Circular No. 08/2006/TT-BCN guides the procedures and formalities for affixing energy-saving labels on energy-consuming products.

CIRCULAR

Guidelines on the procedure and process for affixing energy-saving labels on energy-using products.

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Pursuant to Decree No. 55/2003/NĐ-CP dated May 28, 2003 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Industry.

Pursuant to Decree No. 102/2003/NĐ-CP dated September 3, 2003 of the Government on the efficient and effective use of energy.

Pursuant to Decision No. 80/2006/QĐ-TTg dated April 14, 2006 of the Prime Minister approving the Energy Saving Program for the period 2006-2010.

The Ministry of Industry provides guidelines on the procedure and process for affixing energy-saving labels on energy-using products as follows.

This technical regulation sets out technical requirements, testing methods, sampling procedures; management requirements; responsibilities of organizations and individuals producing, trading, and importing cigarettes.

Thông tư này quy định chi tiết khoản 4 Điều 38 Luật Thủy sản số 18/2017/QH14 đã được sửa đổi, bổ sung tại điểm c khoản 21 Điều 14 Luật số 146/2025/QH15.

This Circular guides the procedures for registration, evaluation, issuance of certificates, and affixing energy-saving labels on energy-using products.

Thông tư này áp dụng đối với tổ chức, cá nhân có liên quan đến hoạt động kinh doanh đối tượng thủy sản nuôi chủ lực trên lãnh thổ Việt Nam.

Manufacturers and importers of energy-consuming products listed in the Catalogue of energy-using products selected for labeling have the right to request the Ministry of Industry to evaluate and issue energy-saving certificates for their products if they meet the technical standards set by the Ministry of Industry.

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals producing, importing energy-using products, and related organizations and individuals.

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

a) The Catalogue of energy-using products selected for labeling is a list of products that meet the evaluation criteria specified in Appendix 1 of this Circular and will be updated annually according to the Decision of the Minister of Industry.

b) An energy-saving label is a label affixed to energy-efficient energy-consuming products to provide information to consumers when making purchases. Energy-saving labels come in two forms:

- An energy-saving product confirmation label is affixed to goods circulating in the market when these products meet or exceed the energy consumption standards set by the Ministry of Industry for each period. The design of the energy-saving product confirmation label is detailed in Part A, Appendix 4 of this Circular.

- An energy-saving product comparison label is affixed to goods circulating in the market to provide consumers with information to compare the energy consumption levels of labeled products with similar products on the market. The label clearly states information about energy consumption levels and specific regulations to help users choose products with lower energy consumption compared to similar products; the format of the energy-saving comparison label is detailed in Part B, Appendix 4 of this Circular.

c) Affixing energy-saving labels is a voluntary labeling method and does not fall within the scope regulated by Decree No. 89/2006/NĐ-CP dated August 30, 2006 of the Government on Product Labeling and related legal regulations.

d) IECEE Schemes are certification methods of the International Electrotechnical Commission for testing electrical and electronic equipment.

đ) ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) is the International Network of Recognized Testing Laboratories.

e) APLAC (Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) is the Asia-Pacific Network of Recognized Testing Laboratories.

II. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

A. Testing Units

The following laboratories will be considered and designated to test energy-using products to serve as the basis for certifying energy-saving products:

1. Specialized laboratories recognized according to the VILAS system standards or laboratories recognized by accreditation organizations that have signed mutual recognition agreements (ILAC and APLAC).

2. Laboratories not recognized according to the VILAS system standards but possessing the necessary capabilities to test energy consumption indicators, organized and evaluated by the Ministry of Industry, and designated to perform testing functions for energy-using products to affix energy-saving labels, specifically as follows:

a) Professional capacity:

- Having testing staff trained in energy engineering at the college level or higher and having at least two years of testing experience;

- Having laboratory managers graduated from university-level energy engineering programs and having at least three years of testing experience.

b) Equipment and testing standards:

- Testing equipment must operate well, undergo maintenance, calibration, and verification as required, and be accurate enough to conduct testing indicators;

- Having complete testing equipment and methods suitable for the testing standards in Appendix 1 of this Circular and other standards supplemented by the Ministry of Industry according to each period;

- Documentation on standards and testing procedures must be in Vietnamese.

c) Establish and maintain a record management system including:

- Training records for testing staff;

- Records tracking calibration, maintenance, and repair of testing equipment;

- Retention records of testing results.

3. The Ministry of Industry recognizes the testing results of laboratories certified under the IECEE Schemes system.

4. Principles for certifying energy-saving products

a) Testing typical samples to assess the compliance of commercial products with energy consumption requirements.

b) Testing of typical samples must be conducted at designated laboratories.

c) Post-certification monitoring of products at production facilities, storage warehouses, or on the market.

