Consolidated Document number 33/VBHN-BCT Circular stipulating market inspection cards

CIRCULAR

Regulations on Market Inspection Cards

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Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BCT dated October 8, 2018, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade regarding market inspection cards, which took effect from November 23, 2018, was amended and supplemented by:

Circular No. 45/2025/TT-BCT dated July 15, 2025, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade to amend and supplement certain articles of circulars of the Minister of Industry and Trade in the field of market management, which took effect from July 15, 2025.

Pursuant to the Market Management Law dated March 8, 2016;

Pursuant to Decree No. 98/2017/ND-CP dated August 18, 2017 issued by the Government on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Industry and Trade;

Pursuant to Decision No. 34/2018/QĐ-TTg dated August 10, 2018, issued by the Prime Minister stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the General Department of Market Management under the Ministry of Industry and Trade;

At the proposal of the Director of the Market Management Department;

The Minister of Industry and Trade issues this Circular stipulating regulations on Market Inspection Cards.[1]

Chapter I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular specifies the model of the card, procedures, and formalities for issuing the first time, reissuing, recalling, and temporarily suspending the use of Market Inspection Cards (hereinafter referred to as Cards).

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to market management agencies at all levels, civil servants working at market management agencies at all levels, and related organizations and individuals.

Article 3. Principles of Managing and Using Cards

1. Cards shall be used by market management civil servants to perform tasks of inspecting compliance with laws by organizations and individuals within the scope defined in Articles 12 and 17 of the Market Management Law according to the assigned area or sector.

2. Civil servants who are issued Cards shall be responsible for preserving and maintaining the Cards they have been issued; they shall not erase, alter, or tamper with the Cards; they shall not use the Cards for personal gain or to threaten or obstruct the lawful activities of organizations and individuals; in case of loss, they must immediately report to the head of the direct supervising agency.

3. Strictly prohibited are actions by market management civil servants and other organizations and individuals involving the production, storage, purchase, sale, forgery, borrowing, lending, pledging, mortgaging, or illegal use of Cards.

4. Civil servants without Cards or during the period when their Cards are recalled or temporarily suspended shall not issue inspection decisions or conduct market inspection activities.

5.[2] Provincial Departments of Industry and Trade's Market Management Branches (hereinafter referred to as Market Management Branches) directly oversee and manage the use of Cards by civil servants in their units. The Department of Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade oversees and inspects the use of Cards by national market management civil servants.

6. In cases where the period from the issuance of the Card to the retirement age of the civil servant is less than five years, the Card shall remain valid until the civil servant retires.

7.[3] (abolished).

8.[4] (abolished).

9. The cost of producing Cards shall be guaranteed by the State in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Chapter II. MODEL OF CARD, PROCEDURES AND FORMALITIES FOR ISSUING THE FIRST TIME, REISSUING, RECALLING AND TEMPORARILY SUSPENDING THE USE OF CARDS

Article 4. Model of Card

1.[5] The Card is rectangular plastic, measuring 53.98mm wide, 85.6mm long, and 0.76mm thick, with rounded corners having a radius of 3.18mm.

2. Model of Card and Description of Card

a) For Cards issued to market management civil servants as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 16 of the Market Management Law: implemented according to Appendix 4 attached hereto;

b) For Cards issued to market management civil servants as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 16 of the Market Management Law: implemented according to Appendix 5 promulgated together with this Circular.

3.[6] The stamp of the agency on the Card is specified as follows:

a) For the Card prescribed in point a, Clause 2 of this Article: image of the signature of the person issuing the Card and the image of the stamp of the Ministry of Industry and Trade;

b) For the Card prescribed in point b, Clause 2 of this Article: image of the signature of the person issuing the Card and the image of the stamp of the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development.

Article 5. Documents, procedures, and formalities for initial issuance of the Card

1. Initial issuance of the Card refers to the first time a market management civil servant is issued the Card. The cases for initial issuance of the Card, standards, and conditions for such issuance shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Article 13 of the Market Management Ordinance.

