Circular No. 06/2025/TT-BTNMT Issuing National Technical Regulations on Industrial Wastewater

CIRCULAR
Issuing national technical regulations on industrial effluent

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Pursuant to the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations dated June 29, 2006;

Pursuant to the Environmental Protection Law dated November 17, 2020;

Pursuant to Decree No. 08/2022/NĐ-CP dated January 10, 2022 of the Government detailing implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Environmental Protection and Decree No. 05/2025/NĐ-CP dated January 6, 2025 of the Government amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 08/2022/NĐ-CP dated January 10, 2022 of the Government detailing certain provisions of the Law on Environmental Protection;

Pursuant to Decree No. 127/2007/NĐ-CP dated August 1, 2007 of the Government detailing implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations and Decree No. 78/2018/NĐ-CP dated May 16, 2018 of the Government amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 127/2007/NĐ-CP dated August 1, 2007 of the Government detailing implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations;

Pursuant to Decree No. 68/2022/NĐ-CP dated September 22, 2022 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

At the proposal of the Director of the Environmental Pollution Control Department and the Head of the Science and Technology Department;

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment issues this Circular on issuing the National Technical Regulation on Industrial Effluent.

Article 1. Attached herewith is the National Technical Regulation on Industrial Effluent (QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT).

Article 2. Effective Date

2. During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties, agencies, organizations, and individuals are requested to promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Science and Technology (Telecommunications Agency) for guidance or consideration and resolution./.

2. The following Circulars shall cease to be effective as provided for in Article 3 on transitional provisions and Article 4 on the implementation timeline of this Circular:

a) Circular No. 47/2011/TT-BTNMT dated December 28, 2011 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment stipulating national technical regulations on the environment;

b) Circular No. 11/2015/TT-BTNMT dated March 31, 2015 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment promulgating national technical regulations on the environment;

c) Circular No. 12/2015/TT-BTNMT dated March 31, 2015 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment promulgating national technical regulations on the environment;

d) Circular No. 13/2015/TT-BTNMT dated March 31, 2015 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment promulgating national technical regulations on the environment;

đ) Circular No. 76/2015/TT-BTNMT dated December 31, 2015 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment promulgating national technical regulations on the environment;

e) Circular No. 77/2015/TT-BTNMT dated December 31, 2015 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment promulgating national technical regulations on the environment;

g) Circular No. 31/2017/TT-BTNMT dated September 29, 2017 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment promulgating national technical regulations on the environment.

3. The following national technical regulations shall cease to be effective as provided for in Article 3 on transitional provisions and Article 4 on the implementation timeline of this Circular:

a) QCVN 25:2009/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on effluent from solid waste landfill sites (issued together with Circular No. 25/2009/TT-BTNMT dated November 16, 2009 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment stipulating national technical regulations on the environment);

b) QCVN 28:2010/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on medical effluent (issued together with Circular No. 39/2010/TT-BTNMT dated December 16, 2010 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment stipulating national technical regulations on the environment);

c) QCVN 29:2010/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on effluent from fuel storage facilities and service stations (issued together with Circular No. 39/2010/TT-BTNMT dated December 16, 2010 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment stipulating national technical regulations on the environment);

d) QCVN 52:2017/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on industrial effluent from steel production (issued together with Circular No. 78/2017/TT-BTNMT dated December 29, 2017 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment promulgating national technical regulations on the environment).

4. From the date this Circular takes effect, where discharge zones have not yet been determined, Column B as specified in Table 1 and Table 2 of QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT shall apply.

Article 3. Transitional Provisions

1. Facilities that have commenced operation, investment projects that have received approval decisions on environmental impact assessment reports or have had complete and valid files accepted by competent authorities for environmental impact assessment report review, issuance of environmental permits, or registration before the date this Circular takes effect may continue to apply national technical regulations on effluent according to their respective types of production, business, and services and local government regulations (including local technical regulations on effluent) until December 31, 2031.

2. In cases where competent authorities issue regulations related to changes in the function of receiving water bodies, entities subject to Clause 1 of this Article shall implement according to the timelines set forth by the competent authorities when issuing such regulations.

