Circular No. 28/2012/TT-BKHCN stipulates on conformity declaration and compliance declaration and methods for conformity assessment with technical standards and technical regulations.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on conformity declaration, compliance declaration, and methods for conformity assessment

assessment for conformity with technical standards and regulations

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

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

Based on Decree No. 132/2008/NĐ-CP dated December 31, 2008 of the Government detailing implementation of certain provisions

Pursuant to Decree No. 132/2008/NĐ-CP dated December 31, 2008 of the Government detailing implementation of certain provisions of the Product Quality Law;

Pursuant to Decree No. 28/2008/NĐ-CP dated March 14, 2008, promulgated by the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Science and Technology;

Considering the proposal of the General Director of the Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control Department;

The Minister of Science and Technology promulgates regulations on conformity declaration, compliance declaration, and methods for conformity assessment with standards and technical regulations.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates regulations on conformity declaration, compliance declaration, and methods for conformity assessment with standards and technical regulations.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to organizations, individuals, and management agencies related to conformity assessment activities, conformity declaration, and compliance declaration.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

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

1. Declaration of compliance with standards It refers to the act of organizations and individuals declaring products, goods, services, processes, and environments as conforming to corresponding standards.

2. Declaration of compliance with technical regulations It refers to the act of organizations and individuals declaring products, goods, services, processes, and environments as conforming to corresponding technical regulations.

3. An organization conducting conformity assessment activities It refers to an organization that has registered its field of certification activity (hereinafter referred to as a registered certification body) according to the provisions of Circular No. 08/2009/TT-BKHCN dated April 8, 2009, issued by the Minister of Science and Technology guiding requirements, procedures, and formalities for registering fields of conformity assessment activities (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 08/2009/TT-BKHCN) and Circular No. 10/2011/TT-BKHCN dated June 30, 2011, issued by the Minister of Science and Technology amending and supplementing certain provisions of Circular No. 08/2009/TT-BKHCN (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 10/2011/TT-BKHCN).

4. A certification body conducts conformity certification activities based on technical regulations. It refers to a registered certification body according to the provisions of Clause 3 of this Article and designated by the competent authority to conduct compliance certification activities (hereinafter referred to as a designated certification body).

5. A testing organization conducts product quality testing activities. It refers to a testing organization that has registered its field of testing activities (hereinafter referred to as a registered testing organization) according to the provisions of Circular No. 08/2009/TT-BKHCN and Circular No. 10/2011/TT-BKHCN.

Article 4. Conformity Mark, Compliance Mark

1. Conformity mark and use of conformity mark

The conformity mark shall be defined by the registered certification body regarding its shape, structure, expression method, and usage for the certified object and must meet the following basic requirements:

a) Clear and not easily confused with other marks;

b) Must fully display the symbol of the corresponding standard used as the basis for conformity certification.

In cases where organizations and individuals declare conformity based on self-assessment results, they do not need to define the shape, structure, expression method, and cannot use the conformity mark.

2. Compliance mark and use of compliance mark

a) The compliance mark has a shape and size as prescribed in Appendix I of this Circular;

b) The compliance mark can be directly applied to products, goods, or packaging, or included in technical documentation or on labels attached to products, goods at visible and readable positions;

c) The compliance mark must ensure it is not easily erased or removed and reattached;

d) The compliance mark may be enlarged or reduced but must maintain the correct ratio and basic size of the compliance mark prescribed in Appendix I of this Circular and be recognizable to the naked eye;

e) The compliance mark must be designed and expressed in the same color, easily recognizable.

Article 5. Methods for assessing conformity

1. The assessment of conformity shall be carried out according to one of the following methods:

a) Method 1: Testing typical samples;

b) Method 2: Testing typical samples and production process evaluation; monitoring through testing samples taken from the market;

c) Method 3: Testing typical samples and production process evaluation; monitoring through testing samples taken at the place of production combined with production process evaluation;

d) Method 4: Testing typical samples and production process evaluation; monitoring through testing samples taken at the place of production and on the market combined with production process evaluation;

đ) Method 5: Testing typical samples and production process evaluation; monitoring through testing samples taken at the place of production or on the market combined with production process evaluation;

e) Method 6: Evaluation and supervision of management systems;

g) Method 7: Testing and evaluating batches of products or goods;

h) Method 8: Testing or inspecting entire products or goods.