2. Documents for initial issuance of the Card include:

a) A request for initial issuance of the Card;

b) A list of requests for initial issuance of the Card according to the model at attached hereto. attached hereto;

c) [7] Civil Servant Application Form for Initial Issuance of the Card according to the model at attached hereto to the People's Committee of the province. attached hereto;

d) [8] Two (2) color photographs measuring 2 cm x 3 cm of the civil servant requesting the Card. In this case, the civil servant must wear a long-sleeved shirt, a kepi hat for males and a soft hat for females, a necktie, and fully display the market management insignia and badge. The photograph must be taken within no more than one year from the date of filing the application;

d) One (1) certified copy of the decision appointing the civil servant to the market management position and one (1) certified copy of the Certificate of specialized training in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Industry and Trade for civil servants specified in point a, Clause 1, Article 13 of the Market Management Ordinance;

e) One (1) certified copy of the decision appointing the current leadership position and one (1) certified copy of the decision appointing the current civil service rank for civil servants specified in point b, Clause 1, Article 13 of the Market Management Ordinance;

3. Within fifteen (15) working days from the date of receiving complete and valid documents, the authorized person issuing the Card shall examine and decide on the initial issuance of the Card. If the Card is not issued or if it is necessary to extend the examination period, the authorized person issuing the Card must respond in writing and clearly state the reasons. The maximum additional period that can be extended is five (5) working days.

Article 6. Documents, procedures, and formalities for reissuance of the Card

1. Cases for reissuance of the Card and conditions for reissuance for each case shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Clause 1, Article 14 of the Market Management Ordinance.

2. Documents for reissuance of the Card include:

a) A request for reissuance of the Card;

b) A list of requests for reissuance of the Card according to the model at attached hereto. attached hereto;

c) [9] Civil Servant Application Form for Reissuance of the Card according to the model at attached hereto to the People's Committee of the province. attached hereto;

d) Two (2) color photographs according to the provisions at Point d, Clause 2, Article 5 of this Circular;

e) One (1) certified copy of the Certificate of specialized training in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Industry and Trade for cases requesting reissuance of the Card specified in points c and d, Clause 1, Article 14 of the Market Management Ordinance;

f) One (1) copy of the old Card at the time of requesting reissuance for cases requesting reissuance due to changes in information recorded on the Card or due to expiration of the usage period as stipulated in points a and c, Clause 1, Article 14 of the Market Management Ordinance.

3.[10] For cases of reissuance of the Card specified in point c, Clause 1, Article 14 of the Market Management Ordinance, the reissuance documents must be sent to the Domestic Market Management and Development Department at least thirty (30) working days before the expiration date of the Card. For cases of reissuance of the Card specified in points a, b, and d, Clause 1, Article 14 of the Market Management Ordinance, the reissuance documents must be sent to the Domestic Market Management and Development Department within twenty (20) working days from the date the reissuance cases arise.

The Domestic Market Management and Development Department is responsible for receiving the documents and reporting to the authorized person for reissuance of the Card to examine and process in accordance with the provisions of Clause 4 of this Article.

4. Within fifteen (15) working days from the date of receiving complete and valid documents, the authorized person for reissuance of the Card shall examine and decide on the reissuance of the Card. If the Card is not issued or if it is necessary to extend the examination period for reissuance of the Card, the authorized person for reissuance of the Card must respond in writing and clearly state the reasons. The maximum additional period that can be extended is five (5) working days.

5.[11] A market management civil servant must return the old Card when receiving a new Card, except in cases where the Card is lost.

Within five (5) working days from the date of receiving the new Card, the Market Management Office or the Domestic Market Management and Development Department where the civil servant works must be responsible for delivering the new Card, collecting the old Card of the civil servant who received the Card, and organizing the destruction of the old Card by cutting it diagonally in half (1/2).

The handover and destruction of the new Card must be documented in a record signed by the civil servant receiving the new Card and representatives of the agency or unit handing over the Card. The record must be sent to the Department of Industry and Trade where the civil servant works and the Domestic Market Management and Development Department for reporting.

6. The usage period recorded on the Card will not change when reissuing the Card in accordance with points a and b, Clause 1, Article 14 of the Market Management Ordinance, except in cases stipulated in Clause 3, Article 10 of this Circular.

Article 7. Documents, Procedures, and Formalities for Revoking the Card [12]

1. The documents for requesting the revocation of the Card include:

a) A list of civil servants whose revocation of the Card is requested according to the model at APPLICATION FORMS AND REGISTRATION TABLES FOR REQUESTING ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES AND SAMPLES OF CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES attached hereto;

b) Relevant documents and papers related to cases where the Card is revoked as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 15 of the Market Management Ordinance.

2. Within five working days from the date when grounds are established for the revocation of the Card for civil servants as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 15 of the Market Management Ordinance, the Market Management Branch or the head of units under the Domestic Market Management and Development Department where the civil servant works shall prepare the request for revocation of the Card and submit it to the authority with the power to examine and decide.

