Circular No. 21/2007/TT-BKHCN guiding the development and application of standards

CIRCULAR

Guidelines on the development and application of standards

___________________________

 

BASED ON THE LAW ON STANDARDS AND TECHNICAL REGULATIONS dated June 29, 2006;

Pursuant to Decree No. 54/2003/NĐ-CP dated May 19, 2003 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Science and Technology and Decree No. 28/2004/NĐ-CP dated January 16, 2004 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 54/2003/NĐ-CP;

Pursuant to Decree No. 127/2007/NĐ-CP dated August 1, 2007 of the Government detailing the implementation of some provisions of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations.

The Ministry of Science and Technology guides the development and application of standards 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 planning, drafting, construction, review, and publication of national standards; guides the application of national standards, international standards, regional standards, and foreign standards; guides the development and publication of basic standards.

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.

This Circular applies to ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies (hereinafter referred to as ministries and sectors), organizations, and individuals related to the process of planning, drafting, constructing, reviewing, and publishing national standards; applying national standards, international standards, regional standards, and foreign standards in Vietnam; developing and publishing basic standards.

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

3.1. National standard is a standard developed by the Minister, the head of a ministerial-level agency, or the head of a government agency, reviewed and published by the Ministry of Science and Technology according to the prescribed procedures and formalities.

3.2. National standard field is a group of related national standard objects (for example: transportation field, agriculture field, chemical field, food field, garment field, metallurgy field, etc.). The national standard field is determined according to the international standard classification framework of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

3.3. Acceptance of international standards, regional standards, or foreign standards as national standards is the publication of a national standard with content that is completely equivalent or substantially equivalent with modifications to the content of the corresponding international standard, regional standard, or foreign standard.

3.4. International standard is a standard published by an international standard organization or an international organization operating in the standardization field.

3.5. Regional standard is a standard published by a regional standardization organization or a regional organization operating in the field of standardization.

3.6. Foreign standard is a standard published by a foreign national standard organization or a foreign organization operating in the standardization field (professional associations, research institutes, etc.).

3.7. Basic standard is a standard published by economic organizations, social-professional organizations, state agencies, public institutions, and other organizations for application in their activities.

3.8. Application of standards is the use of standards in management activities, production, business of products, goods, services, processes, environment, and other socio-economic activities.

II. GUIDELINES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL STANDARDS

1. Drafting and approving the overall plan for the development of national standards

1.1. The Ministry of Science and Technology takes the lead and coordinates with relevant ministries, sectors, and organizations to organize the drafting of the overall plan for the development of national standards (hereinafter referred to as the overall plan).

The overall plan must be systematic, synchronized, and consistent with the national socio-economic development strategy; the strategies and plans for the development of various economic and technical sectors and other fields of activity.

The content of the overall plan includes: specialized industries, fields, and objects requiring the development of national standards; the total number of national standards for each specialized industry, field, and object; the implementation timeline; resources to meet the requirements for developing national standards at each stage; measures for implementation.

1.2. The drafting and approval of the overall plan are carried out as follows:

1.2.1. Ministries and sectors, based on the development strategies and plans of their specialized fields, organize the drafting of the proposed plan for the development of national standards within their assigned fields (hereinafter referred to as the specialized field plan) upon the request of the Ministry of Science and Technology and submit it to the General Bureau of Standards, Metrology, and Quality Control.

The specialized planning proposal includes the contents prescribed in Section 1 of Appendix I attached to this Circular.

1.2.2. The General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Management performs the following tasks:

- Drafting the overall planning proposal based on the specialized planning proposals of the Ministries and sectors and the suggestions for planning from organizations and individuals.