2. The contents, procedures, and principles for using the methods of assessing conformity are specified in Appendix II of this Circular.

Article 6. Application of methods for assessing conformity

1. The method of assessing conformity to standards applicable to each type of product, goods, service, process, or environment is selected by the certification organization or the entity or individual announcing conformity according to the methods of assessing conformity stipulated in Article 5 of this Circular. The chosen method of assessing conformity must be appropriate for the object being assessed to ensure the reliability of the assessment results.

2. The method of assessing conformity to technical regulations applicable to specific products, goods, services, processes, or environments is prescribed in the corresponding technical regulations.

3. The method of assessing conformity must be specifically recorded on the certificate of conformity to technical regulations.

Chapter II

ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONFORMITY

Article 7. Principles of announcing conformity

1. The subject of announcing conformity is the product, goods, service, process, or environment specified in the corresponding standard. Announcing conformity is a voluntary activity.

2. Announcing conformity to the corresponding standard is based on:

a) The result of conformity certification by a registered certification organization or;

b) The result of self-assessment of conformity by the entity or individual announcing conformity.

Testing for conformity assessment purposes must be conducted at a registered testing organization.

Article 8. Procedure for announcing conformity

The announcement of conformity is carried out in the following steps:

1. Step 1: Assessing the conformity of the subject of the announcement of conformity with the corresponding standard (hereinafter referred to as conformity assessment).

a) The conformity assessment is carried out by a registered certification organization (third party) or by the entity or individual announcing conformity (first party).

The conformity assessment is carried out according to the method of assessing conformity stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 6 of this Circular;

b) The result of the conformity assessment specified in point a of Clause 1 of this Article serves as the basis for the entity or individual announcing conformity.

2. Step 2: Registering the announcement of conformity dossier at the Provincial or Municipal Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control Agency where the entity or individual producing the goods has registered their business or trade registration (hereinafter referred to as the Agency).

Article 9. Documents for Registration of Conformity Declaration

Organizations and individuals making a conformity declaration shall prepare two (2) sets of conformity declaration documents, of which one (1) set shall be submitted directly or sent via postal service to the Inspection Unit, and the other (1) set shall be retained by the organization or individual. The components of the documents are specified as follows:

1. In cases where the conformity declaration is based on the results of conformity assessment by a registered certification body (third party), the conformity declaration documents shall include:

a) A copy of the conformity declaration (in accordance with Model 2. CBHC/HQ stipulated in Appendix III of this Circular);

b) A certified true copy of the document proving the production and business activities of the organization or individual making the conformity declaration (Business Registration Certificate or Business License or Business Household Registration Certificate or Investment Certificate or Decision on Establishment or Other documents as prescribed by law);

c) A certified true copy of the standard used as the basis for the declaration;

d) A certified true copy of the Conformity Certificate issued by the registered certification body along with the conformity mark sample.

During the review of the documents, if necessary, the original documents will be examined or additional certified copies will be requested.

2. In cases where the conformity declaration is based on the self-assessment results of the producing and trading organizations or individuals (first party), the conformity declaration documents shall include:

a) A copy of the conformity declaration (in accordance with Model 2. CBHC/HQ stipulated in Appendix III of this Circular);

b) A certified true copy of the document proving the production and business activities of the organization or individual making the conformity declaration (Business Registration Certificate or Business License or Business Household Registration Certificate or Investment Certificate or Decision on Establishment or Other documents as prescribed by law);

c) A certified true copy of the standard used as the basis for the declaration;

d) In cases where the organization or individual making the conformity declaration has not been granted a certificate of conformity to management system standards (ISO 9001, ISO 22000, HACCP...) by a registered certification body, the conformity declaration documents of the organization or individual must include the production process accompanied by a quality control plan that has been established and implemented (in accordance with Model 1. KHKSCL stipulated in Appendix III of this Circular) and a management system monitoring plan;

đ) In cases where the organization or individual making the conformity declaration has been granted a certificate of conformity to management system standards (ISO 9001, ISO 22000, HACCP...) by a registered certification body, the conformity declaration documents of the organization or individual must include a certified true copy of the valid certificate of conformity to management system standards;

e) A conformity assessment report (in accordance with Model 5. BCĐG stipulated in Appendix III of this Circular) accompanied by a certified true copy of the test result form within twelve (12) months from the date of submission of the conformity declaration documents by a registered testing organization.

