Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations No. 70/2025/QH15

LAW

AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO CERTAIN ARTICLES OF THE LAW ON STANDARDS AND TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

AND TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

On the basis of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

The National Assembly promulgates this Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations No. 68/2006/QH11 which has been amended and supplemented by certain articles pursuant to Law No. 35/2018/QH14.

Article 1. Amendments and supplements to certain articles of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations

1. AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING ARTICLE 3 AS FOLLOWS:

"Article 3. Explanation of terms

1. Standard is a specification regarding technical characteristics and management requirements used as a benchmark for classifying, evaluating products, goods, services, processes, environment, and other objects in economic and social activities.

Standards are published by agencies, organizations, units in the form of documents for voluntary application.

2. Technical regulation is a specification regarding the limits of technical characteristics and management requirements that products, goods, services, processes, environment, and other objects in economic and social activities must comply with to ensure hygiene, health safety for humans; protect animals, plants, the environment; protect national interests and security, consumer rights, and other essential requirements; ensure convenience in commitments under international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member and not create unnecessary barriers to trade.

Technical regulations are issued by state agencies, persons with authority in the form of legal normative documents for mandatory application.

3. Activities in the field of standards are the construction, publication, and application of standards, and conformity assessment with standards.

4. Activities in the field of technical regulations are the construction, issuance, and application of technical regulations, and conformity assessment with technical regulations.

5. Conformity assessment is the determination of whether the object of activities in the field of standards and the object of activities in the field of technical regulations comply with the technical characteristics and management requirements specified in the corresponding standards and technical regulations.

Conformity assessment includes activities such as testing, inspection, verification of usability, confirmation testing, certification of compliance with standards, certification of compliance with technical regulations, recognition, and other conformity assessment activities used with different terms according to relevant laws.

6. Testing is the determination of one or more characteristics of the object of activities in the field of standards and activities in the field of technical regulations according to a specific procedure.

7. Inspection is the examination and determination of the compliance of the object of activities in the field of standards and activities in the field of technical regulations with specific or general requirements.

8. Verification of usability is the confirmation of the rationality of the declaration of compliance related to the intended use for anticipated or expected results through the provision of evidence proving that all requirements have been fully implemented according to the standards and technical regulations.

9. Confirmation testing is the confirmation of the accuracy of the declaration of compliance related to events that have occurred or results that have been achieved through the provision of evidence proving that all requirements have been fully implemented according to the standards and technical regulations.

10. Certification is the evaluation and confirmation of the object of activities in the field of standards and activities in the field of technical regulations complying with the corresponding standards and technical regulations.

11. Certification of compliance with standards is the evaluation and confirmation of the object of activities in the field of standards complying with the corresponding standards.

12. Certification of compliance with technical regulations is the evaluation and confirmation of the object of activities in the field of technical regulations complying with the corresponding technical regulations.

13. Recognition is the confirmation of the organization conducting conformity assessment having the capability to perform conformity assessment for the corresponding standards.

14. Organization conducting conformity assessment is an organization implementing conformity assessment activities as stipulated in Clause 5 of this Article, except for recognition activities carried out by the recognition organization as stipulated in Article 54 of this Law.

15. Declaration of compliance with standards is the declaration by organizations or individuals of the object of activities in the field of standards complying with the corresponding standards.

16. Declaration of compliance with technical regulations is the declaration by organizations or individuals of the object of activities in the field of technical regulations complying with the corresponding technical regulations.

17. National standard is a standard published by a state agency with authority in accordance with the procedures and formalities prescribed in this Law.

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

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

20. Foreign standard is a standard published by a foreign national standardization organization or foreign associations, specialized research institutes.

21. Basic standard is a standard published by state agencies, economic organizations, public service units, social-professional organizations for application in the scope of their activities.

22. National standardization agency is the central agency at the national level for standardization, uniformly implementing international cooperation activities in standardization; it represents the country in participating in international and regional standardization organizations; coordinates, dispatches representatives of Vietnam to participate in international standardization technical committees.

23. Technical barrier to trade are technical measures mandatorily applied to ensure safety, hygiene, health for humans; protect animals, plants, the environment; protect national interests and security, consumer rights, as stipulated in technical regulations, standards referenced in technical regulations, legal normative documents, or conformity assessment procedures issued by state agencies or persons with authority.

2. Amend and supplement Articles 5, 6, 7; add Article 7a and Article 7b after Article 7; amend and supplement Article 8 and add Articles 8a, 8b, 8c after Article 8 as follows:

"Article 5. Objects of activities in the field of standards and activities in the field of technical regulations

1. Objects of activities in the field of standards and activities in the field of technical regulations include:

a) Products, goods;

b) Services;

c) Processes;

d) Environment;

đ) Other objects in economic and social activities.

