Circular No. 20/2026/TT-BCA amends and supplements certain provisions of Circular No. 51/2022/TT-BCA dated November 9, 2022, issued by the Minister of Public Security guiding the procedures and formalities for inspecting compliance with laws on the environment, natural resources, food safety; inspecting means, objects, locations related to crimes and administrative violations concerning the environment, natural resources, and food safety.

CIRCULAR

Amending and supplementing certain provisions of Circular No. 51/2022/TT-BCA dated November 9, 2022 issued by the Minister of Public Security guiding the procedures and formalities for inspecting the implementation of laws on the environment, natural resources, food safety; inspecting vehicles, objects, locations related to criminal offenses and administrative violations concerning the environment, natural resources, and food safety

On the basis of the Law on Handling Administrative Violations No. 15/2012/QH13 amended and supplemented by Law No. 67/2020/QH14 and Law No. 88/2025/QH15;

On the basis of the Law on Environmental Protection No. 72/2020/QH14;

On the basis of the Ordinance on Environmental Police No. 10/2014/UBTVQH13 amended and supplemented by Ordinance No. 09/2025/UBTVQH15;

On the basis of Decree No. 105/2015/NĐ-CP dated October 20, 2015 of the Government detailing the implementation of some articles of the Ordinance on Environmental Police amended and supplemented by Decree No. 157/2024/NĐ-CP dated December 16, 2024 and Decree No. 184/2025/NĐ-CP dated July 1, 2025;

On the basis of Decree No. 08/2022/NĐ-CP dated January 10, 2022 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of some articles of the Law on Environmental Protection amended and supplemented by Decree No. 05/2025/NĐ-CP dated January 6, 2025;

On the basis of Decree No. 02/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 18, 2025 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Public Security amended and supplemented by Decree No. 11/2025/NĐ-CP dated July 1, 2025;

Pursuant to the proposal of the Director of the Environmental Crime Prevention Bureau;

The Minister of Public Security promulgates this Circular amending and supplementing certain provisions of Circular No. 51/2022/TT-BCA dated November 9, 2022 issued by the Minister of Public Security guiding the procedures,

formalities for inspecting the implementation of laws on the environment, natural resources, food safety; inspecting vehicles, objects, locations related to criminal offenses and administrative violations concerning the environment, natural resources, and food safety.

Article 1. Amending and supplementing Clause 4 of Article 4

"4. During the process of implementing the inspection decision, if the position and duties of the person issuing the inspection decision as prescribed in Clause 2 of Article 7 and Clause 2 of Article 8 of Decree No. 105/2015/NĐ-CP dated October 20, 2015 of the Government detailing the implementation of some articles of the Ordinance on Environmental Police, amended and supplemented by Decree No. 157/2024/NĐ-CP dated December 16, 2024 and Decree No. 184/2025/NĐ-CP dated July 1, 2025 (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 105/2015/NĐ-CP) change such that they no longer have the authority as prescribed, then the person replacing the position and duties of that person (based on the appointment, transfer decision or work assignment document of the competent authority, and the handover record in cases where work must be handed over according to regulations) shall be responsible for continuing to direct the implementation of the inspection decision; if the person issuing the inspection decision as prescribed in Article 10 of Decree No. 105/2015/NĐ-CP, then the head of that person's unit shall be responsible for continuing to direct the implementation of the inspection decision (hereinafter referred to as the "replacement person")".

Article 2. Amending and supplementing Article 5 "Article 5. Rights and responsibilities of agencies, organizations, and individuals related Agencies, organizations, and individuals related to the application of inspection regulations under Article 7, Article 8 of Decree No. 105/2015/NĐ-CP and Article 163 of Decree No. 08/2022/NĐ-CP dated January 10, 2022 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of some articles of the Law on Environmental Protection, amended and supplemented by Decree No. 05/2025/NĐ-CP dated January 6, 2025 (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 08/2022/NĐ-CP) shall strictly comply with the inspection decision of the authorized person and relevant laws; they have the right to propose, lodge complaints, and report according to the law against decisions and actions of agencies and authorized persons during the application of laws on inspecting the implementation of laws on the environment, natural resources, food safety, inspecting vehicles, objects, locations related to criminal offenses and administrative violations concerning the environment, natural resources, and food safety, if there is evidence that such decisions and actions are contrary to the law".

Article 1. Amending and supplementing Clause 4 of Article 4

“4. During the implementation of the inspection decision, if the position and duties of the person issuing the inspection decision, as stipulated in Clause 2 of Article 7 and Clause 2 of Article 8 of Decree No. 105/2015/ND-CP dated October 20, 2015 of the Government detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the Environmental Police Ordinance, have been amended and supplemented by Decree No. 157/2024/ND-CP dated December 16, 2024 and Decree No. 184/2025/ND-CP dated July 1, 2025 (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 105/2015/ND-CP), change such that they no longer have the authority as prescribed, then the person replacing the position and duties of the aforementioned person (based on the appointment, transfer decision or work assignment document of the competent authority, handover record in cases where work handover is required according to regulations) shall be responsible for continuing to direct the implementation of the inspection decision; if the person issuing the inspection decision stipulated in Article 10 of Decree No. 105/2015/ND-CP, then the head of the unit of that person shall be responsible for continuing to direct the implementation of the inspection decision (hereinafter referred to as "the replacement")”.