In the case where the civil servant whose Card is to be revoked is the head or deputy head of the Domestic Market Management and Development Department, the Domestic Market Management and Development Department shall be responsible for preparing the request for revocation of the Card and submitting it to the Minister of Industry and Trade for examination and decision.

3. If the market management agency or unit does not implement the request for revocation of the Card as prescribed in Clause 2 of this Article, the authority with the power to revoke the Card shall decide to revoke the Card upon establishing grounds for the revocation of the Card for civil servants as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 15 of the Market Management Ordinance.

Within five working days from the date of receiving complete and valid documents, the authority with the power to revoke the Card shall issue a decision to revoke the Card.

Within five working days from the date of receiving the decision to revoke the Card, the civil servant whose Card is revoked shall be responsible for returning the Card to the market management agency or unit where they work to carry out the handling of the Card as prescribed in Clause 6 of this Article.

6. For Cards that have been revoked, the market management agency or unit receiving the Card as prescribed in Clause 5 of this Article shall organize the destruction of the Card by cutting it diagonally in half (one half). The destruction of the revoked Card must be recorded in a protocol signed by the civil servant whose Card was revoked and the representative of the market management agency or unit receiving the revoked Card. The protocol shall be sent to the Department of Industry and Trade where the civil servant works and the Domestic Market Management and Development Department for reporting.

Article 8. Documents, Procedures, and Formalities for Temporarily Suspending the Use of the Card

1. The documents for requesting the temporary suspension of the use of the Card include:

a) A list of civil servants whose temporary suspension of the use of the Card is requested according to the model at APPLICATION FORMS AND REGISTRATION TABLES FOR REQUESTING ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES AND SAMPLES OF CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES attached hereto;

b) Relevant documents and papers related to cases where the use of the Card is temporarily suspended as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 15 of the Market Management Ordinance.

2.[13] Within five working days from the date when grounds are established for the temporary suspension of the use of the Card for civil servants as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 15 of the Market Management Ordinance, the Market Management Branch or the head of units under the Domestic Market Management and Development Department where the civil servant works shall prepare the request for the temporary suspension of the use of the Card and submit it to the authority with the power to suspend the use of the Card for examination and decision.

In the case where the civil servant whose use of the Card is to be temporarily suspended is the head or deputy head of the Domestic Market Management and Development Department, the Domestic Market Management and Development Department shall be responsible for preparing the request for the temporary suspension of the use of the Card and submitting it to the Minister of Industry and Trade for examination and decision.

3.[14] If the market management agency or unit does not implement the request for the temporary suspension of the use of the Card as prescribed in Clause 2 of this Article, the authority with the power to suspend the use of the Card shall decide to temporarily suspend the use of the Card upon establishing grounds for the temporary suspension of the use of the Card for civil servants as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 15 of the Market Management Ordinance.

4.[15] Within five working days from the date of receiving complete and valid documents, the authority with the power to suspend the use of the Card shall issue a decision to temporarily suspend the use of the Card.

5.[16] Within five working days from the date of receiving the decision to temporarily suspend the use of the Card issued by the authority prescribed in Clause 4 of this Article, the civil servant whose use of the Card is temporarily suspended shall be responsible for returning the Card to the Market Management Branch or the Domestic Market Management and Development Department where they work for storage and processing as prescribed.

6.[17] (abolished).

7. Duration of Temporary Suspension of the Use of the Card:

a) For cases stipulated in points a and b of Clause 2, Article 15 of the Market Management Ordinance, the duration of the temporary suspension of the use of the Card is the period from the time of discovering the violation until the competent authority decides on the handling of the case but not exceeding two months. In cases with many complex circumstances, it may be extended but not exceeding four months from the date of discovering the violation;

b) For cases stipulated in point c of Clause 2, Article 15 of the Market Management Ordinance, the duration of the temporary suspension of the use of the Card is the period during which the civil servant is temporarily suspended from work for disciplinary review;

c) For cases stipulated in point d of Clause 2, Article 15 of the Market Management Ordinance, the duration of the temporary suspension of the use of the Card is twelve months from the date the disciplinary decision becomes effective;

d) For cases stipulated in point e of Clause 2, Article 15 of the Market Management Ordinance, the duration of the temporary suspension of the use of the Card is the waiting period for the conclusion of the investigation, prosecution, and trial by the competent authority regarding the violation of the law. When convicted by a final criminal judgment, the Card will be revoked according to the regulations on revoking the Card prescribed in Article 7 of this Circular.

8. Upon expiration of the duration of the temporary suspension of the use of the Card recorded in the decision of the authority, the Card shall be returned to the civil servant if it still has validity after the decision to return the Card is made. In the case where the Card has already expired due to being temporarily suspended, the procedure for reissuing the Card as prescribed in Article 6 of this Circular.