2. The Government shall provide detailed regulations for this Article.

Article 6. Basic principles of activities in the field of standards and technical regulations

1. Standards and technical regulations are fundamental state management tools applied in all areas of economic and social life to ensure product, goods, service, process, and environmental safety and quality; promote innovation, increase productivity, national competitiveness, people's living standards, and international integration.

2. Activities in the field of standards and technical regulations shall be carried out according to the principle of state guidance, market dominance, enterprise centrality, and active societal participation; ensuring the division of authority, transparency, non-discrimination, and the absence of unnecessary barriers to production, business, and trade activities.

3. Standards and technical regulations shall be developed based on scientific and technological progress, innovation, digital transformation, state management requirements, production and business needs, practical application, and socio-economic development orientations; ensuring broad consultation, feasibility, consistency, uniformity, suitability for industry-specific characteristics and development requirements at different periods; while complying with the principles of standard and technical regulation development stipulated in Clause 1, Article 10 and Clause 1, Article 26a of this Law.

Article 7. State policy in the field of standards and technical regulations

1. Prioritize budget allocation for science and technology research to develop national standards and technical regulations. Ensure funding for state agencies and organizations participating in scientific research, technological development, high-tech and new technology transfer and application, innovation activities, and digital transformation in the fields of standards and technical regulations.

2. Invest resources and physical infrastructure for activities in the field of standards and technical regulations; develop modern conformity assessment organizations integrated internationally; accelerate digital transformation in the development, application, and dissemination of standards and technical regulations.

3. Mobilize and effectively utilize investment resources from associations, societies, enterprises in the fields of standards and technical regulations; develop standard services through public-private partnerships; encourage domestic and foreign organizations and individuals, including overseas Vietnamese, to participate in developing and applying standards and technical regulations in Vietnam.

4. Invest in upgrading training bases and vocational skills training in the fields of standards and technical regulations; develop a high-quality human resource pool and a reputable expert team reaching international standards through regular education, vocational training, and specialized training at educational institutions, vocational education and training centers, and scientific and technological organizations.

5. Focus on building and perfecting a comprehensive, unified national standard and technical regulation system, expanding the scope of application from key sectors to the entire economy; implement mechanisms to support small and medium-sized enterprises in accessing and effectively applying standards.

6. Promote awareness, knowledge, and responsibility of agencies, organizations, and citizens regarding the role, significance, position, and importance of activities in the fields of standards and technical regulations. Encourage organizations and individuals to disseminate standards through various forms to enhance community awareness of the role of standards and build a culture of standards in society; organize World Standard Day events in Vietnam.

7. Commend and reward agencies, organizations, and individuals who have made positive contributions in the fields of standards and technical regulations according to legal provisions.

Article 7a. State management of activities in the field of standards and activities in the field of technical regulations

1. The content of state management of activities in the field of standards and activities in the field of technical regulations includes:

a) Building, promulgating, or submitting to competent authorities for promulgation and organizing the implementation of policies, strategies, programs, plans, and normative legal documents in the field of standards and the field of technical regulations;

b) Organizing the establishment and approval of national standard development plans, technical regulation plans; reviewing, announcing national standards; assessing impacts, reviewing, and promulgating technical regulations to meet timely state management requirements and serve economic and social development;

c) Managing and guiding conformity assessment activities, applying advanced management systems in state agencies, organizations, enterprises to ensure consistency and effectiveness in implementation;

d) Organizing the dissemination, guidance on building, applying, and updating standards and technical regulations in various fields and industries;

đ) Managing and organizing the construction, operation, and exploitation of the National Database on Standards, Measurement, and Quality;

e) Building and developing human resources for activities in the field of standards and activities in the field of technical regulations; organizing scientific research and technological development related to standards and technical regulations;

g) International cooperation in standards and technical regulations; managing the activities of the national network for notification and response regarding standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment;

h) Propaganda, dissemination, and organizing guidance on the implementation of laws on standards and technical regulations; conducting statistics on activities in the field of standards and activities in the field of technical regulations;

i) Inspecting, supervising, handling complaints and denunciations, and dealing with violations of laws on activities in the field of standards and activities in the field of technical regulations;

k) Organizing the search, exploitation, transfer, and application of international standards, regional standards, foreign standards to serve defense, security, and economic and social development needs;

2. Responsibilities for state management of activities in the field of standards and activities in the field of technical regulations are defined as follows:

a) The Government uniformly manages state activities in the field of standards and activities in the field of technical regulations;

b) The Ministry of Science and Technology is the lead agency responsible before the Government for uniformly managing state activities in the field of standards and activities in the field of technical regulations; defining the tasks and powers of the National Standardization Agency, representing the country in negotiations and implementing commitments on technical barriers to trade in international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member; drafting and submitting to the Prime Minister for approval the National Standard Strategy;

c) Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, provincial People's Committees, and city People's Committees cooperate with the Ministry of Science and Technology to manage state activities in the field of standards and activities in the field of technical regulations within their assigned tasks and powers;

The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security take the lead and cooperate with the Ministry of Science and Technology to specifically define activities in the field of standards and activities in the field of technical regulations for special objects in the defense and security sectors;

The Minister of National Defense specifically defines activities in the field of standards and activities in the field of technical regulations for special objects in the confidential sector.