During the review of the documents, if necessary, the original documents will be examined or additional certified copies will be requested.

Article 10. Handling of Conformity Declaration Documents

Conformity declaration documents submitted to the Inspection Unit shall be handled as follows:

1. For conformity declaration documents that are incomplete as prescribed in Article 9 of this Circular, within three (3) working days from the date of receipt of the conformity declaration documents, the Inspection Unit shall notify in writing to the organization or individual making the conformity declaration to supplement the required documents as prescribed in Article 9 of this Circular. If the conformity declaration documents are not supplemented fully within fifteen (15) working days from the date the Inspection Unit sends the notification, the Inspection Unit may cancel the handling of these documents.

2. For conformity declaration documents that are complete as prescribed in Article 9 of this Circular, within five (5) working days from the date of receipt of the conformity declaration documents, the Inspection Unit must organize the verification of the validity of the conformity declaration documents and handle them as follows:

a) In cases where the conformity declaration documents are complete and valid, the Inspection Unit shall issue a Notification of Receipt of Conformity Declaration Documents to the organization or individual making the conformity declaration (in accordance with Model 3. TBTNHS stipulated in Appendix III of this Circular). The Notification of Receipt of Conformity Declaration Documents shall have the same validity as the conformity certificate issued by the registered certification body or shall be valid for three (3) years from the date the leadership of the organization or individual signs off on the conformity assessment report (for cases where the organization or individual conducts self-assessment);

b) In cases where the conformity declaration documents are complete but invalid, the Inspection Unit shall notify in writing to the organization or individual making the conformity declaration about the reasons for not accepting the documents.

Article 11. Responsibilities of organizations and individuals making conformity declarations

1. Select conformity assessment methods appropriate to the subject of the conformity declaration to ensure the reliability of the assessment results.

2. Continuously maintain and be responsible for the conformity of products, goods, services, processes, and environments that have been registered for conformity declaration; maintain quality control, testing, and periodic monitoring at production and business establishments.

3. When discovering non-conformity of products, goods, services, processes, and environments that have been declared conforming during circulation or use, organizations and individuals must:

a) Temporarily halt production and recall non-conforming products circulating on the market if such products pose high risks to user safety; cease operation and exploitation of related processes, services, and environments when necessary;

b) Implement measures to correct non-conformities;

c) Provide written notification to the Inspection Unit about the results of correcting non-conformities before resuming the use, circulation, exploitation, and sale of products, goods, services, processes, and environments.

4. Establish and retain conformity declaration records as follows:

a) In cases where the conformity declaration is based on the results of conformity certification by a registered certification body (third party), retain the conformity declaration record including original and copies of relevant documents as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 9 and the surveillance evaluation report of the registered certification body;

b) In cases where the conformity declaration is based on self-assessment results by the producing and trading organization or individual (first party), retain the conformity declaration record including original and copies of relevant documents as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 9 and the self-surveillance evaluation report of the organization or individual according to the surveillance plan.

5. Provide documentation proving the conformity of products, goods, services, processes, and environments with corresponding standards upon request from competent state agencies.

6. Provide certified true copies of the conformity declaration acceptance notice to organizations and individuals trading products, goods, services, processes, and environments.

7. Re-declare conformity when there are any changes to the content of the previously registered conformity declaration record or any changes to the features, functions, characteristics of the declared products, goods, services.

Chapter III

CONFORMITY DECLARATION

1. The subjects of conformity declaration are products, goods, services, processes, and environments specified in national technical regulations issued by sectoral ministries or local technical regulations issued by provincial or centrally-administered city People's Committees. Conformity declaration is a mandatory activity.