Article 2. Amending and supplementing Article 5

“Article 5. Rights and responsibilities of agencies, organizations, and individuals related to the application of inspection regulations

Agencies, organizations, and individuals related to the application of inspection regulations stipulated in Article 7, Article 8 of Decree No. 105/2015/ND-CP and Article 163 of Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP dated January 10, 2022 of the Government detailing the implementation and guidance on the enforcement of certain provisions of the Law on Environmental Protection, which has been amended and supplemented by Decree No. 05/2025/ND-CP dated January 6, 2025 (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP), shall strictly comply with the inspection decisions of authorized persons and relevant laws; they have the right to make recommendations, complaints, and reports according to the law regarding decisions and actions of agencies and authorized persons during the enforcement of laws on inspections of compliance with environmental protection, natural resources, food safety laws, inspections of vehicles, objects, locations related to crimes, administrative violations concerning the environment, natural resources, food safety, if there is evidence that such decisions and actions are contrary to the law”.

Article 3. Amend and supplement Point b Clause 1 Article 7

“b) Regarding the objects to be inspected: Record necessary information and characteristics to identify the objects being inspected (for each type of object such as means, items, locations). In cases where the location to be inspected is a place of residence, request the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune where the location is situated to consider, decide and implement according to the provisions of laws on handling administrative violations.”

Article 4. Replace the forms attached to Circular No. 51/2022/TT-BCA dated November 9, 2022, issued by the Minister of Public Security guiding the procedures and formalities for inspecting compliance with laws on the environment, natural resources, food safety; inspecting means, items, and locations related to crimes and administrative violations concerning the environment, natural resources, and food safety.

1. Replace Form of Authorization Letter (Form No. 01) with the Form of Authorization Letter issued together with this Circular.

2. Replace Form of Decision to Inspect Compliance with Laws on Natural Resources and Food Safety (Form No. 02) with the Form of Decision to Inspect Compliance with Laws on Natural Resources and Food Safety issued together with this Circular.

3. Replace Form of Decision to Inspect Means Related to Crimes and Administrative Violations Concerning the Environment, Natural Resources, and Food Safety (Form No. 03) with the Form of Decision to Inspect Means Related to Crimes and Administrative Violations Concerning the Environment, Natural Resources, and Food Safety issued together with this Circular.

4. Replace Form of Decision to Inspect Items Related to Crimes and Administrative Violations Concerning the Environment, Natural Resources, and Food Safety (Form No. 04) with the Form of Decision to Inspect Items Related to Crimes and Administrative Violations Concerning the Environment, Natural Resources, and Food Safety issued together with this Circular.

5. Replace Form of Decision to Inspect Locations Related to Crimes and Administrative Violations Concerning the Environment, Natural Resources, and Food Safety (Form No. 05) with the Form of Decision to Inspect Locations Related to Crimes and Administrative Violations Concerning the Environment, Natural Resources, and Food Safety issued together with this Circular.

6. Replace Form of Inspection Decision Announcement Record (Form No. 06) with the Form of Inspection Decision Announcement Record issued together with this Circular.

7. Replace Form of Inspection Record for Compliance with Laws on the Environment, Natural Resources, and Food Safety (Form No. 07) with the Form of Inspection Record for Compliance with Laws on the Environment, Natural Resources, and Food Safety issued together with this Circular.

8. Replace Form of Inspection Record for Means Related to Crimes and Administrative Violations Concerning the Environment, Natural Resources, and Food Safety (Form No. 08) with the Form of Inspection Record for Means Related to Crimes and Administrative Violations Concerning the Environment, Natural Resources, and Food Safety issued together with this Circular.

9. Replace Form of Inspection Record for Items Related to Crimes and Administrative Violations Concerning the Environment, Natural Resources, and Food Safety (Form No. 09) with the Form of Inspection Record for Items Related to Crimes and Administrative Violations Concerning the Environment, Natural Resources, and Food Safety issued together with this Circular.

10. Replace Form of Inspection Record for Locations Related to Crimes and Administrative Violations Concerning the Environment, Natural Resources, and Food Safety (Form No. 10) with the Form of Inspection Record for Locations Related to Crimes and Administrative Violations Concerning the Environment, Natural Resources, and Food Safety issued together with this Circular.

11. Replace Form of Request for Extension of Inspection (Form No. 11) with the Form of Request for Extension of Inspection issued together with this Circular.

12. Replace Form of Decision on Extension of Inspection (Form No. 12) with the Form of Decision on Extension of Inspection issued together with this Circular.

13. Replace Form of Inspection Conclusion (Form No. 13) with the Form of Inspection Conclusion issued together with this Circular.

14. Replace Form of Record of Case Registration (Form No. 14) with the Form of Record of Case Registration issued together with this Circular.

Article 5. Implementation Provisions

1. This Circular takes effect from March 1, 2026.

2. The Environmental Crime Prevention Police Department shall be responsible for monitoring, inspecting, and urging the implementation of this Circular.

3. Heads of units under the Ministry, Directors of Provincial Public Security Departments shall be responsible for implementing this Circular.

During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties, local public security agencies shall report to the Ministry of Public Security (through the Environmental Crime Prevention Police Department) for timely guidance./.