Vietnam Vietnam Amends Regulations on Decentralization, Streamlining, and Simplification of Administrative Procedures Under Jurisdiction of MOIT

Vietnam Dangerous Goods Transport Chemical Substances (Products) Chemical Substances (Factory) Industrial Chemicals
27 July 2026  AOKI Kenji  AOKI Kenji (EnviX, Ltd.)
Vietnam Amends Regulations on Decentralization, Streamlining, and Simplification of Administrative Procedures Under Jurisdiction of MOIT

On May 20, 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Circular No. 26/2026/TT-BCT, amending and supplementing certain regulations on the decentralization, reduction, and simplification of administrative procedures in sectors under the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s jurisdiction. The circular took effect on May 29, 2026.

The circular applies to sectors under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, including:

  • Industrial explosives and explosive precursors
  • Minerals
  • Tobacco production and trade
  • Petroleum product trade
  • E-commerce
  • Import and export
  • Chemicals
  • Transportation of hazardous materials

This article focuses on topics related to industrial explosives, explosive precursors, chemicals, and the transport of hazardous materials. Some notable amendments that businesses should be aware of are summarized below:

 

Industrial Explosives and Explosive Precursors

The authority responsible for issuing permits and certificates regarding the management and use of industrial explosives and explosive precursors is defined as follows:

Agency Authority and Responsibilities
Department of Industrial Safety and Environmental Technology
  • Issuance, renewal, and amendment of certificates of eligibility for the production of industrial explosives
Chemicals Department
  • Issuance, renewal, and amendment of business licenses for explosive precursors
  • Issuance of export and import permits for explosive precursors
Provincial People’s Committee
  • Issuance, renewal, and amendment of permits for the use of industrial explosives for organizations and businesses using explosives within the jurisdiction
  • Issuance and amendment of certificates of eligibility for the production of explosive precursors
  • Issuance and renewal of business licenses for industrial explosives
  • Issuance of permits for the export and import of industrial explosives

The following provisions are repealed:

  • Clauses 1, 2, and 3 of Article 1 of Circular No. 38/2025/TT-BCT
  • Clause 1 of Article 1 of Circular No. 15/2026/TT-BCT

 

Chemicals Sector

Addition of a definition of “trade name”

A trade name specified in the administrative procedure forms in this Circular that has the same trade name structure, the same mixture composition, and no changes to the physical and chemical properties is deemed to be the same type of chemical.

 

Authority over Licenses and Certificates Related to Chemicals Subject to Special Control

Agency Authority and Responsibilities
Chemical Agency
  • Receives applications, organizes reviews, and issues, renews, or amends production permits, business permits, and permits for the production and business of chemicals subject to special control for
    -Group 1;
    -Group 1 and Group 2 (simultaneously);
    -Chemical mixtures containing both Group 1 and Group 2 components
Provincial People’s Committee (where the head office is located)
  • Receiving applications, conducting reviews, issuing, reissuing, and amending Production Licenses, Business Licenses, and Licenses for the Production and Business of Specially Controlled Chemicals for
    -Group 2 chemicals, but not for the production or business of Group 1 chemicals
  •  Receiving applications, issuing, reissuing, amending, and extending Export and Import Permits for specially controlled chemicals for
    -Group 1 and Group 2 (as amended by Resolution 19/2026/NQ-CP)
Provincial People’s Committee (where the main office or chemical storage facility is located)
  • Receiving applications, conducting evaluations, and issuing, reissuing, or amending Certificates of Eligibility for Chemical Storage Services for storage facilities required to develop a Chemical Accident Prevention and Response Plan, which must be reviewed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade

In addition, the form for controlling the purchase and sale of chemicals subject to special control, as specified in Appendix IX of Circular No. 01/2026/TT-BCT, is replaced by Form No. 13 of this Circular.

 

Hazardous Goods Transportation

Authority to Process Administrative Procedures Regarding the Transportation of Dangerous Goods

Agency Authority and Responsibilities
Provincial People’s Committee
  • Receiving applications, reviewing, issuing, amending, reissuing, and revoking permits for the transport of Class 5 and Class 8 dangerous goods as specified in Article 4.1 of Decree 161/2024/NĐ-CP; Article 44.4 of Decree 105/2025/NĐ-CP
    ⇒Inherits the amended provisions of Circular 15/2026/TT-BCT
  • Receiving applications, reviewing, issuing, amending, reissuing, and revoking permits for the transportation of dangerous goods of Class 1 (excluding industrial explosives and explosive precursors), Class 2, Class 3, Class 4, and Class 9 as specified in Article 44.4 of Decree 105/2025/ND-CP.
    ⇒Delegated from the Ministry of Industry and Trade to the Provincial People’s Committee (where the head office or branch is located within the local jurisdiction)

 

View the full text of the Circular at the link below
https://chinhphu.vn/?pageid=27160&docid=218236

Author / Responsibility

AOKI Kenji

Senior Consultant, EnviX Ltd.
General Director, E&H Consulting Co., Ltd.

Business Performance

Expertise in EHS (environment, health and safety) consulting in ASEAN region.
- Environmental regulations updating
- Chemical regulations consulting

Background

MSc in Earth Science, The University of Tokyo

AOKI Kenji