Article 4. Implementation timeline

1. From the date this Circular takes effect, new investment projects (including new projects, expanded scale projects, increased capacity projects submitting applications for environmental impact assessment report review, issuance of environmental permits, or registration after the date this Circular takes effect) must comply with the provisions of QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT.

2. As of January 1, 2032, cases stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 3 of this Circular must meet the requirements set forth in QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT.

3. It is encouraged that cases stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 3 of this Circular adopt the provisions of QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT from the date this Circular takes effect.

State-owned enterprises that have been assigned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to conduct offshore wind power project surveys before the effective date of this Circular shall continue to implement according to the assigned documents; any new matters arising after the effective date of this Circular shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of this Circular.

1. Ministries, agencies at the level of ministries, People's Committees at all levels, Provincial Departments of Natural Resources and Environment, and relevant organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

2. During the implementation of this Circular, if any difficulties arise, relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals should promptly reflect them in writing to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for consideration and resolution./.

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM

Independence - Freedom - Happiness

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QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT

AMENDMENT 1:2025 QCVN 07:2023/BXD
ON INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENT

National Technical Regulation on Industrial Effluent

HANOI - 2025

QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT

Foreword

QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT was compiled by the Environmental Pollution Control Department, reviewed by the Science and Technology Department, and approved by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment pursuant to Circular No. ……/2025/TT-BTNMT dated……month……year 2025.

QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT replaces the following standards:

QCVN 25:2009/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on effluent from solid waste landfill sites;

QCVN 28:2010/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on medical effluent;

QCVN 29:2010/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on effluent from fuel storage facilities and service stations;

QCVN 40:2011/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on industrial effluent;

QCVN 01-MT:2015/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on wastewater from preliminary processing of natural rubber;

QCVN 11-MT:2015/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on wastewater from industrial processing of aquatic products;

QCVN 12-MT:2015/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on wastewater from paper and pulp industry;

QCVN 13-MT:2015/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on wastewater from textile dyeing industry;

QCVN 60-MT:2015/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on wastewater from fuel ethanol production;

QCVN 63:2017/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on wastewater from cassava starch processing;

QCVN 52:2017/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on wastewater from steel production industry;

AMENDMENT 1:2025 QCVN 07:2023/BXD
ON INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENT

National Technical Regulation on Industrial Effluent

Chapter 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1. Scope of Application

1.1.1. This regulation specifies the permissible limit values for pollution parameters in industrial wastewater when discharged into receiving water bodies.

1.1.2. This regulation does not apply to oil and gas field discharge water from offshore facilities; livestock wastewater; domestic sewage and urban wastewater.

1.2. Applicability

This regulation applies to state agencies, organizations, and individuals (hereinafter referred to collectively as organizations and individuals) related to the discharge of industrial wastewater into receiving water bodies.

1.3. Explanation of Terms

In this regulation, the following terms are understood as follows:

1.3.1. Domestic wastewater is wastewater generated from human activities such as eating, bathing, laundry, and personal hygiene.

1.3.2. Industrial wastewater is wastewater generated from production, business, and service activities specified in Column 2 of Appendix 2 of this regulation, from concentrated production, business, and service areas, and industrial clusters.

1.3.3. Column A, Column B, and Column C (discharge zones) in Table 1 and Table 2 of this regulation are defined as follows:

1.3.3.1. Column A specifies the permissible limit values for pollution parameters in wastewater when discharged into receiving water bodies intended for potable water supply or for environmental water quality management and improvement purposes as Level A in Tables 2 and 3 of QCVN 08:2023/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on Surface Water Quality or according to the regulations of the Provincial People's Committee.

1.3.3.2. Column B specifies the permissible limit values for pollution parameters in wastewater when discharged into receiving water bodies for environmental water quality management and improvement purposes as Level B in Tables 2 and 3 of QCVN 08:2023/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on Surface Water Quality or according to the regulations of the Provincial People's Committee.

1.3.3.3. Column C specifies the permissible limit values for pollution parameters in wastewater when discharged into receiving water bodies that do not fall under the cases stipulated in Sections 1.3.3.1 and 1.3.3.2 of this regulation.

An industrial wastewater discharger is an investment project, production facility, business, service provider, concentrated production, business, and service area, or industrial cluster that discharges industrial wastewater into receiving water bodies.

