The measure was proposed by the Viet Nam National Chemical Group (Vinachem) and sent to the ministries of transport and industry and trade, Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality, and General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Vinachem asks the relevant units to check the quality of imported tyres because conformity certificates were a compulsory requirement for quality control of automobile tyres before entering the Vietnamese market.

According to Vinachem, there are four circulars from the ministries of transport and science and technology stipulating the compulsory announcement of conformity certificates for automobile tire products including imports and domestic production. However, Vinachem affirmed that the automobile importers had not implemented the compulsory regulations. The authorities had not yet checked the certificates when they conducted customs clearance procedures.

"This leads to many unsafe automobile tyres imported into Viet Nam, affecting consumers’ interests and right, creating unequal competition for domestic enterprises," said Vinachem in the document.

The Vietnamese automobile and tyre market includes imported tyres and locally-produced ones. The domestically-produced tires mainly come from Caosumina, SRC and DRC, as well as foreign direct investment businesses such as Bridgestone (Japan) and Kumho Tire (South Korea).

However, there are also automobile tyres imported from China at about 20 per cent cheaper than other manufacturers.

Automobile tyres imported into Viet Nam serve domestically-assembled automobile factories and centres for warranty, maintenance or repair of cars across the country.