B. Procedure for Certifying Energy-Saving Products

1. Preparation.

Enterprises producing or importing goods included in the Catalogue of energy-using products selected for labeling who wish to obtain certification and affix energy-saving product confirmation labels or comparison labels should follow the steps below:

a) Sample Collection: Enterprises collect typical samples of goods according to prescribed standards and send them to designated laboratories for testing.

b) Testing: The designated laboratory is responsible for testing the product according to the corresponding standards and issuing a test result certificate matching the type of tested product to the enterprise.

c) Preparing technical documentation: The technical documentation prepared by the enterprise includes the following documents:

- Product design documentation;

- Technical parameters of the goods, particularly those related to energy consumption indicators;

- Declaration of product quality standards and declaration of goods meeting the energy-saving product standards;

- Product labels;

- Other certificates and certifications regarding quality management systems, product quality, and technical characteristics (if available).

2. Registration

The application for certification of energy-saving products submitted to the Ministry of Industry includes:

a) An application form for certification of energy-saving products, specifying whether the enterprise applies for comparative labeling or confirmation labeling of energy-saving products (in accordance with Form 2 attached);

b) Technical documentation (as specified in point c, clause 1, section herein);

c) Original test result certificate issued by the unit specified in Part A, Section II or a valid copy thereof, not exceeding six months from the date of issuance.

The registration procedures and detailed forms for energy-consuming product labeling are published on the Ministry of Industry's website (http://www.moi.gov.vn).

3. Review and Evaluation of Applications

The review and evaluation of registration applications shall be carried out in the following steps:

a) Within five working days from the date of receipt of the application for certification of energy-saving products, the Ministry of Industry will examine the compliance of the documents in the application with the requirements for energy-saving product certification. If the application is compliant, it will proceed to technical assessment; if not, the Ministry will notify the enterprise in writing to complete the necessary supplements.

b) Technical Assessment: Within five working days from the date the application for labeling certification of energy-saving products is transferred for technical assessment, the Ministry of Industry will assess the conformity of the test result certificate with the technical documentation and evaluation criteria; determine the level of energy consumption achieved by the product compared to published standards; and evaluate the product quality relative to the average of similar products on the market. In case the assessment results are satisfactory, the enterprise will be granted an energy-saving product certification certificate.

In case the assessment results are unsatisfactory, the Ministry of Industry will notify the enterprise in writing, specifying the reasons for non-compliance, allowing the enterprise ninety days from the date of notification to take corrective measures. Beyond this period, the application for certification of energy-saving products by the enterprise becomes invalid, and the enterprise must reapply from the beginning.

C. Energy-Saving Product Certification Certificate

1. Enterprises granted the energy-saving product certification certificate are permitted to affix the confirmation label or comparative label of energy-saving products according to the type of energy-saving products certified by the Ministry of Industry.

2. The energy-saving product certification certificate is issued to enterprises with a maximum validity period of three years.

3. The format of the energy-saving product certification certificate is stipulated in Appendix 3 of this Circular.

D. Affixing Energy-Saving Labels

1. After being granted the energy-saving product certification certificate, enterprises must print the energy-saving label at the printing facility designated by the Ministry of Industry and affix the confirmation label or comparative label of energy-saving products on the energy-using products registered according to the energy-saving level determined in the energy-saving product certification certificate.

2. The energy-saving product label must be printed according to the format prescribed by the Ministry of Industry in Appendix 4 of this Circular.

3. The energy-saving product label printed and affixed on the product or packaging must have appropriate size, not causing confusion, obscuring, or affecting the information on the product label as required by law.

4. Upon expiration of the validity period of the energy-saving product certification certificate, enterprises may not continue to affix energy-saving product labels on their products and must reapply for certification.

E. Re-certification

1. Enterprises must reapply for certification when the energy-saving product certification certificate expires; when evaluation standards change; or when there are changes in the energy consumption levels of certified goods.

2. Products that meet the requirements set forth in this Circular upon re-certification will be granted a new energy-saving product certification certificate. The content and procedures for re-certification are conducted similarly to the initial certification.

III. POST-CERTIFICATION INSPECTION, SUPERVISION, SUSPENSION, AND REVOCATION OF ENERGY-SAVING PRODUCT CERTIFICATION

1. Post-certification monitoring, reporting, and inspection

a) Every six months, enterprises that have been certified and labeled with energy-saving products are responsible for preparing reports on the quantity and types of products that have been produced and labeled with energy-saving labels and submitting them to the Ministry of Industry;

b) Regularly or irregularly, the Ministry of Industry will proactively or coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to conduct inspections of typical samples of enterprise products. Except in cases of complaints or suspected issues with energy consumption indicators of the products, the inspection of product samples shall not exceed once a year. The cost of testing typical samples of energy consumption indicators of products shall be borne by the enterprise;

c) The Ministry of Industry organizes guidance and supervision of the implementation of energy-saving product testing at designated laboratories;

d) The Ministry of Industry organizes inspections and supervision of activities related to printing and supplying energy-saving labels at designated printing units.

