Decision No. 08/2019/QĐ-TTg stipulates the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the General Department of Standards, Metrology, and Quality Control under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Pursuant to …;

Regulations on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the General Department of Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control under the Ministry of Science and Technology

Pursuant to the Law on the Organization of the Government dated June 19, 2015;

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

Pursuant to the Law on Product Quality and Goods Quality dated November 21, 2007;

Pursuant to the Law on Metrology dated November 11, 2011;

Pursuant to Decree No. 123/2016/ND-CP dated September 1, 2016 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Pursuant to Decree No. 95/2017/ND-CP dated August 16, 2017 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Science and Technology;

Pursuant to the proposal of the Minister of Science and Technology;

The Prime Minister issues this Decision to stipulate the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the General Department of Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Article 1. Position and Functions

1. The General Department of Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control is an organization under the Ministry of Science and Technology, performing the function of advising and assisting the Minister of Science and Technology in state management and enforcement of laws on standardization, metrology, quality control throughout the country, including standards and technical regulations; metrology; productivity; product and commodity quality; commodity labeling; product codes and barcodes; conformity assessment; national notifications and responses regarding technical barriers to trade; national quality awards; organizing and implementing related public services according to the provisions of the law.

2. The General Department of Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control has legal personality, its own seal with the National Emblem, a separate account at the State Treasury, and its headquarters located in Hanoi City.

b) Draft five-year and annual socio-economic development plans for the province; major economic and social balances for the province; draft five-year and annual plans, programs, projects, measures to organize and implement tasks related to socio-economic development, finance-budget, planning-investment, and other tasks within the scope of state management of the Department of Finance as prescribed by law;

1. Submit to the Minister of Science and Technology for submission to the Government and the Prime Minister:

a) Draft laws, ordinances, draft resolutions of the National Assembly and the Standing Committee of the National Assembly; draft decrees of the Government, draft decisions and directives of the Prime Minister concerning standards and technical regulations; metrology; productivity; product and commodity quality; commodity labeling; product codes and barcodes; conformity assessment; national notifications and responses regarding technical barriers to trade; national quality awards;

b) Strategies, programs, projects, and important national plans concerning standards and technical regulations; metrology; productivity; product and commodity quality; commodity labeling; product codes and barcodes; conformity assessment; national notifications and responses; national quality awards.

2. Submit to the Minister of Science and Technology for approval or decision:

a) Plans, programs, projects, drafts of circulars, and documents concerning standards and technical regulations; metrology; productivity; product and commodity quality; commodity labeling; product codes and barcodes; conformity assessment; national notifications and responses; national quality awards;

b) Announce national standards; issue national technical regulations within the scope of authority;

c) National measurement standards, designate organizations to maintain national standards.

3. Organize publicity, dissemination, and education on laws concerning standards and technical regulations; metrology; productivity; product and commodity quality; commodity labeling; product codes and barcodes; conformity assessment; national notifications and responses; national quality awards.

4. Implement legal regulatory documents, strategies, plans, programs, projects concerning standards and technical regulations; metrology; productivity; product and commodity quality; commodity labeling; product codes and barcodes; conformity assessment; national notifications and responses; national quality awards after they have been approved or issued.

5. Issue professional guidance documents concerning standards and technical regulations; metrology; productivity; product and commodity quality; commodity labeling; product codes and barcodes; conformity assessment; national notifications and responses; national quality awards and other individual documents as prescribed by law.

6. Regarding standards and technical regulations:

a) Manage the system of standards and technical regulations of Vietnam;

b) Organize the development, guidance on application, and implementation of national standards and national technical regulations within the assigned management area;

c) Review and announce national standards; guide the construction and review of national technical regulations developed by ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies; provide opinions on the construction and issuance of local technical regulations as assigned by the Minister of Science and Technology;

d) Guide the construction of local technical regulations; guide the construction and announcement of basic standards; guide the business of constructing and applying standards and technical regulations;

đ) Organize the dissemination and guidance on the application of international standards, regional standards, and foreign standards in Vietnam;

e) Organize participation in the development of international standards and regional standards as prescribed by law;

g) Organize reviews, and advise the Minister of Science and Technology to amend, supplement, replace, or revoke national standards and national technical regulations announced or issued by the Minister of Science and Technology;

h) Serve as the focal point for managing the national database on national standards and national technical regulations; implement registration acceptance and publication of technical regulation directories; publish national standards and national standard directories;

i) Manage, guide, and organize the implementation of the application of management systems and improvement tools in the activities of administrative agencies, organizations, and enterprises;

7. Regarding metrology:

a) Manage the establishment, maintenance, preservation, use, development, and application of the measurement standard system; research, deployment, application, development, production of measuring instruments, standards, and products according to the law;

b) Organize the implementation of the establishment, maintenance, preservation, use, development, and application of national measurement standards in the assigned areas;

c) Guide the business of building the measurement standard system of ministries, sectors, localities, and enterprises;

d) Organize and manage metrology for measuring instruments, measurement methods, prepackaged goods quantities, metrological standards; issue and apply technical criteria for the professional capacity of organizations providing metrology services;