Chapter III. IMPLEMENTATION [18]

Article 9. Responsibility for implementation [19]

1. The heads of Market Management Branches, and the heads of units under the Domestic Market Management and Development Department shall be responsible for:

a) Timely reviewing and compiling lists, submitting applications to the Director of the Domestic Market Management and Development Department for the initial issuance, reissuance, revocation, and temporary suspension of the use of the Card within their assigned management scope; ensuring the validity and completeness of the documents for the initial issuance, reissuance, revocation, and temporary suspension of the use of the Card; timely reviewing and recommending the issuance of the Card to civil servants who meet the conditions for obtaining the Card;

b) Implement the procedures and formalities for the recovery, temporary suspension of use of the Card, storage, and return of the temporarily suspended Card upon expiration of the temporary suspension period; maintain a logbook to track the management, issuance, initial issuance, reissuance, recovery, temporary suspension of use, and return of temporarily suspended Cards within their own unit's jurisdiction;

c) Monitor and inspect the preservation and use of Cards by civil servants under their own unit's management. Conduct inspections every three months on the Cards issued to civil servants within their unit, report the inspection results to the Department of Industry and Trade directly above and the Domestic Market Management and Development Agency;

d) Recommend the competent authority to consider and decide on the recovery or temporary suspension of use of the Card when discovering that market management civil servants have violated regulations during official duties, misused the Card for purposes other than intended, or in other cases as prescribed;

đ) Carry out or submit to the competent authority for decision the rotation, transfer, assignment, and deployment of civil servants with Cards among units within the organizational structure according to the laws or based on the level of authority delegated to ensure service for market inspection and control tasks;

e) Report to the Department of Industry and Trade and the Domestic Market Management and Development Agency on the management and use of Cards within their own unit's jurisdiction as prescribed;

2. The Chairperson of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall be responsible for:

a) Monitoring, supervising, and inspecting the Market Management Inspection Office under their jurisdiction in implementing the management and use of Cards for market management civil servants within their unit's jurisdiction according to the law;

b) Propose to the Minister of Industry and Trade measures for managing Cards issued to market management civil servants according to the law or propose amendments and supplements to this Circular when necessary;

3. The Director of the Domestic Market Management and Development Agency shall be responsible for:

a) Being accountable to the Minister of Industry and Trade for the unified management of Cards issued to market management civil servants as prescribed in this Circular;

b) Directing and organizing the implementation of record-keeping for initial issuance, reissuance, recovery, and temporary suspension of use of Cards according to the law on record-keeping;

c) Monitoring, supervising, inspecting, compiling information on the implementation of this Circular, and reporting to the Minister of Industry and Trade as prescribed;

d) Proposing and recommending amendments and supplements to this Circular to the Minister of Industry and Trade when necessary;

Article 10. Transitional Provisions

1. Within thirty working days from the date this Circular takes effect, the Director of the Provincial Market Management Bureau and the Heads of units directly under the General Department of Market Management must submit applications for reissuing Cards according to the new model prescribed in this Circular for civil servants under their unit's management to the General Department of Market Management;

2. The authority issuing the Cards must complete the reissuance of Cards according to the new model before December 30, 2019. During the waiting period for the reissued Cards according to the new model, previously issued Cards can continue to be used until the expiration date marked on them but not later than December 30, 2019, and must be recovered according to regulations;

3. The reissued Cards according to the new model will have a usage period of five years from the date of reissue, except in the case provided for in Clause 6 Article 3 of this Circular.

Article 11. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from November 23, 2018;

2. This Circular replaces Circular No. 18/2016/TT-BCT dated August 31, 2016, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade, which stipulates the Market Inspection Card and amends and supplements certain forms of records and decisions used in market inspection and administrative penalty activities of the Market Management Force;

3. In the course of implementation, if there are difficulties, organizations and individuals should promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (through the Domestic Market Management and Development Agency[20]) for guidance and resolution./.

ANNEX NO. 1 [21]

(Annexed to Circular No. 45/2025/TT-BCT dated July 15, 2025, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade)

LIST

APPLICATION FOR INITIAL ISSUE OF MARKET INSPECTION CARD / REISSUE OF MARKET INSPECTION CARD
(Attached to Circular No. ... dated ... month ... year ...)

Note:

Column 2 and 4: List in ascending order of the civil servant code (do not list by Room/Team QLTT unit or position).

Column 5: Record full date of birth.

