Vietnam Chemicals Agency strengthens control of industrial precursors and N2O 
On June 24, 2021, the Vietnam Chemicals Agency (Vinachemia) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam promulgated the official letter No. 2850/BCT-HC on the Stricter Control of Production, Trade, Import, Export and Use of Industrial Precursors and Nitrous Oxide (N2O) addressed to provincial Departments of Industry and Trade. This letter aims to raise awareness among business entities and local authorities about the regulatory rules on industrial precursors and N2O that are designated as Restricted Chemicals under the Decree No. 113/2017/ND-CP.
The official letter can be downloaded at:
https://socongthuong.haugiang.gov.vn/van-ban-phap-luat/-/vbpq/detail/11109748#
Requirements for provincial Departments of Industry and Trade
Under this letter, provincial Department of Industry and Trade are required to provide guidance to business entities engaged in manufacture, trade, import, export and/or use of industrial precursors on the needed control measures for such substances mandated by laws and regulations in their responsible areas. In addition, for business entities that manufacture, trade, import, export, use and/or store N2O, the provincial Departments are required to educate such business entities about the hazards of N2O. It is also aimed to strengthen auditing and inspection activities for regulated business entities to curb the illegal trade and use of industrial precursors and N2O.
Requirements for business entities that manufacture, trade, import, export, use and/or store industrial precursors or N2O
The letter requires business entities that manufacture, trade, import, export, use and/or store industrial precursors or N2O to comply with regulations on the manufacture, trade, import, export, use and storage of industrial precursors or N2O. In addition, semi-annual and annual reporting is mandated on manufacture, trade, import, export, use and/or storage of industrial precursors.
In addition, business entities that manufacture, trade, import, export, use and/or store industrial precursors or N2O are required to comply with legal regulations on manufacturing and trading of the Restricted Chemicals from Production and Trading (including N2O), especially rules stipulated by the Law on Chemicals and Decree No. 113/2017/ND-CP. The Decree No. 113/2017/ND-CP is currently under review for revision. In the review, designation of N2O as a specially controlled substance for import is also discussed.
