On 7 August, EuroCham representatives participated in a consultation workshop hosted by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to discuss proposed amendments to Vietnam’s Law on Standards and Technical Regulations.
The workshop was chaired by Nguyen Thi Le Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Science, Technology, and Environment, and Dau Anh Tuan, Vice Secretary General of VCCI and Director General of the Department for Legal Affairs.
Attending the workshop were representatives from the National Assembly, the General Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality (STAMEQ), and VCCI. Representing EuroCham were Nguyen Hong Uy, Head of EuroCham Vietnam’s Nutritional Foods Group’s Technical Working Group, and Tran Thi Phuong Mai, Co-Chairwoman of the EuroCham Cosmetics Sector Committee.
During the workshop, Mr. Uy provided feedback on several key aspects of the proposed amendments:
- Notification of Standards’ Basic Characteristics: The new requirement for organisations to notify authorities of the “basic characteristics” of their standards could be problematic due to undefined terms and the risk of disclosing confidential business information. He recommended clearly defining “basic characteristics” and avoiding the inclusion of these standards in the national data system to protect business confidentiality.
- Streamlining the Process for Updating Technical Regulations: he suggested streamlining the process for updating technical regulations to align with international standards, and expediting changes to regulations with significant issues. Additionally, he recommended enhancing opportunities for meaningful participation from industry associations and reducing unnecessary administrative burdens.
Vietnam’s Law on Standards and Technical Regulations serves as the primary legal framework governing the development, management, and enforcement of national standards and technical regulations in the country. The law establishes the responsibilities of government agencies, organisations, and individuals in the standardisation process. It covers a wide range of areas, including product safety, quality control, metrology, and conformity assessment. The law aims to promote the application of standards to support economic development, facilitate trade, and protect consumer interests and public welfare. It also outlines the procedures for developing, revising, and withdrawing national standards and technical regulations to ensure they are aligned with international best practices.
EuroCham remains committed to working closely with the Vietnamese government to ensure that the amended Law on Standards and Technical Regulations supports a thriving and competitive business environment.