Article 7b. Activities in the field of standards and activities in the field of technical regulations for objects listed in the State secrets directory

The Government shall stipulate activities in the field of standards and activities in the field of technical regulations for products, goods, services, processes, and environments listed in the State secrets directory in accordance with the laws on protecting State secrets.

Article 8. International cooperation in standards and technical regulations

1. The State encourages expanding cooperation with countries, territories, international organizations, regional organizations, foreign organizations, and individuals based on ensuring the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, equality, and mutual benefit; ensuring resources for Vietnamese representatives to participate in building international and regional standardization organization standards; allocating resources for Vietnamese enterprises, industry associations, and technical experts to participate in building international standards in relevant fields.

2. The State creates favorable conditions and takes measures to promote the signing of international treaties and agreements on mutual recognition of conformity assessment results to facilitate trade development between Vietnam and other countries and territories.

Article 8a. National Standard Strategy

1. The National Standard Strategy is a comprehensive long-term tool guiding activities in the field of standards, aiming to develop a synchronized, modern, focused, and unified national quality infrastructure from central to local levels, meeting sustainable development requirements and international integration, contributing to enhancing national competitiveness based on scientific and technological foundations, innovation, and digital transformation.

2. The National Standard Strategy focuses on the following main contents:

a) Completing the national standard system comprehensively, synchronously, and modernly in national governance, economic, cultural, social, and environmental sectors, ensuring consistency and synchronization in state management.

b) Building standards serving strategic technologies, digital transformation, sustainable development, and key industries, particularly high-tech product standards to support exports, enhance the national brand, and harmonize with international standards.

c) Developing national standards towards full harmonization with international and regional standards, suitable for domestic practical conditions.

d) Organizing the construction and application of standards through the implementation of science and technology tasks at all levels using state budget funds.

đ) Strengthening international integration, researching, proposing, and building international standards for products, goods, and services with strengths of Vietnam, ensuring full implementation of commitments in international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member.

3. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on this Article.

Article 8b. Transparency, Notification, and Response Activities Regarding Technical Barriers in Trade

1. Agencies, organizations, and individuals responsible for implementing transparency obligations and adhering to notification and response principles of related parties regarding standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures according to commitments on technical barriers in trade in international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member.

2. The State invests in building and operating a national notification and response infrastructure for technical barriers in trade in a synchronized and modern manner, meeting international integration requirements and protecting national interests.

3. Notification and response activities regarding technical barriers in trade are implemented based on the following principles:

a) Ensuring compatibility with Vietnam's socio-economic conditions, aligning with notification and response points on technical barriers in trade in the network of notification and response agencies to fulfill transparency obligations under international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member.

b) Supporting businesses through the establishment of a database on technical barriers in trade, implementing policies to resolve business difficulties and obstacles to expand production and business activities.

c) Encouraging and supporting domestic businesses to access priority markets, focusing on supporting businesses in certain prioritized industries and fields; effectively developing and implementing programs to support export businesses.

4. The Government assigns the lead ministry to coordinate related activities concerning technical barriers in trade; implement analysis and impact assessments of commitments on technical barriers in trade; serve as the national point of contact for notifying and soliciting comments on draft technical regulations to members of the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade; carry out domestic and international promotional work on the implementation of multilateral and bilateral free trade agreements related to the fields of standards and technical regulations.

Article 8c. National Database on Standards, Metrology, and Quality

1. The national database on standards, metrology, and quality is a unified, modern digital platform integrating relevant data to serve state management work and provide information to support organizations and individuals as prescribed by law.

2. The national database on standards, metrology, and quality includes:

a) Data on standards and technical regulations;

b) Data on metrology;

c) Data on conformity assessment;

d) Information reflecting and handling complaints from organizations and individuals regarding activities in the field of standards, metrology, and quality.

3. Data on standards and technical regulations include the following information:

a) National standards, basic standards, international standards, regional standards, foreign standards;

b) National technical regulations, local technical regulations;

c) Members of national standard technical committees;

d) Members of international standard technical committees that Vietnam participates in;

đ) Technical documents and related information.

4. Data on conformity assessment include the following information:

a) Conformity assessment bodies registered, designated, or recognized; certification bodies registered;

b) Declarations of compliance with standards and technical regulations issued by organizations and individuals concerned;

c) Organizations and individuals violating laws on standards, metrology, and quality;

d) Regular and ad hoc reports.

đ) Technical documents and related information.

5. Data on metrology include the following information:

a) Certified and approved measurement standards;

b) Approved type measuring instruments;

c) Organizations providing calibration, verification, and testing services for measuring instruments and measurement standards that have been designated or registered;

d) Calibration officers certified and issued calibration officer cards;

đ) Regular and ad hoc reports.