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Chapter 2. TECHNICAL PROVISIONS

2.1. Permissible limit values for COD (or TOC), BOD, and TSS in wastewater
1. Units and local public security agencies; officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of the People's Public Security Forces performing the task of industrial emission testing.

Based on the provisions in Section 1.3.3 of this regulation and the discharge flow rate, the permissible limit values for COD (or TOC), BOD, and TSS in industrial wastewater when discharged into receiving water bodies are specified in Table 1.

Table 1. Permissible limit values for COD (or TOC), BOD, and TSS

2.2. Permissible limit values for other pollution parameters in industrial wastewater

Based on the provisions in Section 1.3.3 of this regulation, the permissible limit values for characteristic pollution parameters according to types of production, business, and services in industrial wastewater when discharged into receiving water bodies are specified in Table 2.

Table 2. Permissible limit values for characteristic pollution parameters according to types of production, business, and services

QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT

QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT

Chapter 3. METHODS FOR DETERMINATION

3.1. The sampling method and techniques for wastewater and determination of pollution parameters in wastewater shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions in Appendix 1 of this regulation.

In case a pollution parameter allows multiple testing methods (analysis) and requires an arbitration method to resolve disputes, complaints, or lawsuits, the first method listed in Column 3 of Appendix 1 of this regulation shall be used.

3.2. Approval of other testing methods (not cited in Column 3 of Appendix 1 of this regulation) includes: newly issued TCVN standards; national standards of one of the G7 industrialized countries, European Standardization Organization (CEN/EN), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards, member states of the European Union, South Korea, or International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards, or standard water and wastewater testing methods (SMEWW).

Chapter 4. MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS

4.1. Pollution parameters and permissible limit values for pollution parameters in industrial wastewater of investment projects and wastewater dischargers must be stated in the Decision approving the results of the environmental impact assessment report, Environmental Permit, and environmental registration documents including:

4.1.1. pH, total coliform, and pollution parameters specified in Table 1 of this regulation.

4.1.2. Characteristic pollution parameters according to types of production, business, and services specifically detailed in Column 4 of Appendix 2 of this regulation.

4.1.3. Chlorine and chloroform in cases where the investment project or industrial wastewater discharger uses chlorine or chlorine-based disinfectants.

4.1.4. One or more pollution parameters from Table 2 of this regulation.

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4.1.5. New characteristic pollution parameters not specified in Tables 1 and 2 of this regulation, in cases where the investment project or facility has new technologies or equipment generating new characteristic pollution parameters.

4.2. For investment projects and facilities with new technologies or equipment generating new characteristic pollution parameters not specified in Tables 1 and 2 of this regulation, the permissible limit values for those pollution parameters shall be applied according to the national environmental protection standards of one of the G7 industrialized countries.

4.3.1. Cooling water shall only be monitored for temperature; pollution parameters Chloroform, and Chlorine (in cases where Chlorine or chlorine-based disinfectants are used). The permissible limit values for temperature, Chloroform, and Chlorine in cooling water are specified in Table 2 of this Standard.

4.3.2. Aquaculture wastewater shall only control the following pollution parameters: COD (or TOC), BOD5, TSS, pH, total coliforms, total Nitrogen, total Phosphorus. Pollution parameters: pH, total coliforms, total Nitrogen, total Phosphorus shall apply the permissible limit values specified in Table 2 of this Standard; pollution parameters: BOD5, COD (or TOC), TSS shall apply the permissible limit values according to discharge flow rate F ≤ 2,000 m³/day as specified in Table 1 of this Standard, regardless of the discharge flow rate.

4.3.3. In cases where the quality of incoming water for aquaculture exceeds the parameter values specified in Tables 1 and 2 of this Standard, the pollution parameter values in the wastewater discharged into receiving waters shall not exceed the incoming water parameter values at the water extraction facility serving aquaculture. Sampling for assessing the quality of incoming water and wastewater discharged into receiving waters shall be conducted simultaneously.

4.4. Discharging wastewater into receiving waters shall be considered compliant with and consistent with this Standard when the monitoring and analysis results of pollution parameters do not exceed the permissible limit values specified in Tables 1 and 2 of this Standard; and do not exceed the permissible limit values according to national environmental protection standards of one of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized countries in cases where new characteristic pollution parameters arise as specified in Section 4.1.5 of this Standard.