đ) Organize, manage and implement verification, calibration, testing activities for measuring instruments, metrological standards; issue Vietnamese metrology technical documents, verification procedures, calibration, testing procedures for measuring instruments, metrological standards;

e) Register and certify the provision of verification, calibration, testing services for measuring instruments, metrological standards; designate organizations for verification, calibration, testing of measuring instruments, metrological standards; certify metrological standards, reference materials; certify and issue metrology verifier cards;

g) Approve samples of domestically produced or imported measuring instruments;

h) Manage, organize and implement certification of compliance with quantitative marking on prepackaged goods labels;

i) Assist the Ministry of Science and Technology in leading and coordinating with relevant agencies to guide and conduct state inspections on metrology for measuring instruments, measurement methods, prepackaged goods quantities, metrological standards, verification, calibration, testing activities as prescribed;

k) Assist the Ministry of Science and Technology in leading and coordinating with ministries, sectors, localities, associations related to organize and implement innovation, development of metrology activities, enhance national metrology infrastructure capacity, support enterprises to improve competitiveness and international integration;

8. On product quality and goods:

a) Lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to organize and implement state management of product and goods quality in production, export, import, circulation in the market and during use according to laws and the division of responsibilities by the Minister of Science and Technology;

b) Organize, guide, direct the Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control Agency to carry out surveys on goods quality circulating in the market; warn consumers and propose management measures for products and goods that do not meet quality requirements;

c) Implement national programs and projects on productivity and quality of products and goods;

d) Lead the inspection of domestic product and goods quality in production, goods circulating in the market, exported and imported goods, and goods in use under the responsibility of the Ministry of Science and Technology;

đ) Organize activities to award National Quality Awards; manage the activity of awarding product and goods quality awards by organizations and individuals as prescribed by law;

e) Organize and manage state affairs on goods labeling, classify products and goods; organize the implementation, research and application of labeling technology;

9. On conformity assessment with standards and technical regulations:

a) Assist the Ministry of Science and Technology in unified management and guidance of conformity assessment activities with standards and technical regulations, announcement of conformity, announcement of compliance, recognition activities of conformity assessment organizations;

b) Organize the registration of activities of conformity assessment organizations, recognition activities of conformity assessment organizations in the managed fields according to the law;

c) Designate conformity assessment organizations to perform testing, certification, appraisal, and inspection activities in accordance with national technical regulations issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology and as prescribed by law; guide the designation of conformity assessment organizations by ministries, sectors, and localities;

d) Lead or coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to implement international treaties, agreements, mutual recognition agreements on conformity assessment results in the fields of standards and technical regulations, metrology, productivity, product and goods quality, goods labeling, and barcode numbers according to the division of responsibilities by the Minister of Science and Technology;

đ) Guide the implementation of conformity assessment methods according to national technical regulations issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology;

e) Advise and evaluate quality management systems; manage training activities for product certification experts, system certification; issue, suspend or revoke the validity of certificates of conformity assessment organization registration activities, decisions to designate conformity assessment organizations in the managed fields according to the law;

10. On code numbers and barcodes:

a) Organize the implementation, research and application of code number and barcode technology and related technologies; register, issue, and manage barcode database systems;

b) Organize technical, scientific and technological service activities in the field of code numbers and barcodes; exploit barcode databases;

c) Provide professional guidance on code number and barcode activities;

11. Lead the organization to implement supervision, inspection, control and handling of violations of laws in the fields of metrology; productivity; product and goods quality; goods labeling; code numbers and barcodes; conformity assessment; national inquiry and response; National Quality Award according to the law. Resolve complaints and denunciations and implement anti-corruption according to the law. Coordinate with relevant agencies to organize supervision, inspection, control and handling of violations of laws in production and sale of fake, prohibited goods, goods that do not meet quality requirements and other fraudulent trade practices related to standardization and technical regulation fields;

12. Uniformly manage the operation of the network of national inquiry and response agencies regarding technical barriers to trade;

13. Organize research, application, and implementation of service activities related to national standards, international standards in the fields of mechanical engineering, welding technology, non-destructive testing technology, automation technology according to the law and international practices.

14. Implement international cooperation on standards, technical regulations; measurement; productivity; product and commodity quality; commodity labels; barcode numbers; conformity assessment; national notification and inquiry; national quality awards in accordance with the provisions of the law; represent Vietnam at international and regional organizations in these fields pursuant to the decision of the competent state agency.

15. Train and enhance professional skills for agencies, organizations, enterprises on standards, technical regulations; measurement; productivity; product and commodity quality; commodity labels; barcode numbers; conformity assessment; national notification and inquiry; national quality awards.