The overall planning proposal includes the contents prescribed in Section 2 of Appendix I attached to this Circular;

- Sending the overall planning proposal for comments from the Ministries, sectors, organizations, and individuals concerned, and announcing the request for comments on the website of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Management. The period for soliciting comments on the draft shall be at least thirty days from the date of sending the draft;

- Summarizing and processing comments on the overall planning proposal;

- Taking the lead and coordinating with relevant Ministries and sectors to finalize the overall planning proposal and submit it to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

1.2.3. The Ministry of Science and Technology organizes the examination and approval of the overall planning proposal, and notifies the Ministries and sectors and makes it public on the website of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Management within thirty days from the date of approval of the planning proposal.

1.3. The approved overall planning proposal may be adjusted or supplemented according to needs or changes in national economic and social development strategies and industry development strategies. The procedures for adjusting and supplementing the overall planning proposal are carried out in accordance with Point 1.2 of this Article.

The Minister of Science and Technology decides on the adjustment and supplementation of the overall planning proposal for the construction of national standards.

2. Drafting and Approving Five-Year and Annual Plans for National Standard Construction

2.1. The General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Management takes the lead and coordinates with relevant Ministries and sectors to organize the drafting of five-year plans and annual plans for national standard construction.

The five-year plan for national standard construction must be consistent with the approved overall planning proposal; meet the needs of production and business development, state management requirements, and international integration; and be appropriate to the level of scientific and technological development of the country.

The annual plan for national standard construction must be consistent with the five-year plan. The annual plan includes the contents of new construction, revision, supplementation, replacement, and abolition of national standards.

2.2. Five-Year Plan for National Standard Construction

The contents of the five-year plan for national standard construction include: specific fields and objects that need to establish national standards; types of standards; number of national standards to be established; time frame; budget and estimated budget; proposing agencies and individuals.

The drafting, approval, adjustment, and supplementation of the five-year plan for national standard construction are carried out through the following steps:

2.2.1. Drafting the Five-Year Plan

- In the second quarter of the last year of the five-year plan period, the Ministries, sectors, and organizations draft and send their proposed five-year plans for national standard construction in their respective specialized fields (hereinafter referred to as the specialized five-year plan for national standard construction) for the next five years along with explanatory documents to the General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Management for review and consolidation.

The specialized five-year plan for national standard construction and its explanatory documents include the contents prescribed in Section 1 of Appendix II attached to this Circular.

- Based on the approved overall planning proposal, the General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Management drafts the five-year plan for national standard construction based on the specialized five-year plans for national standard construction of the Ministries, sectors, and organizations.

The five-year plan for national standard construction and its explanatory documents include the contents prescribed in Section 2 of Appendix II attached to this Circular.

2.2.2. Soliciting Opinions and Finalizing the Five-Year Plan

The General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Management performs the following tasks:

- Sending the five-year plan for national standard construction to the Ministries, sectors, organizations, and individuals concerned for comments, and announcing the request for comments widely on the website of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Management. The period for soliciting comments on the draft shall be at least thirty days from the date of sending the draft;

- Summarizing and processing comments on the draft;

- Taking the lead and coordinating with related agencies and organizations to finalize the draft and submit it to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

2.2.3. Approving the Five-Year Plan

- The Ministry of Science and Technology organizes the examination and approval of the five-year plan for national standard construction, notifying the relevant Ministries and sectors and making it public on the website of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Management within thirty days from the date of approval of the plan.

2.2.4. Adjusting and Supplementing the Plan

- The five-year plan for national standard construction may be adjusted or supplemented upon the proposal of the Ministries, sectors, and organizations.

- The adjustment and supplementation of the five-year plan are carried out according to the procedures stipulated in Sections 2.2.1, 2.2.2, and 2.2.3 of this point.

2.3. Annual Plan for National Standard Construction

The contents of the annual plan for national standard construction include: the name of the national standard to be constructed arranged by standard field; the name of the organization drafting the proposal; implementation time; method of drafting the proposal (acceptance of international standards; new construction; revision, supplementation); estimated budget and funding source; proposing agency, organization, or individual; planned dissemination and guidance on application of the standard.