6. The construction, management, and operation of the national database on standards, metrology, and quality must meet the following requirements:

a) Ensuring synchronization, uniformity, transparency, connectivity, and sharing with other national databases, digital platforms of ministries, sectors, and localities; meeting the information exploitation requirements of organizations and individuals;

b) Regularly updating, maintaining, and exploiting to ensure accuracy and completeness; prioritizing the application of new technologies to analyze, evaluate, and warn about issues related to standards, technical regulations, metrology, and quality;

c) Adhering to legal provisions on data, cybersecurity, and other relevant legal provisions.

7. The State invests in building and ensuring operational conditions for the national database on standards, metrology, and quality.

8. The Government shall specify this provision.".

3. Supplement Article 10a after Article 10 as follows:

"Article 10a. Principles for Building and Applying Standards, Announcing Applied Standards

1. Principles for building standards include:

a) Building national standards must ensure full, effective participation and adherence to consensus principles among all stakeholders;

b) Building national standards must prioritize harmonization with international standards, regional standards, and foreign standards, except where such standards are not suitable for Vietnam's geographical, climatic, technical, infrastructure, or special technological conditions or would affect national interests;

c) Encouraging the development of national standards based on fully accepting international standards, regional standards, and foreign standards in accordance with the guidance of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), while being appropriate to Vietnam's conditions;

d) The development of national standards for innovative and strategic, high-tech, and new technologies should be completed within no more than 12 months from the approval of the plan to develop national standards;

đ) National standards and basic standards must not conflict with technical regulations and legal normative documents;

e) Prioritizing the development of basic standards based on referencing national standards, international standards, regional standards, foreign standards, and research results from enterprises;

2. Principles for applying standards include:

a) National standards are applied voluntarily and serve as the basis for conformity assessment activities;

b) All or part of national standards, international standards, regional standards, and foreign standards become mandatory when cited in technical regulations and legal normative documents;

c) National standards currently applied in documents, contracts, projects, agreements, or other approved and signed documents that are revoked continue to be applied until replaced by another standard approved by the competent authority or until their application no longer complies with current technical regulations and legal normative documents;

Continuing to apply revoked national standards is the responsibility of the approving or signing entity based on management requirements, technical capabilities, and technological levels and they must bear responsibility for their decisions;

d) Basic standards are applied within the scope of the organization or unit announcing the standard.

3. Principles for announcing applied standards include:

a) Organizations and individuals announcing applied standards for products, goods, services, processes, environments, and other objects in economic and social activities are responsible for ensuring that these products, goods, services, processes, environments, and other objects comply with the announced standards;

b) The content of announced applied standards must not conflict with technical regulations and legal normative documents.".

4. Supplement Article 11a after Article 11 as follows:

"Article 11a. Rights and Responsibilities of Organizations and Individuals Participating in Building National Standards

1. Proposing and contributing opinions on plans to build national standards.

2. Leading or participating in drafting national standard drafts to propose the Ministry of Science and Technology to organize reviews and announcements.

3. Contributing opinions on draft national standards.

4. Organizations and individuals with outstanding achievements in researching and participating in the development of national standards and international standards shall be prioritized for consideration to receive science and technology awards, National Quality Awards, and other benefits as provided by relevant laws.

5. They are responsible for information, data, scientific basis, and accuracy in developing and providing comments on national standards.

6. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on this matter."

5. Amend and supplement Article 14 as follows:

"Article 14. Plan for Developing National Standards

1. The plan for developing national standards includes a five-year plan and an annual plan, established based on the following:

a) National standard strategy;

b) Harmonization with international standards according to international treaties and international agreements to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member;

c) Requirements for economic and social development;

d) Proposals from organizations and individuals.

2. The plan for developing national standards shall be assigned by the Government to the lead ministry to coordinate with relevant agencies and organizations to establish and approve it, serving as the basis for developing and publishing national standards.

3. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on this matter.”.

6. Amend and supplement Article 16 and Article 17 as follows:

"Article 16. National Standard Technical Committee

1. The National Standard Technical Committee is a technical advisory organization comprising representatives from ministries, equivalent-level agencies under the Government, provincial and municipal People's Committees, scientific and technological organizations, associations, enterprises, related organizations, consumers, and experts.^:2. The National Standard Technical Committee has the following tasks:

a) Proposing plans, solutions, and methods for developing national standards;

b) Drafting national standard proposals; directly drafting national standard proposals; participating in drafting and commenting on international standard proposals and regional standard proposals; participating in reviewing national standard proposal files;

c) Participating in activities to advise and disseminate national standards and other standards;

d) Participating in drafting technical regulation proposals when requested.

