AsemconnectVietnam - Decree No. 26/2026/ND-CP sets strict requirements for safety in the production, business, storage, and import declaration of chemicals.

The Government has just issued Decree No. 26/2026/ND-CP dated January 17, 2026, detailing and guiding the implementation of several articles of the Chemical Law on the management of chemical activities and hazardous chemicals in products and goods. One of the key contents of the Decree is to tighten the conditions for the production and business of chemicals to ensure safety and control risks.
The Decree consists of 5 chapters and 31 articles, specifying the contents related to the conditions for the production and business of chemicals; The Decree covers the management of chemicals subject to conditions, chemicals requiring special control, and prohibited chemicals; chemical storage services; exemptions and revocation of licenses; and the management of chemical information and hazardous chemicals in products and goods.
Regarding chemical production activities, the Decree requires that production organizations must be legally established; factories and warehouses must meet national technical standards and regulations, appropriate to the nature, scale, and technology of chemical production and storage. Production facilities must have internal regulations and safety signs clearly indicating hazardous characteristics; and must develop and have approved a plan or measures for preventing and responding to chemical incidents as prescribed.
In addition, production facilities must be equipped with adequate means and equipment for responding to incidents appropriate to the characteristics and volume of chemicals stored; production technology must ensure the minimization of incident risks, environmental pollution, and fire and explosion prevention. Chemicals in storage must be properly stored according to technical standards, facilitating emergency response. The person responsible for chemical safety must have appropriate qualifications, a thorough understanding of technology and safety measures; employees subject to mandatory regulations must receive chemical safety training.
Regarding the chemical business, the Decree stipulates that the business organization must be legally established; have a storage facility that meets requirements or rent a warehouse from a qualified chemical storage service provider. The storage and preservation of chemicals must comply with national technical standards; the person in charge of chemical safety must have appropriate professional qualifications, and employees must receive chemical safety training as required.
The Decree also clearly defines the responsibility for declaring imported chemicals. Accordingly, organizations and individuals importing chemicals under Chapters 28 and 29 of the Vietnamese Export and Import Goods List must declare them before customs clearance through the National Single Window Portal. The declaration dossier includes information about the importing organization or individual; commercial invoice; chemical safety data sheet; and related documents. The information provided in the declaration has legal validity for customs clearance procedures and serves as the basis for handling violations if the declaration is inaccurate.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and other relevant ministries and agencies, is responsible for developing a system for managing, receiving, and inspecting chemical declaration activities. Chemical import data is shared with specialized management agencies at the local level through the Chemical Industry Database.
Some cases are exempt from declaring imported chemicals, such as chemicals already licensed for import; imports in small quantities as regulated; and imports of new chemicals for testing or mixtures of substances not on the regulated list.
Decree No. 26/2026/ND-CP, effective from the date of signing (January 17, 2026), is expected to contribute to improving the effectiveness of state management and ensuring safety in the production, business, and circulation of chemicals in the market.
CK
Source: VITIC/congthuong.vn