The drafting of the annual plan for national standard construction is carried out through the following steps:

2.3.1. Drafting the Plan

- In the second quarter of each year, based on the five-year plan, the demand for establishing, amending, supplementing, and replacing national standards, the results of periodic reviews of national standards, ministries, sectors, organizations, and individuals submit the proposed plan for establishing national standards for the following year along with the project for establishing national standards for each specific standard subject or group of subjects to the National Standardization Agency.

The proposed plan for establishing national standards for the following year shall be prepared according to the form prescribed in Section 1 of Appendix III attached to this Circular.

The project for establishing national standards shall be prepared according to the form prescribed in Appendix IV attached to this Circular.

- The National Standardization Agency organizes the review of projects for establishing national standards with the participation of representatives from relevant ministries, sectors, and organizations, and prepares the draft plan for establishing national standards for the following year according to the form prescribed in Section 2 and the explanation of establishing national standards according to the content prescribed in Section 3 of Appendix III attached to this Circular.

2.3.2. Soliciting Opinions and Finalizing the Annual Plan Draft

The General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Management performs the following tasks:

- Send the draft plan to relevant ministries, sectors, and organizations, announce it on the website of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Standardization Agency to solicit opinions. The period for soliciting opinions on the draft plan shall be at least thirty days from the date of sending the draft.

- Summarizing and processing comments on the draft;

- Take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and organizations to finalize the draft and submit it to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

2.3.3. Approving the Annual Plan

The Minister of Science and Technology examines and approves the annual plan for establishing national standards in the first quarter of the year preceding the planning year. The Ministry of Science and Technology announces the approved plan to relevant ministries, sectors, and makes it public on the website of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Standardization Agency within fifteen days from the date of approval of the plan.

2.3.4. Implementing the Annual Plan

- Based on the approved annual plan for establishing national standards, the Ministers, Heads of Ministries equivalent to Ministries, and Heads of Government Agencies organize the implementation of the plan.

- Regularly every six months, or upon request of the Ministry of Science and Technology, ministries and sectors report to the Ministry of Science and Technology (National Standardization Agency) on the situation and results of implementing the plan.

- The National Standardization Agency monitors and urges the implementation of the annual plan for establishing national standards; compiles and reports to the Ministry of Science and Technology on the situation and results of implementing the plan; provides guidance on standard drafting procedures; participates in the process of drafting national standard proposals led by ministries and sectors.

2.3.5. Adjusting and Supplementing the Plan

- The annual plan for establishing national standards may be adjusted or supplemented based on written requests from ministries, sectors, and organizations.

- The Ministry of Science and Technology decides on adjustments regarding progress, budget, removal from, or addition to the annual plan for establishing national standards.

- The procedure for adjusting and supplementing the plan for establishing national standards is carried out as follows:

+ Ministries, sectors, organizations, and individuals submit written requests for adjusting and supplementing the annual plan for establishing national standards to the National Standardization Agency for review and compilation.

Requests for adjusting and supplementing the annual plan for establishing national standards must be made before October 1st of each year.

+ The National Standardization Agency organizes the review of adjustment and supplementation requests; compiles and reports to the Ministry of Science and Technology for decision-making; and notifies the adjustment and supplementation of the plan to relevant ministries, sectors, and makes it public on the website of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Standardization Agency.

- In special cases, due to urgent management requirements or production and business needs of enterprises, the procedure and formalities for adjusting and supplementing the plan for establishing national standards are implemented according to the decision of the Minister of Science and Technology.

3. Procedure and Formalities for Establishing, Reviewing, and Publishing National Standards

3.1. Procedure and Formalities for Establishing, Reviewing, and Publishing National Standards for Draft National Standards Organized by Ministries and Sectors (excluding the Ministry of Science and Technology).

The ministry or sector designates subordinate scientific and technological agencies or establishes specialized technical standard committees (hereinafter referred to as the Drafting Organization) to carry out the drafting of draft national standards in accordance with the following steps:

Step 1: Drafting the Draft National Standard

- The Drafting Organization carries out the drafting of the draft and writes the explanatory notes for the draft national standard.