2. Conformity declaration based on technical regulation compliance results shall be based on one of the following two cases:

a) Results of conformity certification as prescribed in the corresponding technical regulation and conducted by designated certification bodies;

b) Results of self-assessment of conformity by the declaring organization or individual. Testing for conformity assessment shall be carried out at registered testing organizations.

3. In cases where products or goods are managed by multiple technical regulations, organizations and individuals must register conformity declarations with corresponding specialized agencies and the conformity mark may only be used when the products or goods have fully implemented management measures as prescribed in the corresponding technical regulations.

Article 13. Procedure for Announcement of Compliance

The announcement of compliance shall be carried out in the following steps:

1. Step 1: Evaluation of conformity of the subject of the announcement of compliance with the corresponding technical regulations (hereinafter referred to as conformity assessment).

a) The conformity assessment may be conducted by a designated certification organization (third party) or by the organization or individual announcing compliance (first party).

The conformity assessment shall be carried out according to the conformity evaluation method prescribed in the corresponding technical regulation.

In case the results of conformity assessment from foreign conformity assessment organizations are used, such foreign conformity assessment organizations must be recognized in accordance with the law or designated by competent state management agencies;

b) The results of the conformity assessment serve as the basis for the organization or individual announcing compliance.

2. Step 2: Registering the announcement of compliance with the specialized agency designated by the Ministry managing the industry or field and the Provincial People's Committee or the Municipal People's Committee directly under the Central Government (hereinafter referred to as the specialized agency).

Organizations and individuals announcing compliance shall prepare two (2) sets of compliance announcement documents, of which one (1) set of documents shall be submitted directly or sent via postal service to the specialized agency, and one (1) set of documents shall be retained by the organization or individual. The components of the documents are specified as follows:

1. In cases where the announcement of compliance is based on the results of certification of compliance by a designated certification organization (third party), the compliance announcement documents include:

a) The compliance announcement (according to Model 2. CBHC/HQ stipulated in Appendix III of this Circular);

c) A certified true copy of the certificate of conformity to the corresponding technical regulation issued by the designated certification organization along with the conformity mark of the designated certification organization issued to the organization or individual.

During the review of the documents, if necessary, the original will be examined and compared or additional certified copies will be requested;

2. In cases where the announcement of compliance is based on the self-assessment results of the organization or individual engaged in production and business (first party), the compliance announcement documents include:

a) The compliance announcement (according to Model 2. CBHC/HQ stipulated in Appendix III of this Circular);

b) A certified true copy of the document proving the implementation of production and business activities by the organization or individual announcing compliance (Business Registration Certificate or Business License or Business Registration or Investment Certificate or Establishment Decision or other documents as prescribed by law);

c) In cases where the organization or individual announcing compliance has not yet been granted a certificate of conformity to standards for management systems (ISO 9001, ISO 22000, HACCP...) by a registered certification organization, the compliance announcement documents of the organization or individual must include the production process accompanied by a quality control plan established and implemented (according to Model 1. KHKSCL stipulated in Appendix III of this Circular) and a management system monitoring plan;

d) In cases where the organization or individual announcing compliance has been granted a certificate of conformity to standards for management systems (ISO 9001, ISO 22000, HACCP...) by a registered certification organization, the compliance announcement documents of the organization or individual must include a certified true copy of the certificate of conformity to standards for management systems still in effect;

đ) A certified true copy of the test result report of the sample within twelve (12) months from the date of submission of the compliance announcement documents by the registered testing organization;

e) A conformity assessment report (according to Model 5. BCĐG stipulated in Appendix III of this Circular) accompanied by the conformity mark and related documents;

During the review of the documents, if necessary, the original will be examined and compared or additional certified copies will be requested.

Article 15. Processing of conformity declaration files

Conformity declaration files submitted to specialized agencies shall be processed as follows:

1. For conformity declaration files that are incomplete as prescribed in Article 14 of this Circular, within three (3) working days from the date of receipt of the conformity declaration file, the specialized agency shall notify in writing the organization or individual making the conformity declaration to supplement the required documents. If the conformity declaration file is not supplemented fully within fifteen (15) working days from the date the specialized agency sends the notification, the specialized agency has the right to cancel the processing of such file.