Column 6: Record full rank name and rank code of the civil servant according to the appointment decision of the current rank.

Column 7: Record current leadership position for those appointed to leadership positions. For those not appointed to leadership positions, record the current rank according to the appointment decision of the current rank.

Column 8: Record the specific month/year of recruitment according to the recruitment decision to become a civil servant of the Market Management Bureau.

Column 10: Record the full date/month/year of the expiry date of the current Market Inspection Card being used (recorded on the Market Inspection Card).

Column 14: Record "TCV" for those with Pre-service Training Certificate; "BDNV" for those with pre-2005 vocational training certificate; "KSVC" for those with Chief Inspector Training Certificate; "QLNN KSVTT" for those with State Administration Training Certificate for Inspector; "QLNN KSVCTT" for those with State Administration Training Certificate for Chief Inspector; others record as "BDNV"...;

Column 15: Record specific reasons for reissuing the Card; other notes.

ANNEX NUMBER 2 [22]

(Annexed to Circular No. 45/2025/TT-BCT dated July 15, 2025, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade)

APPLICATION FOR INITIAL ISSUE / REISSUE OF MARKET INSPECTION CARD

I. SELF ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION, WORK RESULTS

Summary of assigned tasks; results of inspection and violation handling; compliance with policies, laws, work regulations; spirit of cooperation, moral conduct; learning attitude to improve qualifications; organizational discipline awareness…

II. CONFIRMATION BY THE AUTHORITY OR UNIT

Civil servant Nguyen Van A...is not currently under disciplinary action; currently holds civil service rank ……, rank code …and has obtained Certificate … (BDNV, TCV, QLNN rank KSVTT... - Provide full name of certificate type) as stipulated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

In accordance with Circular No.   /    /TT-BCT dated... month... year... of the Minister of Industry and Trade regarding the Market Inspection Card, the civil servant Nguyen Van A...meets the criteria for initial issue/reissue of the Market Inspection Card.

Proposes the Minister of Industry and Trade/ Director of the National Market Management and Development Agency to consider issuing the Market Inspection Card./.

ANNEX NUMBER 3 [23]

(Annexed to Circular No. 45/2025/TT-BCT dated July 15, 2025, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade)

LIST
WITHDRAWAL/RECOMMENDATION FOR WITHDRAWAL OF MARKET INSPECTION CARD (OR) TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF USE/RECOMMENDATION FOR TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF USE OF MARKET INSPECTION CARD / CARD HAS BEEN DESTROYED
(Annexed to Circular No... dated... month... year... of...)

Total number of cards returned to the National Market Management and Development Agency is: …Cards.

Note: - Prepare the list in the order of the Decision to reissue the Card.

Prepare the list in the order of Decision No A then continue with Decision No B.

ANNEX NUMBER 4 [24]

SAMPLE OF MARKET INSPECTION CARD

(Annexed to Circular No. 45/2025/TT-BCT dated July 15, 2025, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade)

1. Front side:

The front side is red background, yellow text; at the top is "MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE"; in the middle is the National Emblem; below is the line of text "MARKET INSPECTION CARD".

2. Back side:

The back side is light yellow background; at the bottom right corner are two thick red diagonal stripes. The back side contains the following information:

a) On the left side, from top to bottom, black text includes: card number which is the market management staff identification number; color photograph of the card holder size 2 cm x 3 cm; valid until .../.../…;

b) On the right side, from top to bottom, black text includes:

MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE

Name:

Position: (record the leadership position of the card holder).

Unit:

No.: No.: ... / ...-DA

Position of the signatory

Signature and stamp

Full name of the signatory.

ANNEX NUMBER 5 [25]

SAMPLE OF MARKET INSPECTION CARD

(Annexed to Circular No. 45/2025/TT-BCT dated July 15, 2025, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade)

1. Front side:

The front side is red background, yellow text; at the top is "MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE"; in the middle is the National Emblem; below is the line of text "MARKET INSPECTION CARD".

2. Back side:

The back side is light yellow background; at the bottom right corner are two thick red diagonal stripes. The back side contains the following information:

a) On the left side, from top to bottom, black text includes: card number which is the market management staff identification number; color photograph of the card holder size 2 cm x 3 cm; valid until .../.../…;

b) On the right side, from top to bottom, black text includes:

MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE

NATIONAL MARKET MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

Name:

Position: (record the leadership position for leaders; record the civil service rank for non-leaders).

Unit:

No.: No.: ... / ...-DA

Position of the signatory;

Signature and stamp.

Full name of the signatory.