On January 30, 2026, the Vietnam Chemicals Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) held an online seminar titled “New Regulations and Administrative Procedures in the Chemicals Sector.” The seminar was organized to coincide with the release of the implementing regulations (decrees and circulars) under the 2025 Law on Chemicals. Its purpose was to guide stakeholders on the consistent application of the new rules and to help prevent disruptions to chemical manufacturing and trade. More than 3,000 participants from companies handling chemicals joined the event online. Staff members from Enviapac, the local subsidiary of EnviX, also attended.

On January 17, 2026, the Government of Vietnam and MOIT issued several key implementing documents under the 2025 Law on Chemicals:

  1. Decree 24/2026/ND-CP – List of regulated chemicals falling within the scope of the Law on Chemicals
  2. Decree 25/2026/ND-CP – Development of the chemical industry and chemical safety/security
  3. Decree 26/2026/ND-CP – Detailed rules and guidance on chemical activities and hazardous chemicals in products
  4. Circular 01/2026/TT-BCT – Detailed provisions and implementation guidance for the Law on Chemicals and Decree 26/2026/ND-CP
  5. Circular 02/2026/TT-BCT – Implementation guidance for the Law on Chemicals and Decree 25/2026/ND-CP

During the seminar, the Vietnam Chemicals Agency responded to questions from companies regarding the implementation of the new requirements under the 2025 Law on Chemicals.

Key questions raised in the seminar are the following:

  • Q1. How has the list of conditional chemicals changed compared with previous regulations?
  • Q2. For mixtures containing components from Special-Control Chemical Group 1 or Group 2, which authority should issue the import/export permit?
  • Q3. What import procedures apply to chemicals listed in Annex II (conditional chemicals) or Annex III (special-control chemicals) of Decree 24/2026/ND-CP that also fall under HS Chapters 28 or 29?
  • Q4. Are companies importing feed ingredients exempt from permit requirements?
  • Q5. If a mixture is not designated as a conditional or special-control chemical under Decree 24/2026/ND-CP, can it qualify for exemptions under Decree 26/2026/ND-CP?
  • Q6. When importing chemicals, can companies translate the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) themselves and certify it with their company seal, without notarization?
  • Q7. Permit applications for manufacturing or trading special-control chemicals must include a report on chemical use during the previous permit period. What should first-time applicants do?
  • Q8. The new rules require companies to publicly announce the intended use of a special-control chemical 30 days before first use. Does this mean companies must wait 30 days after import before using the chemical?
  • Q9. Does a bachelor’s degree in environmental resources meet the professional qualification requirements for chemical safety officers?
  • Q10. Do the new rules on calculating the total weight ratio (≥1) for determining whether a chemical accident prevention and response plan is required apply per facility or across all company sites?
  • Q11. Can chemical safety training be combined with other types of training?

The responses from the authorities to each of the above questions are as below.