2. For conformity declaration files that are complete as prescribed in Article 14 of this Circular, within five (5) working days from the date of receipt of the conformity declaration file, the specialized agency shall organize the verification of the validity of the conformity declaration file:

a) In case the conformity declaration file is complete and valid, the specialized agency shall issue a Notification of Receipt of Conformity Declaration File for the organization or individual making the conformity declaration (in accordance with Model 3. TBTNHS stipulated in Appendix III of this Circular).

The Notification of Receipt of Conformity Declaration File shall have the value of the conformity certificate issued by the designated certification body or shall be valid for three (3) years from the date the leader of the organization or individual signs to confirm the conformity assessment report (in the case where the organization or individual conducts self-assessment).

b) In case the conformity declaration file is complete but invalid, the specialized agency shall notify in writing the organization or individual making the conformity declaration about the reasons for non-receipt of the file.

Article 16. Responsibilities of organizations and individuals making conformity declarations

1. To announce on appropriate information channels about their conformity declarations to ensure that users of products and goods can easily access them.

2. To continuously maintain and be responsible for the conformity of products, goods, services, processes, and environments declared conforming; to maintain quality control, testing, and regular monitoring.

3. To use the conformity mark on products and goods that have been declared conforming in accordance with Clause 2 of Article 4 of this Circular before putting them into circulation on the market. To keep a record and annually report on the use of the conformity mark to the designated certification body.

4. When discovering non-conformities of products, goods, services, processes, and environments declared conforming during circulation or use, the organization or individual must:

a) Promptly notify in writing about the non-conformity to the specialized agency;

b) Temporarily stop production and recall non-conforming products and goods circulating on the market if they pose a high risk to user safety; cease operation and exploitation of related processes, services, and environments when necessary;

c) Take corrective measures for the non-conformity;

d) Notify in writing the specialized agency about the results of the corrective measures before resuming the use, circulation, exploitation, and business of products, goods, services, processes, and environments.

5. To establish and retain conformity declaration files as a basis for inspection and supervision by state management agencies as follows:

a) In case the conformity declaration is based on the results of third-party certification bodies, retain the conformity declaration file including original copies and certified true copies of documents as prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 14 and the Supervisory Assessment File of the designated certification body;

b) In case the conformity declaration is based on the results of self-assessment by the producing or trading organization or individual (first party), retain the conformity declaration file including original copies and certified true copies of documents as prescribed in Clause 2 of Article 14 and the Self-Assessment Supervisory File of the organization or individual according to the supervisory plan.

6. To provide documentation proving the compliance of products, goods, services, processes, and environments with corresponding technical standards when requested by competent state authorities.

7. To provide certified true copies of conformity certificates and Notifications of Receipt of Conformity Declaration Files to organizations and individuals trading in products, goods, services, processes, and environments.

8. To re-declare conformity whenever there is any change in the content of the previously registered conformity declaration file or any change in the features, functions, characteristics of the declared products, goods, services.

Chapter IV

ORGANIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

Article 17. Responsibilities of management agencies

1. Responsibilities of Ministries managing sectors and fields and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities:

a) Direct the activities of conformity declaration in accordance with this Circular when promulgating corresponding technical regulations for management purposes;

b) Designate lead agencies responsible for managing conformity declaration activities in their assigned fields; notify the list of lead agencies to relevant organizations and individuals for implementation and send it to the Ministry of Science and Technology for coordination and management;

c) Assign responsibilities for receiving conformity declaration dossier to specialized agencies;

d) Annually compile information on the designation of conformity assessment bodies, notify the Ministry of Science and Technology for coordination and management; promptly, upon request, compile and report on the situation of conformity declaration to the Ministry of Science and Technology for reporting to the Prime Minister.

2. Responsibilities of the General Department of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control, which is the lead agency designated under point b, Clause 1, Article 17 of this Law:

a) Assist the Ministry of Science and Technology in uniformly managing and guiding conformity assessment activities, standard conformity declaration, and regulation conformity declaration;

b) Coordinate with central agencies under Ministries managing sectors and fields, provincial Departments of Science and Technology in urging and guiding the implementation of standard conformity declaration and regulation conformity declaration in accordance with this Circular;

c) Monitor the situation of standard conformity declaration and regulation conformity declaration for products, goods, services, processes, and environments within the management responsibility of the Ministry of Science and Technology based on reports from local Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control Sub-departments; monitor the designation by sector-managing Ministries regarding conformity assessment activities.

