Chemicals is a fundamental industry, playing an important role in the economy.

The chemical industry is a fundamental industry, present in every aspect of socio -economic life and playing a crucial role in the economy.

On the morning of October 28th, in Hanoi, the Chemical Department ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ) organized a workshop titled "New Points in the Draft Law on Chemicals (amended) and the Strategy for the Development of Vietnam's Chemical Industry".

Mr. Pham Huy Nam Son - Deputy Director of the Chemical Department - Ministry of Industry and Trade. Photo: NH

Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Pham Huy Nam Son – Deputy Director of the Chemical Department - Ministry of Industry and Trade, stated that: The Chemical Law was passed by the National Assembly on November 21, 2007, and came into effect on July 1, 2008.

According to experts, the Chemical Law has promptly and effectively institutionalized and concretized the policies and guidelines of the Party and the State. The promulgation of the Chemical Law is a significant milestone in the process of building and establishing a formal and unified legal framework for chemical activities nationwide.

However, according to Mr. Pham Huy Nam Son, compared to the time when the Chemical Law was enacted, the current legal system has undergone many changes, with many new laws being enacted or amended and supplemented. In addition, from 2008 to the present, Vietnam has signed and joined many new generation Free Trade Agreements and participated in several new international conventions and treaties on chemical management. Along with the long implementation process, some provisions in the Chemical Law have revealed inadequacies and obstacles, are no longer suitable for the current situation, and need to be amended and supplemented.

"Therefore, amending the Chemical Law is necessary to institutionalize the Party's guidelines and policies in the field of chemicals; ensure the synchronicity and uniformity of the legal system; overcome some difficulties and shortcomings of the current law; and be consistent with the current domestic and international context and international commitments that Vietnam has participated in," the Deputy Director of the Chemical Department stated.

The workshop attracted the attention of many delegates and businesses. (Photo: NH)

Specifically, according to the Deputy Director of the Chemical Department, stemming from the necessity of amending the Chemical Law, the Government has approved the proposal to draft the amended Chemical Law and proposed that the Standing Committee of the National Assembly consider adding the draft amended Chemical Law to the 2024 Law and Ordinance Drafting Program with 4 policy groups. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been assigned to lead the drafting of the amended Chemical Law, to be submitted to the Government in June 2024 and to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly in August 2024.

Following the drafting process, the draft Law on Chemicals (amended) was reviewed by the National Assembly Standing Committee at its 10th plenary session in October 2024. At that session, the draft Law on Chemicals (amended) was deemed essentially ready for submission to the National Assembly for discussion at the 8th session. However, to ensure the quality of the draft law, the drafting agency needs to continue thoroughly reviewing the provisions and content for further refinement.

Also speaking about the necessity of amending the Chemical Law, Ms. Nguyen Thi Theu, from the Chemical Industry Development Department (Chemical Department - Ministry of Industry and Trade), stated: The chemical industry plays a crucial role and is present in all aspects of socio-economic life. It is a foundational industry, accounting for 2-5% of the total industrial GDP with a growth rate of 10-11% per year. In particular, it has great development potential, but currently, the Vietnamese chemical industry is still developing below its potential. Therefore, amending the Chemical Law is necessary.

According to Mr. Pham Huy Nam Son, in parallel with the drafting of the amended Chemical Law, to promote the sustainable and more environmentally friendly development of the chemical industry, in Resolution No. 124/NQ-CP dated September 3, 2020, promulgating the Government's Action Program to implement Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW dated March 22, 2018, of the Politburo on the orientation for building national industrial development policies until 2030, with a vision to 2045, the Government assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade to lead the development of the Strategy for the Development of Vietnam's Chemical Industry until 2030, with a vision to 2040. The Strategy was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 726/QĐ-TTg dated June 16, 2022.

The strategy's orientation focuses on four key issues, including:

Firstly , the chemical industry should be developed as a modern, foundational industry with 10 sub-sectors, focusing on developing several key sub-sectors: basic chemicals, petrochemicals, technical rubber, pharmaceuticals, and fertilizers.

Secondly , maintain and develop manufacturing plants with advanced technology. Gradually eliminate small-scale production facilities that use outdated technology, have low resource efficiency, produce poor quality products, and cause environmental pollution.

Thirdly, establish industrial zones, clusters, chemical complexes, and chemical logistics centers in locations with sufficient land, far from residential areas, near deep-water ports, and with convenient transportation connections. Encourage circular technologies, using unused products and waste from one factory as raw materials for other factories.

Fourth , gradually relocate chemical facilities that do not meet safety, environmental, and fire safety standards from residential areas to industrial zones and clusters for centralized management.

Speaking at the workshop, many delegates also highly appreciated the new points of the amended Chemical Law, hoping that these new points would not only overcome the shortcomings of the chemical sector but also open up opportunities for the chemical industry to develop and contribute more positively to Vietnam's economic growth.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/hoa-chat-la-nganh-cong-nghiep-nen-tang-dong-vai-tro-quan-trong-voi-nen-kinh-te-355174.html