Step 2: Soliciting Opinions and Finalizing the Draft

- The ministry or sector sends the draft national standard to solicit opinions from relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals, and announces the solicitation of opinions on its website and the National Standardization Agency's website. The period for soliciting opinions on the draft shall be at least sixty days from the date of sending the draft.

- The ministry or sector organizes specialized meetings with the participation of relevant parties to discuss and provide comments on the draft.

- The Drafting Organization implements the consolidation and processing of comments to finalize the draft national standard, prepares the draft national standard dossier according to Clause 1 of Article 5 of Decree No. 127/2007/ND-CP dated August 1, 2007 of the Government detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 127/2007/ND-CP), and submits it to the ministry or sector specified in Point 3.1 of this clause for organization of preliminary examination.

- The ministry or sector organizes the preliminary examination of the draft national standard and transfers the draft national standard dossier to the Ministry of Science and Technology for organization of review.

Step 3: Reviewing the Draft National Standard Dossier

- The National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau organizes the review of the national standard draft proposal files submitted for examination by ministries and sectors. In cases where the national standard draft proposal file does not meet the requirements stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 5 of Decree No. 127/2007/NĐ-CP, the National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau requests relevant ministries and sectors to complete the file.

- The National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau establishes an Examination Council to examine the national standard draft according to the provisions set out in Article 18 of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations.

The Examination Council consists of representatives from relevant agencies, organizations, and national technical standard committees, as well as other experts. The Council operates under the principle of collective work, majority voting, and must have at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members present.

- The Examination Council prepares minutes of the examination for the national standard draft with specific conclusions and recommendations, transferring them to the National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau.

Step 4: Announcing the National Standard

- The National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau organizes the review of the examination results and prepares the national standard draft proposal file for approval.

+ In cases where the national standard draft meets the examination requirements, the National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau submits it to the Minister of Science and Technology for consideration and announcement.

+ In cases where the national standard draft does not meet the examination requirements, the National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau transfers the national standard draft proposal file to relevant ministries and sectors for organization of handling and completing the draft.

- The Ministry of Science and Technology reports to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision in cases where ministries and sectors do not agree with the examination opinions.

3.2. Procedures and formalities for drafting, examining, and announcing the national standard for the national standard draft proposed by organizations and individuals.

Based on the proposed draft of organizations and individuals, the National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau organizes the drafting of the national standard draft with the participation of relevant ministries and sectors in related activities such as joining the national technical standards committee, contributing opinions on the national standard draft, and participating in the national standard examination council.

The procedures and formalities for drafting, examining, and announcing the national standard are carried out as follows:

Step 1: Drafting the national standard draft

The national technical standards committee performs the following tasks:

- Establish a working group to compile the national standard draft based on the draft proposed by organizations and individuals;

- Organize the solicitation of opinions and discussions within the national technical standards committee regarding the national standard draft;

- Complete and write explanations for the national standard draft;

- Prepare the national standard draft proposal file for submission to the National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau for review.

Step 2: Soliciting opinions and perfecting the national standard draft

The National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau organizes the implementation of the following tasks:

- Review the national standard draft proposal file submitted by the national technical standards committee to decide on sending the national standard draft for solicitation of opinions;

- Send the national standard draft for solicitation of opinions from relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals, and announce the solicitation of opinions on the website of the National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau. The period for soliciting opinions on the draft is at least sixty days from the date of sending the draft;

- Organize specialized conferences to discuss and contribute opinions on the national standard draft;

- Organize the processing and perfection of the national standard draft and prepare the national standard draft proposal file in accordance with Clause 2 of Article 5 of Decree No. 127/2007/NĐ-CP.

Step 3: Examining the national standard draft

- The National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau organizes the verification of the national standard draft proposal file and establishes an Examination Council to examine the national standard draft according to the provisions set out in Article 18 of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations.

The Examination Council consists of representatives from relevant agencies, organizations, and other related experts. The Council operates under the principle of collective work, majority voting, and must have at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members present.