đ) The on-site inspection must be carried out in accordance with the relevant laws on inspection and supervision.

2. Suspension of the Energy-Saving Product Certification Certificate

The Ministry of Industry shall issue a decision to suspend the Energy-Saving Product Certification Certificate when the enterprise commits any of the following acts:

a) Affixing false energy-saving product labels or affixing energy-saving product labels without having been issued an Energy-Saving Product Certification Certificate;

b) Printing incorrectly and using energy-saving labels for purposes other than those intended, which may cause confusion for customers;

c) Misrepresenting the level of energy savings granted by the Ministry of Industry on the energy-saving label;

d) Using energy-saving labels for products that have not been registered and certified as energy-saving products;

đ) Continuing to affix energy-saving labels on products after the certification certificate has expired;

e) Making changes to the design and manufacturing of products that reduce energy-saving criteria but failing to re-register with the Ministry of Industry;

g) Failing to report to the Ministry of Industry the number and types of energy-saving labels affixed to products released from production;

h) Printing energy-saving labels at printing facilities not designated by the Ministry of Industry.

An enterprise whose Energy-Saving Product Certification Certificate has been suspended shall not continue to affix energy-saving labels on its products until it has completed corrective measures and remedied the violations.

The suspension decision shall be simultaneously sent to the violating enterprise and the Vietnam Standardization and Consumer Protection Association.

3. Revocation of the Energy-Saving Product Certification Certificate

The Ministry of Industry shall issue a decision to revoke the Energy-Saving Product Certification Certificate when the enterprise commits any of the following acts:

a) Violating the provisions set forth in Clause 2 of this Section two or more times;

b) Deceiving in submitting test results and registration files for products meeting energy-saving standards for energy-saving product certification;

c) When an enterprise is issued a decision by the Ministry of Industry to revoke the Energy-Saving Product Certification Certificate, the enterprise must immediately recall or take measures to isolate its energy-saving labeled products circulating in the market, cease affixing energy-saving labels, submit a report to the Ministry of Industry, and propose solutions to remedy the situation.

The decision to revoke the Energy-Saving Product Certification Certificate shall be simultaneously sent to the violating enterprise, the Vietnam Standardization and Consumer Protection Association, and published in mass media.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

1. Organization of Implementation

The Department of Science and Technology shall undertake the following tasks:

a) Annually, develop and submit to the Minister of Industry for promulgation the supplementary list of selected products for labeling, evaluation standards, designated testing laboratories, and other minimum requirements for products such as quality, aesthetics, and functionality;

b) Coordinate with the General Administration of Standards, Metrology, and Quality Control to develop and propose to the Ministry of Science and Technology for issuance of Vietnamese standards on evaluation and procedures for evaluating products meeting energy-saving standards; annually, develop and submit to the Minister of Industry for promulgation decisions on reviewing and supplementing the list of selected products for energy-saving labeling, related standards, and technical regulations;

c) Organize the acceptance of applications for energy-saving product certification;

d) Coordinate with competent agencies to resolve complaints and disputes related to registration, evaluation, certification, issuance of certificates, and affixing energy-saving labels;

đ) Inspect and supervise the activities of designated testing laboratories for technical criteria of energy-saving products;

e) Organize inspections and supervision of the activities of designated energy-saving label printing facilities;

g) Publish detailed information about the registration procedures and specific forms for affixing energy consumption product labels on the Ministry of Industry's website (http://www.moi.gov.vn).

2. Responsibilities of enterprises

a) Enterprises must regularly implement and maintain measures to ensure that their products meet the registered and confirmed energy-saving usage standards in the certification certificate;

b) When there are changes in design affecting energy consumption, enterprises are responsible for reporting to the Ministry of Industry the changed technological criteria, impacts on energy consumption criteria of the product, and re-registering for certification according to the provisions in Part D, Chapter II of this Circular;

c) Upon discovering that their goods do not comply with corresponding evaluation standards, enterprises must proactively report to the Ministry of Industry and take corrective measures for goods being produced or imported, goods circulating in the market, and goods in use.

3. Responsibilities of designated energy-saving label printing units

Designated energy-saving label printing facilities shall compile data reports every six months to the Ministry of Industry: names of ordering units, quantities and types of energy-saving labels printed and supplied to customers.

4. Effective Date

This Circular shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

During implementation, if there are any difficulties or new issues arising, organizations and individuals are advised to report to the Ministry of Industry for timely resolution./.