16. Guide and create conditions for associations, organizations, individuals to participate in standardization and technical regulation activities; measurement; productivity; product and commodity quality; commodity labels; barcode numbers; conformity assessment; national notification and inquiry; national quality awards.

17. Manage and organize the implementation of projects where the General Department of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control is the principal investor in accordance with the provisions of the law.

18. Organize scientific research, application of scientific and technological progress, technology transfer consulting; information dissemination and consultation on standards, technical regulations; measurement; productivity; product and commodity quality; commodity labels; barcode numbers; conformity assessment; national notification and inquiry; national quality awards.

19. Organize service activities in the field of standards, technical regulations; measurement; productivity; product and commodity quality; commodity labels; barcode numbers; conformity assessment; national notification and inquiry; national quality awards in accordance with the provisions of the law.

20. Implement administrative reform in the field of standards, technical regulations; measurement; productivity; product and commodity quality; commodity labels; barcode numbers; conformity assessment; national notification and inquiry; national quality awards in accordance with the objectives and contents of the administrative reform program and plan approved by the competent authority.

21. Manage, guide, organize the implementation and inspect the application of advanced quality management systems in the operations of state administrative agencies.

22. Manage organizational structure, civil servant and public officer staffing, and number of employees; implement salary systems, appointments, reappointments, transfers, rotations, dismissals, resignations, secondments, retirements, terminations, rewards, and disciplinary actions for civil servants, public officers, and workers under the jurisdiction of the General Department of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control in accordance with the law and the delegation of the Minister of Science and Technology.

23. Manage finance, assets, and other resources assigned in accordance with the law and the delegation of the Minister of Science and Technology.

24. Perform other tasks and powers delegated by the Minister of Science and Technology and as provided by law.

Article 3. Organizational Structure

1. Standards Division.

2. Measurement Division.

3. Conformity Assessment and Compliance Division.

4. Planning and Finance Division.

5. International Cooperation Department;

6. Organization and Cadre Department.

7. Legal Affairs and Inspection Division.

8. Office.

9. Product and Commodity Quality Management Bureau (abbreviated as GS1 VietNam).

10. National Barcode Center (abbreviated as QUATEST 1).

11. National Technical Standards and Quality Testing Center 1 (abbreviated as QUATEST 2).

12. National Technical Standards and Quality Testing Center 2 (abbreviated as QUATEST 3).

13. National Technical Standards and Quality Testing Center 3 (abbreviated as QUATEST 3).

14. Conformity Assessment Certification Center (abbreviated as QUACERT).

15. Vietnam Standard and Quality Institute (abbreviated as VSQI).

16. Vietnam Metrology Institute (abbreviated as VMI).

17. Vietnam Productivity Institute (abbreviated as VNPI).

18. Standards and Metrology Quality Training Center (abbreviated as QTC).

19. Standards and Metrology Quality Information and Communication Center (abbreviated as ISMQ).

20. Small and Medium Enterprise Development Support Center 1 (abbreviated as SMEDEC 1).

21. Small and Medium Enterprise Development Support Center 2 (abbreviated as SMEDEC 2).

22. Vietnam-Germany Technology Transfer Center (abbreviated as HWC).

23. National Notification and Inquiry Office on Standards and Metrology Quality (abbreviated as TBT VietNam).

The organizations specified from Clause 1 to Clause 9 of this Article are administrative bodies assisting the Director-General in performing state management functions. The organizations specified from Clause 10 to Clause 23 of this Article are public service units directly subordinate to the General Department of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control. The General Department's Office shall be organized into four departments; the Product and Commodity Quality Management Bureau shall be organized into five departments and two sub-bureaus.

The Director-General of the General Department of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control shall specify the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structures of the organizations under the General Department within the scope of their delegated authority in accordance with the law and the delegation of the Minister.

The Minister of Science and Technology decides to establish scientific and technological organizations self-financing recurrent expenses under the General Department of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control in accordance with the law.

Article 4. Leadership of the General Department

1. The General Department of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control has a Director-General and not more than four Deputy Director-Generals.

2. The Director-General and Deputy Director-Generals are appointed, dismissed, or removed from office by the Minister of Science and Technology in accordance with the law.

3. The Director-General of the General Department of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control is responsible before the Minister of Science and Technology and the law for all activities of the General Department. Deputy Director-Generals are responsible before the Director-General and the law for the areas of work they are assigned.

Article 5. Transitional Provisions

The Ministry of Science and Technology develops a plan to convert the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Support Center 1 and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Support Center 2 into joint-stock companies during the period 2018-2020.

Article 6. Effectiveness and Responsibility for Implementation

1. This Decision takes effect from April 15, 2019 and replaces Decision No. 27/2014/QĐ-TTg dated April 4, 2014 of the Prime Minister stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the General Department of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control.

The Minister of Science and Technology, the Ministers, the Heads of ministerial-level agencies, the Heads of government agencies, the Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees under the central government, and the Director of the General Department of Standards, Measurement, and Quality Control shall be responsible for implementing this Decision./.