3. The operating budget for the National Standard Technical Committee shall be guaranteed by the state budget.

Article 17. Procedures for Developing, Reviewing, and Publishing National Standards

1. The procedures for developing, reviewing, and publishing national standards are stipulated as follows:

a) The leading agency drafting the national standard proposal shall implement the drafting process; organize consultations; widely solicit opinions; publicly announce the national standard proposal draft; study and incorporate the opinions of organizations and individuals to complete the national standard proposal file;

b) Organizations and individuals drafting the national standard proposal or proposing existing standards for consideration by the Ministry of Science and Technology to assign the National Standard Technical Committee to carry out the procedures and processes specified in point a, Clause 1 of this Article;

c) The Ministry of Science and Technology shall organize the review of the national standard proposal file at points a and b, Clause 1 of this Article and publish the national standard.

2. National standards shall be developed, reviewed, and published through simplified procedures in the following cases:

a) National standards applied in urgent situations for disaster prevention and control, disease prevention and control, fire and explosion prevention, and national security protection;

b) National standards cited in legal normative documents and technical regulations issued through simplified procedures.

7. Amend and supplement Articles 19, 20, and 21 as follows:

3. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on this matter.”.

"Article 19. Reviewing, Amending, Supplementing, Replacing, and Abolishing National Standards

1. Amendments, supplements, replacements, and abolitions of national standards shall be carried out based on the results of national standard reviews or proposals from ministries, equivalent-level agencies under the Government, organizations, and individuals.

2. The Government shall stipulate the procedures and processes for reviewing and evaluating the effectiveness of national standard implementation and amending, supplementing, replacing, and abolishing national standards.

2. The Government shall stipulate the procedures for reviewing and evaluating the effectiveness of the implementation of national standards and the processes, formalities for amending, supplementing, replacing, and abolishing national standards.

Article 20. Construction and Publication of Basic Standards

1. Basic standards shall be established and published by the head of the organization specified in Clause 3, Article 11 of this Law for application at that organization.

2. The organization publishing basic standards shall have the responsibility to notify the publication of basic standards through the National Database on Standards, Metrology, and Quality. The notification content includes information about the name, address, and telephone number of the organization publishing the basic standards, as well as information about the name, code number, and fundamental characteristics of the basic standards.

3. The Government assigns the Minister to stipulate the procedures and formalities for constructing and publishing basic standards.

Article 21. Publishing and Distributing Standards

1. The publication and distribution of standards must comply with laws on publishing and intellectual property rights.

2. Authorities authorized to implement the publication and distribution of national standards include:

a) The Ministry of Science and Technology is responsible for publishing and distributing national standards within ten working days from the date of publication of the national standards; Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies have the right to publish and distribute national standards they organize to draft;

b) National standards with construction funding from the state budget; national standards cited in technical regulations are published and distributed publicly;

c) The Government stipulates in detail the publication and distribution of national standards.

3. Vietnamese representative agencies participating in international and regional standard organizations shall carry out the publication and distribution of international and regional standards according to the provisions of those organizations.

The publication and distribution of standards from international and regional organizations to which Vietnam is not a member, and standards issued by other organizations, shall be carried out according to agreements with the issuing organizations.

4. Organizations publishing basic standards retain the right to publish and distribute basic standards.

8. Amend and supplement Article 25 as follows:

"Article 25. Sources of Funding for Standard Construction

1. Sources of funding for national standard construction include:

a) State budget funds allocated according to the annual state budget estimate approved by the competent authority and adjusted according to the law on state budget;

b) Voluntary contributions from domestic organizations and individuals, and foreign organizations and individuals;

c) Other lawful sources of income.

2. Sources of funding for basic standard construction by organizations establishing and publishing basic standards shall be self-funded; for basic standards constructed by state agencies, the state budget shall provide the funding.

3. The Government stipulates the management and use of funding for national standard construction; economic and technical norms for national standard construction suitable to practical conditions."

9. Supplement Article 26a after Article 26; amend and supplement Article 27; supplement Article 27a after Article 27 as follows:

"Article 26a. Principles for Constructing and Applying Technical Regulations

1. Principles for constructing technical regulations include:

a) Each product, commodity, service, process, environment, or other object in economic and social activities shall only be regulated by a unified national technical regulation throughout the country, except where otherwise provided by law;

b) Consistent with Vietnamese practice and international conventions; ensuring consistency and synchronization within the legal system and between various fields of state administration; ensuring feasibility, effectiveness, and synchronization with conformity assessment activities;

c) Ensuring the participation of agencies, organizations, associations, enterprises, and individuals affected by technical regulations;

d) Prioritizing the specification of technical requirements based on the features of products and commodities; limiting the specification of descriptive or detailed design requirements;

đ) Technical regulations may refer to other technical regulations when necessary;

e) Local technical regulations shall not specify additional requirements for the same objects already defined in national technical regulations, unless otherwise provided by law.

2. Principles for applying technical regulations include:

a) Technical regulations shall be applied compulsorily and serve as the basis for conformity assessment activities;

b) Local technical regulations shall be applied within the scope of local management for products, commodities, services, processes, environments, or other objects in special economic and social activities of the locality, and specific requirements consistent with the locality's geographical, climatic, hydrological, and socio-economic development characteristics."

