. The “Resolution No. 35/NQ-CP on a number of urgent issues in environmental protection”, which was promulgated in 2013, has identified seven issues as the country’s challenges as listed below. As seen in items 1 and 4 of the list, water pollution has been recognized as a major problem in Vietnam. Air pollution has also become a concern in large cities due to the sharp increase of automobiles and motorcycles. Awareness about soil pollution has also raised in recent years. As mentioned later, the country’s “Law on Environmental Protection of 2014” also refers to soil pollution control.
Waste management is also of a major interest in the country. The “Prime Minister’s Decision No. 2149/QD-TTg on approving the national strategy for integrated management of solid waste up to 2025, with a Vision to 2050” has set numerical targets not only for management of municipal wastes but also for that of industrial wastes. Additionally, regulations on collection of e-wastes were promulgated in August 2013. Companies all over the world are concerned about its enforcement because it introduced the scheme of extended produce responsivities (EPR) in Vietnam.
In the field of energy conservation, a system of laws and regulations was developed in 2010, stipulating detailed rules on energy-saving labels for products and energy efficiency management in facilities, such as factories and shopping complex. In particular, consumer awareness on products with energy-saving labels is increasing, and a survey conducted at consumer electronics retailers in large cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City has revealed that the sales of products with energy-saving labels have increased by about 10-15% .
Regarding management of chemicals, after the promulgation of the “Law on Chemicals” in 2007, implementing regulations for the Law were set successively, developing a scheme for proper chemical management.
In Vietnam, in addition to the National Assembly, state bodies, central ministries and other governmental agencies have the right to enact legal documents. There are many types of legal documents in Vietnam but the legal system in the field of environment can be summarized as below.
In Vietnam, the right to enact constitution and a law (Luat) are given only to the National Assembly while the aforementioned ministries/agencies have the right to establish legal normative documents including ordinances (Lenh), resolutions (Nghi Quyet), decrees (Nghi Dinhe), decisions (Quyet Dinh), directions (Chi Thi), and circulars (Thong Tu). The hierarchical relationships among these legal documents are determined pursuant to the relationships between the ministries/agencies that issued the documents or as stated in premises of such legal documents.
Environmental standards in Vietnam can be roughly classified into two types: Vietnamese National Standard (TCVN) and National Technical Regulation (QCVN). TCVN and QCVN are issued pursuant to the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations (68/2006/QH11), which was established in June 2006. The features of each are summarized as follows.
Previously the country had set environmental standards and emission standards as TCVNs (voluntary standards). But in recent years they have been set as QCVNs (mandatory regulations). This means emission standards have become legally binding.
The Law on Environmental Protection defines the basic principles and direction for overall environmental management in Vietnam as a basic environmental law of the country.
Vietnam enacted its first environmental law relatively recently, in 1993. Prior to that, in 1991, the National Plan for Environment and Sustainable Development 1991-2010, the country’s first policy that aimed to achieve both economic development and environmental protection, was set[2]. Then, in 1993, the proposed Law on Environmental Protection was approved by the National Assembly as a law to comprehensively deal with environmental issues. The Law then came into effect on January 10, 1994. Subsequently, in 1995, environmental standards and emission standards for air, water, soil, etc. were established. Multiple implementing rules for EIA were also issued from 1994 to 1995. Besides, before and after the promulgation of the Law on Environmental Protection of 1993, the state government promulgated various environmental laws successively (e.g., Law on Forest Protection and Development of 1991, Law of Land Use of 1993, Law on Water Resources of 1998, etc.).
Then the Law on Environmental Protection was fully revised in 2005 (52/2005/QH12). The former version of the Law (1993) had 55 articles while the revised one (2005) had 136 articles, which are almost doubled. The major revisions include the clarification of each provision and the establishment of a separate chapter on waste management[3].
Then, on June 23, 2014, the current version, the Law on Environmental Protection of 2014 (55/2014/QH13) was promulgated. The Law consists of 170 articles in 20 chapters and came into effect on January 1, 2015.
[1] Currently the Law on Environmental Protection of 2014 is under review for full revision (as of December 2019). A draft of the law that was published on December 13, 2019 consists of 176 articles in 17 chapters and 4 annexes, stipulating newly introduced management systems (e.g. waste audit scheme for factories). The draft has a large impact on business activities and is worth paying attentions to.
[2] http://www.rrcap.ait.asia/pub/soe/vietnam/overview/environmental_management_and_legislation.htm
[3] http://www.env.go.jp/earth/coop/oemjc/H18_csr_asia/H18_all.pdf
Framework of EHS laws and regulations in Vietnam.
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Soil pollution control in Vietnam
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Water management in Vietnam
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WEEE Management Regulations in Vietnam
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Vietnam Law on Chemicals and implementing rules thereof
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Waste management in Vietnam
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Overview of environmental issues in Vietnam Like other Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam is facing diverse environmental issues due to its rapid economic growth and industrialization. The “Resolution No. 35/NQ-CP …
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The Prime Minister’s Decision No. 889/QD-TTg on approval of the National Action Plan on Sustainable Production and Consumption for the period 2021-2030 was enacted in Vietnam on June 24, 2020. …
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In Vietnam, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) enacted the “Decision No. 4889/QD-BCT on technical standard for energy labeling for LED lighting” on December 27, 2018. This decision set …
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