4.5. The method for evaluating compliance and consistency with this Standard shall be carried out through monitoring and analyzing wastewater samples before discharging them into receiving waters.

4.6. Monitoring and analyzing pollution parameters specified in Tables 1 and 2 of this Standard to provide information and data to state management agencies must be performed by organizations that have been issued a Certificate of Qualification for Environmental Monitoring Services in accordance with the law. Monitoring and analyzing new characteristic pollution parameters as specified in Section 4.1.5 of this Standard shall be carried out by organizations that have been issued a Registration Certificate for Testing Activities in accordance with Decree No. 107/2016/NĐ-CP dated July 1, 2016 of the Government on Conditions for Business in Conformity Assessment Services. The use of automatic continuous wastewater monitoring results shall be carried out in accordance with the law.

4.7. The evaluation results of compliance and consistency with this Standard shall serve as the basis for state management agencies to consider and handle in accordance with the law.

4.8. Domestic wastewater and livestock wastewater, when mixed with industrial wastewater, shall be managed as industrial wastewater in accordance with this Standard.

QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT

4.9. Domestic wastewater, if collected and treated separately from industrial wastewater, shall be managed in accordance with the National Technical Regulation on Domestic Wastewater and Urban Wastewater from Concentrated Residential Areas.

4.10. Wastewater generated from production, business, and service activities in urban areas and concentrated residential areas, when connected to the urban wastewater collection and treatment system, must comply with the requirements set by the project investor, manager, and operator of the urban wastewater treatment system or local government regulations.

4.11. Wastewater from production, business, and service facilities in concentrated production, business, and service areas, industrial clusters, when connected to the centralized wastewater collection and treatment system, must meet the requirements of the project investor and developer of the infrastructure in these areas.

4.12. Control of radioactive activity in wastewater shall be carried out in accordance with the laws on atomic energy.

5. RESPONSIBILITIES OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS

5.1. The project investor and industrial wastewater discharger shall ensure that the values of pollution parameters do not exceed the permissible limit values specified in Tables 1 and 2 of this Standard.

5.2. The project investor and responsible entity shall determine pollution parameters in industrial wastewater based on the principles specified in Section 4.1 of this Standard, based on the following grounds: Information about the type of production, business, and services; raw materials, materials, fuels, chemicals used; production technology, waste treatment technology, and list of pollution parameters that may arise (proposed in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report Review Application, Environmental Permit Issuance Application, Amendment, Renewal).

5.3. The competent authority reviewing the Environmental Impact Assessment Report and issuing the environmental permit shall specify the pollution parameters to be controlled based on the proposal of the project investor and entity in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report Review Application, Environmental Permit Issuance Application, Amendment, Renewal. If other pollution parameters exceeding the permissible limit values specified in Table 2 of this Standard are discovered, they must be controlled additionally as required.

6. IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION

6.1. The People's Committee of the province shall be responsible for reviewing and adjusting local environmental technical standards already promulgated regarding industrial wastewater to comply with the law, local socio-economic development conditions, and this Standard.

6.2. State management agencies for environmental protection shall be responsible for guiding and inspecting the implementation of this Standard.

6.3. In cases where the documents and provisions cited in this Standard are amended, supplemented, or replaced, the new documents and provisions shall apply.

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ANNEX 1

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Appendix 2

Characteristic pollution parameters of types of production, business, and services

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- Types of production, business, and services are classified according to the Industry Code specified in Decision No. 27/2018/QĐ-TTg dated July 6, 2018 of the Prime Minister promulgating the Vietnam Economic Classification System.

- Types of production, business, and services under economic industry codes at a lower level than those specified in Column (3) of this Appendix shall apply characteristic pollution parameters similar to those for types of production, business, and services under the economic industry codes specified in Column (3) of this Appendix.

- Type number 54, which is not listed in Column (3) of this Appendix, includes other types of production, business, and services that do not fall within the aforementioned economic industry codes and other activities, except for those types of business and services already regulated in the National Technical Regulations on domestic wastewater and urban wastewater from concentrated residential areas./.