Vietnam Releases Draft Regulations on Energy Labeling for Building Materials 
On July 29, 2026, the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction released a Draft Circular on the energy labeling of building materials under its management and organized a broad public consultation. The draft Circular stipulates the list of building materials subject to mandatory energy labeling; label content and specifications; testing activities; declaration procedures; and the implementation roadmap.
According to the draft, applicable entities include organizations and individuals that manufacture, import, distribute, and trade building materials on the list subject to energy labeling, as well as relevant organizations and individuals involved in testing, declaration, inspection, and supervision of energy labeling activities.
Proposal for 02 Mandatory Energy Labeling Phases
The draft classifies building materials into two groups, each with a distinct mandatory labeling timeline:
| No. | Group | List of Building Materials | Expected Declared Parameters | Mandatory Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Group 1 | Architectural glass; tiles, roofing sheets, metal cladding sheets; exterior wall paint, roof paint; doors and windows; thermal insulation foam boards; autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) and certain lightweight wall panels | Thermal conductivity λ; Solar Reflectance Index (SRI); Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) / total solar energy transmittance (g-value); Thermal transmittance (U-value), depending on product type | 01/01/2029 |
| 2 | Group 2 | Ceramic wall and floor tiles; fired clay bricks, unburned building materials; gypsum boards, panels, ceiling/partition boards, composite panels; plastic boards; engineered wood boards and certain wood products | Thermal conductivity λ; SRI or SHGC, depending on product type | 01/01/2031 |
*Detailed parameters to be declared on the energy label for each type of material are specified in Appendix I of this Circular.
Enterprises Must Publicly Declare Energy Labeling Information Prior to Marketing Building Materials
The draft stipulates that prior to marketing building materials included in the mandatory energy labeling list, manufacturing and importing organizations and individuals must declare the energy label.
The energy label for each type of building material includes values for thermal characteristics or parameters related to the product’s energy efficiency. The energy label template is stipulated in Appendix II of this Circular.
Enterprises shall self-declare and publicize energy labeling information on their corporate websites and submit the declaration to the local Department of Construction (DOC) where their head office or manufacturing facility is located, for publication on the Department of Construction’s Portal/Website.
Forms of Energy Labeling
- Directly printed, affixed, or attached onto the product;
- Printed, affixed, or attached onto the commercial packaging of the product;
- Displayed in technical documentation, catalogs, sales dossiers, electronic transaction media, or e-commerce platforms for products not suitable for direct affixing onto the product.
Enterprises must also re-declare the energy label when there are changes affecting the parameters declared on the energy label, such as: changes in design, structure, main raw materials, production line, or manufacturing technology; changes in standards or test methods; or changes in trade names or trademarks, as requested by competent state authorities.
Stringent Requirements for Testing and Information Control
Test results used for energy label declaration must be obtained from testing organizations meeting competence requirements and testing scope. For test results from foreign testing organizations, testing laboratories must be accredited in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 and satisfy statutory prescribed conditions.
In addition, companies should be aware of the following points:
- Provincial People’s Committees and specialized construction authorities may draw samples of products circulating on the market or at manufacturing and importing facilities for testing and cross-checking against declared parameters.
- In cases where label information is non-compliant, test results are invalid, or enterprises fail to conduct re-declaration in accordance with regulations, the energy labeling shall be suspended.
- Enterprises must retain declaration dossiers, test results, and relevant technical documents throughout the period during which the product remains in market circulation and for a minimum of 05 years after circulation ceases.
- Annually, enterprises that have implemented energy labeling must submit a report to the Department of Construction prior to March 1.
EnviX Comment: Impact Analysis / Recommendations for Enterprises
The draft is currently being revised and supplemented; therefore, enterprises may actively provide feedback to the Ministry of Construction so that the final regulations better align with product characteristics and operational realities. Concurrently, enterprises should proactively review their product portfolios, prepare technical data, and formulate testing plans to comply with the implementation roadmap projected for 2029 and 2031.
View the full text of the draft at the link below:
https://moc.gov.vn/vn/pages/chitietduthao.aspx?iDuThao=1027
