AsemconnectVietnam - Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan has provided information on the quality control of biofuels at the regular Press Conference of the Government.

Quality control of E10 gasoline from production to retail 
At the regular Government Press Conference in May, organized by the Government Office on the afternoon of June 3rd, in response to a reporter's question about the quality control of E10 gasoline, the mechanism for receiving public feedback, and solutions to protect consumer rights, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan stated that Vietnam switched to using biofuels from the end of 2017.
According to the Deputy Minister, currently, two types of biofuels are commonly found on the market: E5 and E10. To implement the roadmap for bringing biofuels to market as stipulated in Circular No. 50, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has coordinated with ministries, sectors, localities, businesses, and many related organizations to carry out numerous activities to ensure the transition process is effective in accordance with the Party and State's guidelines and policies.
Regarding quality control, the Deputy Minister emphasized that all types of biofuels circulating in the market must comply with the issued standards and regulations. The Ministry of Science and Technology has developed a specific and clear system of standards and regulations for biofuels. Therefore, the first requirement is that product quality must fully meet these standards, while preventing the blending of products that do not meet the standards and regulations.
The inspection and supervision are carried out synchronously throughout the entire supply chain, from production, blending, distribution, circulation to retail. According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, all stages before a product reaches the consumer must be inspected and controlled. In addition, consumers are encouraged to participate in monitoring by evaluating product quality and reporting any issues to support authorities in the inspection process.
The Deputy Minister stated that businesses directly involved in the production, blending, mixing, transportation, and retail of petroleum products are responsible for controlling product quality in accordance with the law on petroleum business and regulations related to product standards and quality. These regulations clearly define the responsibilities of each entity throughout the entire process of production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of petroleum products, including biofuels.
For state management agencies, inspection and supervision tasks are carried out regularly through functional forces such as the Market Management Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, local market management forces, and in coordination with relevant departments and agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Construction, and other functional agencies.
“Inspections are conducted both periodically, according to plan, and on an ad hoc basis. Following the new directive from the Government, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is developing a plan to continue implementing ad hoc inspections in this area,” Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan informed.
The Deputy Minister also emphasized that inspection and supervision is not a new activity. Since E5 gasoline was introduced to the market in 2018, quality control activities have been regularly maintained and have ensured the quality of petroleum products supplied to the market. In the future, these activities will continue to be implemented continuously.
Regarding the handling of violations, the Deputy Minister stated that the current legal system already has comprehensive regulations on handling administrative violations, and even criminal prosecution. Depending on the nature, extent, and specific nature of the violation, the relevant authorities will apply appropriate forms of handling.
Strengthening consumer protection and receiving feedback on biofuels
Regarding the protection of consumer rights, Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan said that the Ministry of Industry and Trade has drafted the Law on Consumer Rights Protection, which was passed by the National Assembly in 2023. This law clearly stipulates the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of all relevant parties to best protect the rights of the people.
Following the direction of the Deputy Prime Minister, the most important goal of the policy of switching to the use of biofuels is to create favorable conditions for the people, with consumer rights always placed at the center. All policies implemented must aim to protect those rights.
One of the solutions implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade is to receive feedback from the public to facilitate surprise inspections of biofuels. However, according to the Deputy Minister, this is only one part of a larger, more comprehensive set of solutions being implemented.
First, ministries, departments, petroleum businesses, and manufacturers of engines and equipment using biofuels must strengthen communication efforts, address feedback and suggestions, and provide technical advice to consumers. According to the Deputy Minister, not all citizens are technical experts or know which agencies to contact in case of problems; therefore, raising awareness and providing comprehensive information is essential.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has also developed guidebooks and collaborated with media outlets to widely disseminate them to the public. Simultaneously, the Ministry has developed a Q&A system to explain common issues related to biofuels. Currently, this Q&A system contains 85 questions and continues to be updated based on feedback, questions, and issues arising in practice.
In addition, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has established a chatbot system using artificial intelligence (AI) to support receiving and processing questions, and to supplement the content of the Q&A system. According to the Deputy Minister, the application of technology helps increase objectivity and improve the ability to respond accurately and promptly to consumer requests.
For engine and vehicle manufacturers, the Ministry of Industry and Trade requires them to continue reviewing, evaluating, and publishing the compatibility of their products with biofuels. Beyond simply publishing information, businesses must also strengthen user guidance and prepare a comprehensive warranty and maintenance system to handle any arising situations.
“To date, the use of biofuels is progressing positively and yielding good results. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is also collaborating with technical experts to develop troubleshooting guidelines and continue compiling in-depth publications to serve the public,” the Deputy Minister stated.
Regarding the mechanism for receiving feedback, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has established channels for receiving and is developing a specialized process for handling feedback related to E5 and E10 gasoline. This process will include steps for receiving, processing, and resolving consumer complaints in accordance with the law on consumer protection.
In addition, the Ministry also requests that localities, consumer protection associations, and technical associations participate in receiving feedback, answering questions, and advising the public to ensure that consumers can effectively protect their rights.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan stated that another important task is ensuring the supply of bio-gasoline to the market. The Ministry of Industry and Trade, along with other ministries, sectors, and localities, will coordinate to ensure a sufficient supply of E5 and E10 gasoline, preventing any disruptions in the supply chain.
According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, with the synchronized implementation of solutions ranging from quality control, enhanced inspection, feedback reception, communication, technical support to ensuring supply, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and related agencies will continue to strive to effectively protect consumer rights throughout the entire process of production, blending, distribution and trading of bioethanol in the market.
CK
Source: VITIC/moit.gov.vn