- The Examination Council prepares minutes of the examination for the national standard draft with specific conclusions and recommendations, transferring them to the National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau.

Step 4: Announcing the National Standard

The National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau prepares the national standard draft proposal file for approval.

- In cases where the national standard draft meets the examination requirements, the National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau submits it to the Minister of Science and Technology for consideration and announcement.

- In cases where the national standard draft does not meet the examination requirements, the National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau organizes the processing and perfection of the national standard draft before submitting it to the Minister of Science and Technology for consideration and announcement.

3.3. Procedures and formalities for drafting, examining, and announcing the national standard for the national standard draft organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau assigns the corresponding national technical standards committee to implement the drafting of the national standard draft.

The procedures and formalities for drafting, examining, and announcing the national standard are carried out as follows:

Step 1: Drafting the national standard draft

The national technical standards committee performs the following tasks:

- Establish a working group to compile the national standard draft;

- Organize the solicitation of opinions and discussions within the national technical standards committee regarding the national standard draft;

- Complete and write explanations for the national standard draft;

- Prepare the national standard draft proposal file for submission to the National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau for review.

Steps 2, 3, and 4 are implemented according to the corresponding provisions in steps 2, 3, and 4 of point 3.2, Clause 3, Section of this document.

4. Presentation and expression of the content of the national standard and storage of the national standard draft proposal file

4.1. The presentation and expression of the content of the national standard are carried out in accordance with TCVN 1-2 and related business guidelines of the National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau.

4.2. The national standard draft proposal file is stored at the National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau in accordance with current regulations on document storage.

5. Periodic review, amendment, supplementation, replacement, and cancellation of the national standard

5.1. Periodic review of the national standard

5.1.1. Annually, the National Standardization Technical Regulations Bureau compiles a list of national standards that need periodic review within three years to be included in the annual plan for drafting national standards.

5.1.2. The General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Control shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant Ministries and sectors to organize the implementation of periodic reviews of national standards according to the established list.

5.1.3. The procedures and processes for periodic reviews of national standards are stipulated as follows:

- The General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Control shall perform the following tasks:

+ Send the list of national standards requiring review to relevant Ministries and sectors for their review.

+ Organize the review of national standards that fall outside the management scope of Ministries and sectors.

The review shall be conducted in accordance with the operational guidelines of the General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Control.

- The results of periodic reviews along with explanatory notes shall be submitted to the General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Control for consolidation and processing, specifically as follows:

+ Check and evaluate the review results of Ministries and sectors, consolidate them into an overall review result, and send it out for comments from relevant Ministries, organizations, and individuals;

+ Consolidate and process feedback, prepare a file on the review results of national standards as the basis for annual plans to develop national standards, and report to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

5.1.4. The files for periodic reviews of national standards include:

- A proposal from the General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Control regarding the review results and recommendations;

- A summary of feedback and opinion letters from related agencies, organizations, and individuals;

- Other related documents (if any).

5.2. Amending, supplementing, and replacing national standards

5.2.1. Amendments, supplements, and replacements of national standards must be included in the annual plan for developing national standards as prescribed in Point 2.3, Clause 2, Section of this Article.

5.2.2. Amendments, supplements, and replacements of national standards shall be carried out in accordance with the procedures and processes specified in Points 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3, Clause 3, Section of this Article.

5.2.3. The outcome of amending, supplementing, and replacing national standards is the decision to publish the amended or supplemented national standard or to publish the new national standard replacing the old one.

5.3. Revoking national standards

5.3.1. The revocation of national standards based on the results of periodic reviews of national standards as prescribed in Point 5.1, Clause 5, Section of this Article shall be implemented as follows:

- The General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Control bases the approved review results to prepare a file requesting the revocation of national standards, submit it to the Ministry of Science and Technology for consideration and decision on publication of the revocation. The file requesting the revocation of national standards includes:

- The national standard being requested for revocation;

- A summary of opinions from relevant Ministries, sectors, organizations, and individuals regarding the revocation of national standards during the review process;

- Other related documents (if any);

- A letter from the General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Control requesting the revocation of specific national standards, accompanied by an explanation.