Article 27. Responsibilities for drafting, reviewing, and promulgating technical standards

1. The responsibilities for drafting, reviewing, and promulgating national technical standards are stipulated as follows:

a) The Minister, Head of an agency at the ministerial level shall organize the drafting, review, and promulgation of national technical standards within their assigned sector or field after obtaining written comments from the Ministry of Science and Technology;

b) The Ministry of Science and Technology is the coordinating agency, responsible for determining the leading agency to draft national technical standards with inter-sectoral nature for each management object;

c) The Government shall prescribe the procedures for drafting, reviewing, and promulgating national technical standards for objects involved in activities under the responsibility of agencies under the Government's jurisdiction; delineate responsibilities in drafting and promulgating national technical standards.

2. Provincial People's Committees shall organize the drafting, review, and promulgation of local technical standards after obtaining written comments from the competent state agency as specified in point a, Clause 1 of this Article.

Article 27a. Rights and responsibilities of organizations and individuals participating in drafting technical standards

1. Proposing and providing opinions on the plan for drafting technical standards.

2. Compiling draft technical standards to propose to the agency promulgating technical standards for consideration and promulgation.

3. Participating in compiling draft technical standards upon request of the agency promulgating technical standards.

4. Providing opinions on draft technical standards.

5. Bearing responsibility for information, data, scientific basis, and accuracy in drafting and providing opinions on technical standards.”

10. Amend and supplement Article 29 as follows:

"Article 29. Plan for Drafting Technical Standards

1. The plan for drafting technical standards includes a five-year plan and an annual plan established based on the following:

a) Requirements for socio-economic development;

b) Management requirements;

c) Proposals from organizations and individuals.

2. The plan for drafting technical standards serves as the basis for drafting and promulgating technical standards.

3. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on this matter.”.

11. Amend and supplement Article 32 and Article 33 as follows:

"Article 32. Drafting and Promulgating Technical Standards

1. Based on the approved plan for drafting technical standards, the agency promulgating technical standards shall organize the drafting of technical standards; conduct impact assessments, widely solicit opinions, notify the Secretariat of the World Trade Organization; organize the review of draft technical standard documents; submit for comments from the Ministry of Science and Technology before promulgation in cases of national technical standards or seek comments from the relevant sectoral management ministry in cases of local technical standards.

2. The simplified procedure for drafting, reviewing, and promulgating technical standards shall be applied in the following cases:

a) In urgent situations as prescribed by laws on emergency situations; when there are sudden and urgent demands due to reasons of national defense, security, national interests, disaster prevention and control, disease prevention and control, fire and explosion; other urgent situations to address emerging issues in practice;

b) When immediate amendments are required to align with newly issued technical standards or regulatory legal documents.

3. The Minister, Head of an agency at the ministerial level, and Provincial People's Committees shall promulgate technical standards through legal regulatory documents in accordance with laws on promulgating legal regulatory documents.

4. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on this matter.

Article 33. Content of the review of draft technical regulations dossier

1. The compliance of technical regulations with legal provisions and relevant international commitments.

2. Consistency and synchronization within the Technical Regulations System.

3. Compliance with professional requirements, procedures, and processes for developing technical regulations.

4. Feasibility, reasonableness, and not creating unnecessary technical barriers to production, business, and trade activities.

12. Amend and supplement Clause 2 of Article 34 as follows:

"2. In cases where technical regulations are issued according to simplified procedures or urgent situations related to health safety, environment, the effectiveness of the implementation of technical regulations may be earlier than the decision of the issuing authority."

13. Amend and supplement Article 35 as follows:

Article 35. Review, amendment, supplementation, replacement, and abolition of technical regulations

1. The amendment, supplementation, replacement, and abolition of technical regulations shall be carried out based on the results of reviewing technical regulations or proposals from Ministries, equivalent Ministries, governmental agencies, organizations, and individuals.

2. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on the review, assessment of the effectiveness of applying technical regulations, and procedures for amending, supplementing, replacing, and abolishing technical regulations.

14. Amend and supplement Article 37 as follows:

Article 37. Responsibility for applying technical regulations

1. Organizations and individuals have the responsibility to apply relevant technical regulations; announce products, goods, services, processes, environments, and other objects in economic and social activities in accordance with corresponding technical regulations and ensure that products, goods, services, processes, environments, and other objects in economic and social activities comply with published technical regulations.

2. During the application of technical regulations, organizations and individuals have the responsibility to promptly reflect or propose to the issuing authority issues concerning difficulties, contents that are not appropriate for consideration and handling.

The issuing authority has the responsibility to respond in writing within thirty days from the date of receipt of feedback or proposals from organizations and individuals.

3. The suspension of the effectiveness of technical regulations shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of laws on promulgating legal documents.

