The workshop is part of a nationwide series of consultation workshops across the Northern, Central, and Southern regions that commenced on March 18, 2024, gathering representatives from ministries, central and local government agencies, domestic and international experts, and enterprises operating in the chemical sector in the Northern region.

The workshop on March 19, 2024, attracted widespread interest from state regulatory bodies, experienced technical specialists, and major industrial enterprises engaged in chemical manufacturing, trading, and downstream utilization. Notable attendees included representatives from the General Department of Customs; key corporations such as Vietnam National Chemical Group (Vinachem), Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin), and Vinacomin - Mining Chemical Industry Holding Corporation Limited; as well as Samsung Electronics Vietnam Co., Ltd., TOTO Vietnam Co., Ltd., Petrolimex Chemical Co., Ltd., and Duc Giang Chemicals Group JSC.

Delegates engaged in active and in-depth discussions centered around four key policy groups in the draft Law on Chemicals (amended), specifically:

- Policy 1: Sustainable development of the chemical industry into a modern, foundational industrial sector.

- Policy 2: Comprehensive chemical management throughout the entire life cycle.

- Policy 3: Management of hazardous chemicals in products.

- Policy 4: Enhancing the efficacy of chemical safety assurance.

Several pivotal topics received extensive analysis, with delegates presenting constructive proposals reflecting rigorous research, dedication, and a shared commitment to building a modern chemical industry and regulatory framework suited to the demands of this new development phase.

Accordingly, the chemical industry constitutes a foundational industrial pillar, contributing significantly to overarching industrial development. Empirical practice indicates that chemicals play an indispensable role and are present in nearly all economic and industrial manufacturing activities.

However, the chemical sector is intrinsically characterized by capital-intensive projects, substantial workforces, extended operational lifecycles, and inherent risks of incidents or chemical releases impacting human health and the environment. As a result, several local authorities have adopted policies discouraging chemical investment projects, leaving prospective investors facing challenges and hesitation. Consequently, stable, transparent, and attractive incentive mechanisms are imperative to effectively stimulate capital investment across the chemical sector.

At the workshop, broad consensus emerged that regulating products containing hazardous chemicals is critical to protecting consumer health and alleviating environmental treatment burdens. Delegates agreed that adopting a post-market control (post-audit) regulatory approach—as proposed in the draft—aligns with international regulatory trends while reducing corporate compliance costs. Nonetheless, technical standards and regulations for products containing hazardous chemicals must be defined clearly to streamline customs management, supported by a network of accredited analytical testing laboratories capable of rigorous verification. Delegates also suggested studying and supplementing export regulations for banned chemicals to ensure all real-world operational scenarios are thoroughly covered.

Identifying and classifying whether specific commodities are chemicals or chemical products subject to regulatory oversight poses significant complexities, especially for non-specialized authorities. Therefore, to facilitate import-export monitoring and minimize customs clearance time and costs for businesses, the draft legislation and its guiding statutory instruments must clearly designate the specific HS codes for all regulated chemicals.

Delegates also discussed incorporating provisions on chemical security; chemical safety training; chemical consultancy; and safety buffer distance regulations to facilitate project deployment for investors. Specifically, safety distances should be framed around risk assessments, permitting the adoption of appropriate engineering solutions to reduce required setback distances, while explicitly assigning regulatory responsibilities for establishing, managing, and maintaining these setback zones outside facility boundaries.

Furthermore, many experts called for establishing specific regulatory frameworks and criteria for organizations and individuals offering chemical engineering and project construction consultancy services. Currently, the Ministry of Construction only issues general construction practicing certificates for industrial, light industrial, and heavy industrial works, without dedicated credentials for the chemical discipline. Given the highly specialized technical nature and process hazards of chemical projects, dedicated standards for chemical engineering consultancy are essential.

In addition, because chemicals often have multi-purpose, cross-sector applications, the amended Law on Chemicals must establish unambiguous boundaries regarding the jurisdictions of state management agencies. Delineating ministerial remits will ensure that all operations involving hazardous chemicals are strictly governed, while preventing regulatory overlaps so that any given chemical activity is overseen by a single lead authority.

Speaking at the workshop, leaders of the Vietnam Chemicals Agency highly appreciated the professional dedication and substantive contributions of delegates, organizations, and individuals in refining the draft Law on Chemicals (amended). The drafting agency's standing committee will synthesize and thoroughly review these inputs to formulate the most effective and viable management mechanisms.

Under Resolution No. 95/NQ-CP dated July 7, 2023, the Government approved the proposal to formulate the Law on Chemicals (amended) and recommended that the National Assembly Standing Committee include the draft Law on Chemicals (amended) in the 2024 Law and Ordinance Formulation Program.

Upon reviewing the Government's proposal and the legislative working agenda, the National Assembly Standing Committee issued Resolution No. 41/2023/UBTVQH15 adding the draft Law on Chemicals (amended) to the 2024 Law and Ordinance Formulation Program, to be submitted to the National Assembly for preliminary consideration at its 8th Session (October 2024).

Pursuant to the National Assembly Standing Committee’s Resolution, on January 23, 2024, the Prime Minister signed and promulgated Decision No. 90/QD-TTg assigning presiding drafting agencies and submission deadlines for draft laws. Under this decision, the Ministry of Industry and Trade was designated to lead the drafting of the Law on Chemicals (amended), with submission to the Government scheduled for June 2024 and to the National Assembly Standing Committee in August 2024.