Official document on import management of nitrous oxide(N2O) in Vietnam 
The Directorate General of Customs of Vietnam has promulgated an Official Document No. 6836/TCHQ-GSQL, which requests the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) to strengthen import management for nitrous oxide (N2O). Import of nitrous oxide has recently become more active in Vietnam, therefore more strict system is needed. N2O is categorized into “restricted chemicals for production and trade” under the Governmental Decree No. 113/2017/ND-CP, so, importers shall obtain a permit. However, according to the Directorate General of Chemicals of MOIT, since the submission of manufacturing and trading permits is a temporary measure, MOIT will consider the amendments and supplements of the Governmental Decree No. 113/2017/ND-CP to ensure better control of restricted chemicals.
N2O is used in many sectors, including industrial and medical business, and also known as “laughing gas”. The “restricted chemicals for production and trade in the industrial sector”, including N2O, are stipulated in the Annex II of the Governmental Decree No. 113/2017/ND-CP, and shall be managed under the decree. It applies to organizations and individuals who produce and trade the restricted chemicals in the industrial sector.
Under the Law on Chemicals, the restricted chemicals are designated as hazardous chemicals, so technical management for safety is required to handle them. MOIT is responsible for the management of such chemicals used in industrial sector.
In addition, in order to improve the chemical management capacity and to collect statistic data about imported chemicals, the Directorate General of Chemicals required the Directorate General of Customs to respond on the system at the point when the customs declaration reaches “cleared” status. This requirement is stipulated in the Governmental Decree No. 113/2017/ND-CP and the Circular No. 32/2017/TT-BCT.