5.3.2. The revocation of national standards based on requests from Ministries, sectors, organizations, and individuals shall be implemented as follows:

- Ministries, sectors, organizations, and individuals prepare and submit a file requesting the revocation of national standards to the General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Control for examination and organization of assessment. The file requesting the revocation of national standards includes:

+ The national standard being requested for revocation;

+ A request document from the Ministry, sector, organization, or individual;

+ An explanatory note (reasons, legal basis, scientific basis);

+ Opinions from related agencies, organizations, and individuals;

+ Other related documents (if any).

- The General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Control organizes the assessment of the file requesting the revocation of national standards and submits the assessment results to the Ministry of Science and Technology for consideration and decision.

5.3.3. The General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Control shall announce on its electronic news site (website) about national standards that have been published for revocation and publish them in the journal of the General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Control within thirty days from the date the Ministry of Science and Technology publishes the revocation of national standards.

5.4. Files for periodic reviews, amendments, supplements, replacements, and revocations of national standards shall be stored at the General Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Quality Control in accordance with current regulations on document storage.

6. National Standard Symbol

6.1. The national standard symbol consists of the standard number, year of publication, following the abbreviation TCVN, separated by a colon (:).

Example: TCVN 4980:2006 is the symbol of the national standard with the number 4980, published in 2006.

6.2. In cases where the national standard is completely equivalent to an international standard, the standard symbol includes the national standard symbol and the international standard symbol enclosed in parentheses, separated by a space.

Example: TCVN 111:2006 (ISO 15:1998)

The national standard symbol is presented on the cover page as follows:

- Part 1 of the national standard symbol is located above and includes the national standard symbol as prescribed in Point 5.1 of this Article.

- Part 2 of the national standard symbol is located below and includes the full symbol of the accepted international standard.

Example: Symbol TCVN 111:2006

ISO 15:1998

is the symbol of the national standard with the number 111 developed based on the complete acceptance of the international standard ISO 15:1998 and published in 2006.

In special cases, when the national standard is developed based on the complete acceptance of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) management system standards (ISO 9000, ISO 14000, ISO 18000, and other management system standards), the national standard symbol includes the TCVN symbol before, followed by the ISO symbol, then the accepted ISO standard number, and the year of publication of the national standard separated by a colon (:).

Example: Symbol TCVN ISO 14001:2006 is the symbol of the national standard developed based on the complete acceptance of the international standard ISO 14001 on environmental management systems and published in 2006.

6.3. The symbol for a national standard that replaces another includes the number of the replaced national standard, separated by a colon (:), followed by the year of publication of the replacing national standard, placed after the TCVN symbol.

Example: A national standard published in 2006 to replace TCVN 289:2000 is marked as TCVN 289:2006.

In cases where a national standard replaces multiple national standards or part of another national standard, the replacing national standard shall be assigned a new number.

6.4. The symbol for a revised version of a national standard includes the word "SỬA ĐỔI" followed by the revision number and the year of publication, separated by a colon (:), preceding the national standard symbol.

Example: SỬA ĐỔI 1:2006 TCVN 789:2005 is the symbol for the first revision of TCVN 789:2005, published in 2006.

6.5. The symbol and full name of the national standard must be included in the decision on the publication of the national standard.

7. Notification, publication, distribution, and dissemination of national standards

7.1. Notification

The National Standardization Agency notifies the publication, amendment, supplementation, replacement, or cancellation of national standards in magazines, the website of the National Standardization Agency, and other appropriate media within thirty days from the date the Minister of Science and Technology signs the decision on publication.

7.2. Publication and Distribution of National Standards

7.2.1. National standards are published and distributed in paper form and may also be published in electronic form.

7.2.2. Content of amendments and supplements to national standards is published separately until the standard is reprinted.