15. Amend and supplement Article 39 as follows:

"Article 39. Sources of funding for building technical regulations

1. Sources of funding for building technical regulations include:

a) State budget funds allocated according to the annual state budget estimate approved by the competent authority and adjusted according to the law on state budget;

b) Voluntary contributions from domestic organizations and individuals, and foreign organizations and individuals;

c) Other sources as prescribed by law.

2. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on the management and use of funds for building technical regulations; economic and technical standards for building technical regulations."

16. Amend and supplement Article 40 and Article 41 as follows:

"Article 40. Basic requirements for conformity assessment

1. Standards and technical regulations used for conformity assessment must specify technical characteristics and specific management requirements that can be evaluated using available methods and tools domestically or internationally.

2. Ensure transparency of information for all parties involved regarding the procedures and processes for conformity assessment.

3. Protect confidential information, data, and assessment results of organizations and individuals being assessed, except when required by competent state authorities in accordance with the law.

4. Not discriminate against organizations and individuals producing, trading, or the origin of products, goods, services, processes, environments, and other objects in economic and social activities.

5. Procedures and processes for conformity assessment must harmonize with the provisions of relevant international organizations.

Article 41. Forms of conformity assessment

1. The conformity assessment with technical standards and regulations shall be carried out by conformity assessment organizations or by organizations and individuals who voluntarily conduct self-declaration of conformity.

2. Conformity assessment with standards shall be conducted voluntarily at the request of organizations and individuals.

3. Conformity assessment with technical regulations shall be compulsorily conducted at the request of state management.

17. Amend and supplement Articles 44 and 45 as follows:

Article 44. Certification of compliance

1. Certification of compliance shall be carried out according to the agreement between organizations and individuals requesting certification and certification organizations specified in point đ, Clause 1, Article 53 of this Law.

2. Standards for certification of compliance include national standards, international standards, regional standards, foreign standards, and industry association standards operating nationwide, which meet the requirements stipulated in Clause 1, Article 40 of this Law.

3. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on this Article.

Article 45. Declaration of Compliance

1. Organizations and individuals declare that products, goods, services, processes, environments, and other objects in economic and social activities comply with corresponding standards based on the results of compliance certification conducted by certification organizations or their own conformity assessment results.

2. Organizations and individuals declare compliance through the National Database on Standards, Metrology, and Quality Assurance with the following specific information: name of product, goods, service, process, environment, and other objects in economic and social activities; name and number of corresponding standard; name and address of organization or individual responsible for product, goods, service, process, environment, and other objects in economic and social activities; related technical documentation.

3. The compliance mark is a sign proving the conformity of products and goods with corresponding standards. The compliance mark is issued to products and goods after they have been certified as compliant.

18. Supplement Clause 5 after Clause 4 of Article 47 as follows:

"5. The Minister of Science and Technology shall prescribe the method of compliance certification."

19. Amend and supplement Article 48 as follows:

Article 48. Declaration of Compliance with Technical Regulations

1. Organizations and individuals engaged in production and business activities subject to technical regulations shall be responsible for declaring compliance with technical regulations for products, goods, services, processes, environments, and other objects in economic and social activities based on one of the following results:

a) Results of compliance certification by designated certification organizations according to the law;

b) Results of compliance certification by recognized certification organizations according to the law;

c) Self-assessment results by organizations and individuals based on testing results from recognized or designated testing organizations according to the law;

d) Conformity assessment results recognized according to Article 57 of this Law.

2. Exemption from declaring compliance according to Clause 1 of this Article for products and goods fully meeting quality management requirements under other laws corresponding to technical requirements in national technical regulations.

3. Organizations and individuals register declarations of compliance through the National Database on Standards, Metrology, and Quality Assurance with the following specific information: name of product, goods, service, process, environment, and other objects in economic and social activities; name and number of corresponding technical regulation; name and address of organization or individual responsible for product, goods, service, process, environment, and other objects in economic and social activities; related technical documentation.

4. The compliance mark is a sign proving the conformity of products and goods with corresponding technical regulations. The compliance mark is issued to products and goods after they have been certified as compliant and declared as compliant.

20. Amend and supplement Articles 50, 51, and 52 as follows:

Article 50. Conformity Assessment Organizations

1. Public institutions.

2. Scientific and technological organizations.

3. Economic organizations, social-professional organizations.

4. Foreign conformity assessment organizations established and operating in Vietnam.

Article 51. Conditions for the operation of conformity assessment organizations

1. Conformity assessment organizations must meet the following conditions:

a) Having an organizational structure, capacity, expertise, and physical facilities and equipment that meet the requirements of national standards and international standards for conformity assessment organizations;

b) Establishing and maintaining a management system in accordance with the requirements of national standards and international standards;

c) Registering their conformity assessment activities through the National Database on Standards, Metrology, and Quality;

d) Meeting other conditions for industries and professions subject to conditional business investment according to relevant laws.

