Vietnam has notified the WTO of a draft Circular amending national technical regulations for industrial sodium hydroxide, poly aluminium chloride (PAC) and industrial ammonia. The proposed measure updates QCVN 03A:2020/BCT, QCVN 06A:2020/BCT and QCVN 07A:2020/BCT, with proposed adoption and entry into force on 1 July 2026. Comments are open until 27 June 2026.

Key regulatory scope

The draft applies to organizations and individuals involved in the manufacture, import, trading and use of the covered industrial chemicals, as well as conformity assessment bodies and relevant state management agencies.

The covered products and HS codes are:

• Industrial sodium hydroxide (NaOH): HS 2815.11.00 and 2815.12.00
• Industrial poly aluminium chloride (PAC): HS 3824.99.99
• Industrial ammonia (NH₃): HS 2814.20.00

Main proposed amendments

The draft amendments mainly update:

• chemical labeling requirements;
• transportation requirements, especially for dangerous goods;
• conformity declaration procedures;
• conformity assessment methods;
• use of conformity marks;
• responsibilities of manufacturers, importers and traders.

These changes are aligned with Vietnam’s updated legal framework, including the amended Law on Standards and Technical Regulations, the amended Law on Product and Goods Quality, the 2025 Law on Chemicals, Decree No. 37/2026/ND-CP and Circular No. 14/2026/TT-BKHCN.

Industrial ammonia quality requirements

The uploaded amendment to QCVN 07A:2020/BCT updates the technical table for industrial ammonia. The visual table on page 1 specifies two product concentration ranges: 10% to below 20% ammonia and 20% to below 35% ammonia. It also sets limits for iron content and residue after evaporation.

The same amendment revises labeling and transport provisions. Chemical labeling must follow Decree No. 37/2026/ND-CP, while transport of industrial ammonia must follow Vietnam’s dangerous goods transport rules under Decree No. 34/2024/ND-CP and Decree No. 161/2024/ND-CP.

Conformity assessment and market control

For industrial ammonia, the draft amendment provides that imported products must follow conformity assessment Method 1, while domestically manufactured products must follow Method 5 under Circular No. 14/2026/TT-BKHCN. After conformity declaration, manufacturers, importers and traders must register the declaration with the relevant Department of Industry and Trade.

Market surveillance authorities are assigned responsibility for inspection, control and handling violations relating to the quality of industrial ammonia in circulation.

Industry impact

The measure is relevant for companies manufacturing, importing or distributing industrial NaOH, PAC and ammonia in Vietnam. Businesses should review product classification, HS codes, Vietnamese chemical labeling, dangerous goods transport obligations, conformity assessment route, conformity declaration registration and market surveillance readiness.

For ammonia suppliers, particular attention should be given to product concentration, iron content, residue specifications, labeling and transport documentation before shipment or market circulation.