New guidelines on 11 administrative processes in the environmental domain published by Vietnam.

Decision 1701/QD-BTNMT on Guidance for Implementation of Administrative Procedures in the Environmental Sector was published by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam on June 26, 2023, and it went into force that same day. Full text of the Decision can be found here. The Decision outlines the newly mandated administrative processes for environmental protection as set forth in the Environmental Protection Law (72/2020/QH14), which underwent a complete amendment in 2020. Examining application materials and granting permits and licenses by administrative authorities are among the procedures addressed.

The Decision contains 11 administrative processes in the field of environmental protection together with an appendix for each process.The included processes are listed below. The Appendices to this Decision contain comprehensive instructions on the mentioned procedures.

1. Issuance of environmental permits
2. Issuance of adjustment of environmental permits
3. Issuance and renewal of environmental permits
4. Re-issuance of environmental permits
5. Authorization for handover of hazardous waste not included in environmental license
6. Registration for transport of hazardous waste under the Basel Convention certification for the transboundary transport of hazardous waste
7. Registration for the exemption of Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention
8. Granting of an Environmental monitoring services qualification certificate
9. Renewal of Environmental monitoring services qualification certificate 
10. Vietnam Ecolabel accreditation
11. Issuance and  renewal of Vietnam Ecolabel certification