Vietnam Seeks Comments on Draft Decree to Implement New Law on Chemicals

On September 5, 2025, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) opened a public consultation on a draft Government Decree that will operationalize the new Law on Chemicals No. 69/2025/QH15.

Described by the MOIT’s Chemicals Agency as the “backbone” for implementation, the draf Decree  outlines state management of chemical activities and control of hazardous chemicals in products and goods.

Purpose and Scope

The draft Decree translates the 2025 Law on Chemicals (effective January 1, 2026) into practice, establishing detailed procedures for new-chemical registration, information management and confidentiality, and controls on hazardous chemicals in products. It will also modernize Vietnam's regulatory framework following Decree 113/2017/ND-CP and its 2022 amendments, with an emphasis on administrative simplification and digital transformation in government oversight.

Structure at a Glance

According to the MOIT, the draft consists of 5 Chapters and 32 Articles:

• Chapter I: Scope, definitions, and allocation of state management responsibilities.
• Chapter II: Management of chemical activities, including manufacture, import, trade, and use.
• Chapter III: Chemical information management: new-chemical registration and evaluation, management of new chemicals, confidential business information (CBI) protections, and digital transformation in state oversight.
• Chapter IV: Management of hazardous chemicals including list management, production/process controls, and public disclosure requirements for hazardous chemical content in products.
• Chapter V: Implementation clauses: transitional provisions and effective date.

Legal Basis and Timetable

• The National Assembly adopted the Law on Chemicals No. 69/2025/QH15 on June 14, 2025 (effective January 1, 2026).
• On July 14, 2025, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 1526/QD-TTg, assigning MOIT to draft the implementing Decree and submit it to the Government by October 15, 2025.
• The MOIT convened the drafting taskforce on August 29, 2025 to review the first consultation draft and affirmed the accelerated timeline.

Policy Orientation

The MOIT states that the Decree is being developed in line with Resolution 66-NQ/TW (April 30, 2025) of the Politburo on renewing law-making and law-enforcement to drive development. The approach emphasizes practical, system-wide, and pro-growth reforms, including stronger decentralization and streamlined procedures.

Key changes for Businesses

• New-chemical regime: Clearer rules for registration and evaluation of substances not yet on Vietnam’s lists; governance of new chemicals after approval.
• CBI handling: Formalized pathways to protect sensitive information while meeting disclosure and safety obligations.
• Product controls: A framework to list and control hazardous chemicals in products/goods, including disclosure of hazardous contents and controls across manufacturing processes.
• Digital oversight: Movement toward digitalized submissions and supervision in chemical management.
• Continuity and transition: Alignment with and eventual replacement/overhaul of procedures under Decree 113/2017/ND-CP (and Decree 82/2022/ND-CP amendments), with transitional clauses anticipated in Chapter V.

Administrative Reform Focus

In line with Government directives on cutting business conditions, simplifying administrative procedures, and decentralizing decision-making, the drafting team is reviewing additional reductions and simplifications beyond those already approved under national programs (e.g., Decisions 1661/QD-TTg and 1015/QD-TTg).

Next Steps

• Consultation: The MOIT and the Chemicals Agency are receiving comments to refine the first-round draft.
• Submission target: The drafting taskforce plans to submit the dossier by October 15, 2025, to keep the Decree on track ahead of the January 1, 2026, law effective date.