Vietnam Issues Decree Detailing Safety Management Requirements under the Law on Chemicals 
On January 17, 2026, the Government of Vietnam promulgated Decree No. 25/2026/ND‑CP, “Detailing Regulations on the Development of the Chemical Industry and the Safety and Security of Chemical Substances under the Law on Chemicals.” The decree takes effect on the date of promulgation. It sets out requirements mainly relevant to manufacturing sites, including chemical industry development strategies, green chemistry, safety in handling chemical substances, chemical safety training, and the prevention and response to chemical accidents.
The decree is structured as follows:
| Chapter | Title | Articles | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | General Provisions | 1–4 | Scope, subjects of application, and responsibilities |
| II | Chemical Industry Development Strategy | 5–10 | General provisions on activities related to chemical industry development |
| III | Chemical Projects | 11–14 | Principles of green chemistry and criteria for project selection |
| IV | Chemical Consulting | 15–24 | Requirements for organizations and individuals providing chemical‑related consulting and procedures |
| V | Ensuring Safety and Security in Handling Chemical Substances | 25–28 | Handling, safe transport, and safety distances for chemical facilities |
| VI | Specialized Safety Training on Chemical Substances | 29–31 | Subjects, content, and trainers for chemical safety training |
| VII | Prevention and Response to Chemical Accidents | 33–39 | Plans/measures for accident prevention and response, and treatment of wartime residual toxic substances |
| VIII | Implementation Provisions | 40–41 | Grace periods and implementation rules |
This document explains the following topics:
- Ensuring safety and security in handling chemical substances
- Professional requirements for handling chemical substances
- Chemical safety training
- Chemical accident prevention and response plans/measures
Ensuring Safety and Security of Chemical Substances
The decree establishes the following requirements for safety and security in all activities involving chemical substances:
Facilities and Technology
Specific standards are set for fixed infrastructure such as factories and warehouses, as well as mobile equipment such as containers and storage tanks. All infrastructure and technology must meet the requirements of national technical regulations (QCVN) and be appropriate for the characteristics, production scale, and technology of each chemical substance.
Transport of Chemical Substances
Transport vehicles, equipment, storage tanks, containers, packaging, instruments, and personal protective equipment must be suitable for the characteristics of each chemical substance and must meet national technical regulations and national standards (TCVN). Safety must be ensured before, during, and after transport. Organizations and individuals transporting chemical substances must comply with legal provisions on the transport of dangerous goods.
Safety Distances
Each project must maintain safety distances from neighboring facilities. Except for certain designated facilities, no construction may take place within the required safety distance. Government agencies responsible for construction will issue technical standards for safety distances for facilities manufacturing or storing hazardous chemicals.
Professional Requirements for Handling Chemical Substances
Organizations and individuals manufacturing chemicals must appoint a responsible person with at least a university‑level qualification in the chemical field. Organizations engaged in trading, storing, using, treating, disposing, or discarding chemicals must appoint a responsible person with at least a secondary‑level technical qualification in the chemical field.
Annex III of the decree specifies the fields of study required for personnel engaged in chemical management activities in enterprises that manufacture, trade, or store chemical substances. It lists the names and codes of chemical‑related disciplines across various educational levels, including secondary education, higher education, university, and postgraduate programs (master’s and doctoral).
Chemical Safety Training
The decree sets out the following requirements for chemical safety training. Training content for each group is specified in Article 33.
Training Subjects
Group 1:
- Persons responsible for organizations or facilities handling chemical substances; supervisors of departments, divisions, or factories engaged in chemical‑handling operations
- Deputy persons responsible for chemical management and operations
Group 2:
- Persons responsible for chemical safety within an organization
- Direct supervisors of chemical safety in the workplace
- Warehouse personnel involved in chemical‑handling activities
Group 3:
- Workers directly involved with chemical substances
- Medical personnel at chemical‑handling facilities (if applicable)
Training Frequency
- Regular training: once every two years
- Retraining: required when chemical substances or technologies change, when the workplace changes, after two failed examinations, or when the two‑year validity period expires
Training Hours
- Initial training: minimum of 8 hours for all three groups (including examination time)
Note: The September 2025 draft set different hours for each group, but the final decree standardizes the duration. - Regular training: 50% of the initial training hours
Requirements for Trainers
In‑house training:
Trainers must have:
- A university degree or higher in the chemical field
- At least three years of practical experience in chemical safety within the organization
- Qualifications meeting legal requirements for teaching theoretical content in occupational safety and health
Training by consulting companies:
Trainers must meet the individual requirements for chemical safety consultants specified in Article 19.
Examinations and Recordkeeping
Examinations:
- Maximum duration: 2 hours
- Must align with training content
- Passing requires achieving at least the average score
Recordkeeping:
Training records must be kept for three years and must include:
- Training content
- List of trainees
- Trainer information
- Examination content and results
- Certificates issued
Prevention and Response to Chemical Accidents
The decree specifies requirements for plans and measures related to chemical accident prevention and response.
Comparison of Requirements
| Criteria | Accident Prevention & Response Plan | Accident Prevention & Response Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable Entities | (1) Facilities storing at least one chemical listed in Table A of Annex IV of Decree 24/2026/ND‑CP, or at least one mixture listed in Table B, with maximum storage quantities at or above the threshold; (2) Facilities where the ratio of total quantity to threshold value is ≥ 1 |
All facilities handling chemical substances that are not subject to the plan requirement; also applies to chemical transport activities |
| Legal Procedures | Must undergo review by a competent state agency (review council) and obtain approval before operations begin | Enterprises prepare measures themselves and issue them independently |
| Competent Authorities | l Reviewing/approving agencies: Ministry of Industry and Trade (for category 1), Provincial People’s Committees (for category 2)
l Review council: representatives of reviewing agencies, state management agencies, and experts |
l Enterprises: responsible for the content and implementation of measures
l Local specialized management agencies: receive, supervise, and conduct post‑inspection |
| Drills | Must prepare a “drill plan” as part of the overall plan and conduct drills annually | No explicit drill requirement, but enterprises bear general responsibility for ensuring safety |
| Updates/Adjustments | Plans must be reviewed and re‑approved when production scale, technology, or handling of regulated chemicals changes | Enterprises must supplement or revise measures when business activities change |
| Reporting | Must update the national database within 30 days of approval | Must update the national database within 30 days of the date the measures are issued |
Formula for Determining Applicability
qx1/QUX1 + qx2/QUX2 + …+ qxi/QUXi
- qx: storage quantity of hazardous chemical x (listed in Table A or B of Annex IV of Decree 24/2026/ND‑CP)
- QUX: threshold quantity as specified in Table A or B of Annex IV of Decree 24/2026/ND‑CP
EnviX Comment
The number of enterprises required to prepare chemical accident prevention and response plans is expected to increase. Even companies previously outside the scope may now fall under regulation due to the calculation formula above. For companies newly required to prepare plans, the mandatory review by authorities is likely to increase their administrative burden.
The full text of Decree 25/2026/ND‑CP can be downloaded at:
https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/?pageid=27160&docid=216672