7.2.3. The National Standardization Agency implements the publication and distribution of national standards within sixty days from the date the Minister of Science and Technology signs the decision on publication.

7.2.4. Ministries and sectors may publish and distribute national standards they have drafted after reaching agreement with the National Standardization Agency.

Other organizations wishing to publish and distribute national standards must obtain the consent of the National Standardization Agency.

7.3. Dissemination of National Standards

7.3.1. The Ministry of Science and Technology (National Standardization Agency) leads and coordinates with relevant ministries and sectors to develop plans for disseminating published national standards.

7.3.2. Ministries and sectors lead and coordinate with related agencies and organizations to disseminate national standards in their respective fields according to approved plans.

7.3.3. Dissemination of national standards is carried out through various forms such as conferences, seminars, training, and other methods.

III. GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING NATIONAL STANDARDS, INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, REGIONAL STANDARDS AND FOREIGN STANDARDS IN VIETNAM

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, REGIONAL STANDARDS AND FOREIGN STANDARDS IN VIETNAM

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, REGIONAL STANDARDS AND FOREIGN STANDARDS IN VIETNAM

1. Methods and Measures for Applying National Standards

1.1. Methods for Applying National Standards

1.1.1 Direct Application

National standards are applied directly without the use of an intermediary document.

1.1.2 Indirect Application

National standards are applied through intermediary documents (regulatory legal documents, technical regulations...) that reference these national standards.

1.2. Measures for Applying National Standards

1.2.1 Promote, disseminate, guide, and train on the application of national standards for relevant entities.

1.2.2 Prioritize the appropriate use of national standards in the development of regulatory legal documents, technical regulations, production, business, services, and other economic and social activities.

1.2.3 Strengthen testing, calibration, inspection, certification, declaration, and recognition activities based on current national standards.

2. Principles, Methods, and Measures for Applying International Standards, Regional Standards, and Foreign Standards

2.1. Principles of Application

2.1.1 International standards, regional standards, and foreign standards are voluntarily applied by all agencies, organizations, and individuals.

2.1.2 The application of international standards, regional standards, and foreign standards must not contravene laws and harm national security, defense, economic and social interests, and other interests.

2.1.3 Encourage the application of the latest versions of international standards, regional standards, and foreign standards.

2.1.4 Ensure the application of international standards, regional standards, and foreign standards in accordance with international treaties to which Vietnam is a party or in bilateral or multilateral agreements between Vietnamese organizations and foreign organizations as stipulated by law.

2.2. Methods of Application

2.2.1 Direct Application

International standards, regional standards, and foreign standards are directly applied in production, business, service provision, trade transactions, and other economic and social activities.

2.2.2 Indirect Application

Agencies, organizations, and individuals can indirectly apply international standards, regional standards, or foreign standards through the implementation of provisions in technical documents, management documents (regulatory legal documents, technical regulations...) that fully or partially incorporate the content of international standards, regional standards, or foreign standards.

2.3. Measures for Application

2.3.1 Increase the acceptance of advanced international standards, regional standards, or foreign standards as national standards or basic standards.

2.3.2 Use international standards, regional standards, and foreign standards as a basis for organizing and implementing conformity assessment activities such as recognition, certification, inspection, testing, and calibration.

2.3.3 Organize research and understanding to apply international standards, regional standards, or foreign standards under Vietnamese conditions; actively participate in the activities of relevant international or regional standardization technical committees.

2.3.4. Develop specific plans with implementation schedules for investing in technology and management to meet the requirements of international standards, regional standards, or foreign standards that are expected to be adopted.

2.3.5. Organize the dissemination and guidance on the application of international standards, regional standards, or foreign standards.

IV. GUIDANCE ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF BASIC STANDARDS

1. Requirements and basis for developing basic standards

1.1. Requirements for basic standards

1.1.1. Basic standards must not conflict with technical regulations and current laws.

1.1.2. Basic standards need to be developed in accordance with the level of scientific and technological progress, meeting management and production business requirements of the entity.