2. The Government shall provide detailed regulations for this Article.

Article 52. Rights and Obligations of Conformity Assessment Organizations

1. The rights of conformity assessment organizations include:

a) Conducting conformity assessment activities based on requests and agreements with organizations and individuals in the fields registered for activity or designated by competent state agencies;

b) Being paid fees according to agreements with organizations and individuals requiring conformity assessment or at the request of competent state agencies;

c) Issuing, reissuing, expanding, narrowing, temporarily suspending, or revoking certificates of conformity and marks of compliance issued to assessed entities;

d) Refusing to provide information, data, and assessment results to third parties unless required by competent state agencies according to the law;

đ) Being recognized by competent state agencies regarding the results of conformity assessments according to the law;

e) Other rights as prescribed by relevant laws.

2. The obligations of conformity assessment organizations include:

a) Meeting the conditions stipulated in Article 51 of this Law;

b) Providing assessment results to the assessed entities;

c) Not refusing services without legitimate reasons;

d) Protecting information, data, and assessment results of assessed organizations and individuals, except when required by competent state agencies according to the law;

đ) Ensuring transparency, independence, objectivity, accuracy, and non-discrimination regarding the origin of goods and organizations and individuals involved in technical regulations and standards;

e) Adhering to procedures and processes for conformity assessment as prescribed by laws on standards and technical regulations;

g) Publicly announcing in mass media about issuing, reissuing, expanding, narrowing, temporarily suspending, or revoking certificates of conformity and marks of compliance;

h) Accepting inspections and audits by competent state agencies regarding conformity assessment activities;

i) Bearing legal responsibility for the results of conformity assessments;

k) Compensating losses incurred by organizations and individuals requesting conformity assessments according to civil law regulations if incorrect assessment results are provided;

l) Other obligations as prescribed by relevant laws.

21. Amend and supplement Clause 1 of Article 53 as follows:

“1. Accreditation activities shall be conducted for the following conformity assessment organizations:

a) Testing organizations;

b) Inspection organizations;

c) Verification organizations;

d) Confirmation inspection organizations;

đ) Certification organizations;

e) Other conformity assessment organizations as prescribed by law.”

22. Amend and supplement Article 57 as follows:

“Article 57. Mutual Recognition Agreements and Unilateral Recognition of Conformity Assessment Results

1. Mutual recognition agreements include: Vietnam and other countries and territories recognizing each other's conformity assessment results according to international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member; conformity assessment organizations in Vietnam and those in other countries and territories recognizing each other's conformity assessment results based on mutual agreements.

Ministries and ministerial-level agencies shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology to implement mutual recognition agreements.

2. Unilateral recognition of conformity assessment results shall be regulated as follows:

a) Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and the Minister of National Defense shall consider and decide on the unilateral recognition of conformity assessment results from international conformity assessment organizations and foreign conformity assessment organizations for state management purposes;

b) The conformity assessment results specified in point a of this clause must be carried out by international conformity assessment organizations and foreign conformity assessment organizations evaluated and accredited by one of the accreditation organizations that are members of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), International Accreditation Forum (IAF), Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) for their ability to meet international and national standards;

Based on practical needs of specialized management, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and the Minister of National Defense may consider and decide on the unilateral recognition of conformity assessment results from conformity assessment organizations outside those specified in this clause.

3. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on this matter.”.

23. Replace certain terms and phrases in the following articles, clauses, and points:

a) Replace "draft" with "draft file" in Clause 1 and Clause 2 of Article 11, and the name of Article 18;

b) Replace "certification" with "assessment" in the title of Section 4 Chapter IV;

c) Replace "abolish" with "repeal" in Point a Clause 1 of Article 36;

d) Replace "scientific research unit" with "science and technology organization" in Clause 1 of Article 54;

đ) Replace "point c Clause 1 Article 53" with "point đ Clause 1 Article 53" in Point c Clause 1 and Point d Clause 2 of Article 56; replace "Article 42" in Clause 2 of Article 47 with "Clause 1 Article 40";

e) Remove "calibration," from Point a Clause 1 of Article 56;

g) Replace "People's Committee of provinces and centrally governed cities" with "People's Committee of provinces and cities" in Clause 3 of Article 34, and Clause 3 of Article 47.

24. Repeal Articles 13, 15, 22, 23, 24, 30, 31, 38, 42, 43, 69, and Chapter VI.

Article 2. Effective Date

This Law shall take effect from January 1, 2026.

Article 3. Transitional Provisions

In the case where technical standards and regulations have been established and reviewed by an organization but have not been announced or issued by the time this Law comes into effect, the establishment of such technical standards and regulations shall continue to be carried out in accordance with the Law on Technical Standards and Regulations No. 68/2006/QH11, which has been amended and supplemented by some articles pursuant to Law No. 35/2018/QH14.

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This Law was passed by the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the fifteenth session, ninth meeting, on June 14, 2025.