3. Responsibilities of lead agencies designated under point b, Clause 1, Article 17 of this Law belonging to Ministries managing sectors and fields and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities:

a) Implement monitoring and management of registration activities for regulation conformity declaration by specialized agencies; coordinate with the General Department of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control in managing regulation conformity declaration activities; annually compile and report to sector-managing Ministries and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities related to the situation of designation of conformity assessment bodies, simultaneously sending to the General Department of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control for coordinated management;

b) Compile the situation of regulation conformity declaration activities by specialized agencies and annually, promptly upon request, report to sector-managing Ministries and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities related.

4. Responsibilities of specialized agencies designated by Ministries managing sectors and fields, People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities:

a) Receive and manage registration dossiers for regulation conformity declaration; revoke or suspend the results of registration dossiers for regulation conformity declaration for products, goods, services, processes, and environments managed by national technical standards issued by sector-managing Ministries and related local technical standards;

b) Publicly announce on their electronic information websites the situation of regulation conformity declaration with the following contents:

- Name of the organization or individual making the conformity declaration;

- Products or goods subject to conformity declaration;

- Technical regulation number;

- Type of assessment: First party (name of organization or individual) or third party (name of designated certification body).

c) Coordinate with local Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control Sub-departments in providing information on regulation conformity declaration to facilitate product quality inspection;

d) Annually, promptly upon request, compile and report to the lead agency a list of products, goods, services, processes, and environments that have registered for regulation conformity declaration (in Form 4. BCTNHS stipulated in Appendix III of this Circular).

5. Responsibilities of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control Sub-departments under Provincial Departments of Science and Technology:

a) Receive and manage registration dossiers for standard conformity declaration; revoke or suspend the results of registration dossiers for standard conformity declaration by organizations and individuals producing and trading locally and publicly announce on the electronic information website of the Provincial Department of Science and Technology or the local Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control Sub-department the situation of standard conformity declaration;

b) Receive and manage registration dossiers for regulation conformity declaration; revoke or suspend the results of registration dossiers for regulation conformity declaration for products, goods, services, processes, and environments managed by national technical standards issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology and related local technical standards; publicly announce on the electronic information website of the Provincial Department of Science and Technology or the local Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control Sub-department the situation of regulation conformity declaration with the following contents:

- Name of the organization or individual making the conformity declaration;

- Products or goods subject to conformity declaration;

- Technical regulation number;

- Type of assessment: First party (name of organization or individual) or third party (name of designated certification body).

c) Coordinate with local specialized agencies in providing information on standard conformity declaration to facilitate product quality inspection;

d) Annually, promptly upon request, compile and report to the General Department of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control the situation of receiving registration dossiers for standard conformity declaration and regulation conformity declaration (in Form 4. BCTNHS stipulated in Appendix III of this Circular) as provided for in points a and b of this clause.

Article 18. Inspection, Audit, and Handling of Violations

1. The competent state management agency shall carry out inspection, audit, and handling of violations of laws in the activities of standard declaration and conformity declaration in accordance with this Circular and other relevant current regulations.

2. Organizations and individuals violating the provisions on standard declaration and conformity declaration shall be subject to handling according to the relevant current laws depending on the nature and degree of violation.

Article 19. Implementation Provisions

This Circular takes effect from January 27, 2013, and replaces Decision No. 24/2007/QĐ-BKHCN dated September 28, 2007, of the Minister of Science and Technology on the issuance of regulations on standard certification, conformity certification, and standard declaration, conformity declaration.

Article 20. Implementation

1. The Minister, Head of a ministerial-level agency, Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally governed cities shall be responsible for organizing the implementation of this Circular.

2. The Director of the General Bureau of Standardization Metrology Quality Control shall be responsible for guiding and organizing the implementation of this Circular.

3. During implementation, if any issues arise or difficulties occur, organizations and individuals shall promptly report in writing to the Ministry of Science and Technology for research and amendment./.