1.2. Basis for developing basic standards

Basic standards are developed based on scientific and technological research results, technical advancements, experience, needs, and practical capabilities of the entity. National standards, international standards, regional standards, or foreign standards are encouraged to be used for development or acceptance as basic standards.

2. Types and methods of developing basic standards

2.1. Types of basic standards

Basic standards may include the following types:

- Technical requirement standards;

- Testing method standards, measurement methods, and calibration standards;

- Labeling, packaging, transportation, and storage standards;

- Process standards;

- Service standards;

- Environmental standards.

Depending on the type of operation, scale, purpose, and internal management requirements, entities can apply the above classification methods or supplement new standard types to appropriately define the classification of standards for their own entity.

2.2. Methods of developing basic standards

Basic standards can be developed according to the following basic methods:

- Accepting national standards, international standards, regional standards, or foreign standards as basic standards;

- Developing new basic standards based on using scientific and technological research results, testing, evaluation, analysis, and experimental results;

- Amending and supplementing existing basic standards.

3. Procedures and processes for developing and announcing basic standards

3.1. Depending on the scale and type of production and business activities of the entity, the procedures and processes for developing and announcing basic standards (hereinafter referred to as TCCS) may include the following steps:

Step 1: Develop a plan for TCCS construction;

Step 2: Draft the TCCS proposal;

Step 3: Organize feedback on the TCCS draft;

Step 4: Organize a specialized conference on the TCCS draft;

Step 5: Process feedback and finalize the TCCS draft;

Step 6: Prepare the TCCS draft file;

Step 7: Review the TCCS draft;

Step 8: Announce the TCCS;

Step 9: Print the TCCS.

3.2. Announcing the TCCS

The head of the entity reviews and decides in writing on the announcement of the TCCS. The TCCS draft file is stored at the entity.

3.3. Content and presentation of basic standards

3.3.1. The code of the basic standard is presented as follows:

- The standard number and year of issuance are separated by a colon (:) and placed after the TCCSv symbol;

- The abbreviated name of the entity issuing the standard is placed after the year of issuance and separated by a slash.

Example: TCCS 27:2006/XXX is the code of the basic standard with number 27, issued by a company with the abbreviated trading name XXX in 2006.

3.3.2. The content of the basic standard should include the following parts:

- Table of contents;

- An introductory section;

- A main section (general part, technical part);

- An additional information section.

The framework, format, and presentation of the content of the basic standard can refer to TCVN 1-2 on the presentation and expression of the content of national standards. 3.3.3. Basic standards need to be presented concisely, clearly, accurately, easily readable, without errors, and without causing confusion or multiple interpretations.

3.3.4. Basic standards can be published individually or in sets of standards grouped by topic or subject matter.

Pages of the TCCS need to be numbered and can be printed as loose sheets for ease of supplementation, cancellation, or replacement of content. Basic standards may have a cover page or not.

3.4. Based on this general guidance, entities organize the development of specific procedures and guidelines for developing and announcing basic standards suitable to the conditions and scale of the entity.

V. IMPLEMENTATION

1. Ministries, sectors, agencies, organizations, and individuals organize the implementation of the development of national standard drafts, basic standard drafts, and related work according to the provisions of this guidance and relevant legal documents.

In cases where the subject of the standard falls within the specialized management scope of ministries and sectors requiring special management requirements or must ensure compliance with international practices, the Ministry of Science and Technology will take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to provide specific guidance on the procedures, methods, development, announcement, presentation, and expression of the content of national standards based on the provisions of this Circular.

Based on point c, Clause 1, Article 20 of Decree No. 127/2007/NĐ-CP, the guidance of this Circular, the Ministry of Defense will develop and issue specific regulations on planning, planning, procedures, and processes for developing, reviewing, and announcing national standards in the military and defense field applicable only within the Ministry of Defense after obtaining the agreement of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

2. This Circular takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

3. During the implementation of this Circular, if there are any issues, agencies, organizations, and individuals shall promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Science and Technology for study and modification. /