Disseminate chemical production and trading standards to management agencies and enterprises

The Department of Chemicals disseminates legal documents related to the management, production, and trading of chemicals to management agencies and businesses in Central and Southern Vietnam.

On the afternoon of November 5th, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Chemical Department ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ) organized a conference titled "Disseminating National Technical Standards on Safety in the Production, Business, Use, Storage, and Transportation of Hazardous Chemicals and the National Action Plan on Prevention, Detection, and Response to Chemical, Biological, Radiation, and Nuclear (CBRN) Risks and Incidents".

A view of the conference "Disseminating the National Technical Standard on Safety in the Production, Business, Use, Storage and Transportation of Hazardous Chemicals and the National Action Plan on Prevention, Detection, and Response to Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear Risks and Incidents". Photo: Thanh Minh

Leaders from the Department of Chemicals - Ministry of Industry and Trade, representatives from the Departments of Industry and Trade, and more than 130 businesses and units involved in the production, trading, and use of chemicals from the central and southern provinces attended the conference.

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Phung Manh Ngoc, Director of the Chemical Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), emphasized: Chemicals play a crucial and indispensable role in daily life as well as in the development of production industries, contributing to improving the quality of human life.

Due to their widespread use but also the potential risks to human health and the environment, chemicals require strict regulation and management. Furthermore, chemical incident prevention and response play a crucial role in ensuring safety in chemical-related activities.

Mr. Phung Manh Ngoc - Director of the Chemical Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade).

On February 22, 2019, the Prime Minister issued the National Action Plan on Prevention, Detection, and Response to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Risks and Incidents for the period 2019-2025 (Decision No. 104/QD-TTg) to strengthen the prevention, detection, and response to CBRN risks and incidents in order to prevent and minimize human and environmental consequences. This contributes to ensuring social order and safety, national security, and promoting the implementation of international commitments on safety, security, and non-proliferation of CBRN weapons.

On February 22, 2019, the Prime Minister issued the National Action Plan on Prevention, Detection, and Response to Chemical, Biological, Radiation, and Nuclear Risks and Incidents for the period 2019-2025 (Decision No. 104/QD-TTg) to strengthen the prevention, detection, and response to CBRN risks and incidents, aiming to prevent and minimize human and environmental consequences, contribute to ensuring social order and safety, national security, and promote the implementation of international commitments on safety, security, and non-proliferation of CBRN weapons.

In accordance with the Prime Minister's Decision, on March 16, 2020, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued an Action Plan to implement Decision No. 104/QD-TTg, comprising various tasks. Among these, in 2024, the Chemical Department will conduct research and surveys to develop a list of dual-use goods for chemical, biological, radiation, and nuclear applications.

Notably, on December 21, 2020, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Circular No. 48/2020/TT-BCT promulgating the National Technical Standard on Safety in the Production, Business, Use, Storage, and Transportation of Hazardous Chemicals (QCVN 05A:2020/BCT). This is an important document replacing TCVN 5507:2002, the Vietnamese standard on hazardous chemicals - safety regulations in production, business, use, storage, and transportation.

The 05A:2020 standard, upon its entry into force, has contributed to strengthening safety in the chemical sector, serving as a basis for businesses to implement and for regulatory agencies to monitor and inspect.

However, during implementation, the Department of Chemicals received some feedback from businesses and local management agencies regarding certain inconsistencies between the standards and the local infrastructure and socio-economic conditions. Therefore, in 2023, the Department of Chemicals proposed including this in the Ministry of Industry and Trade's plan for drafting relevant documents.

Regarding the implementation of the legal document drafting plan, Mr. Phung Manh Ngoc stated that by October 10, 2024, the Department of Chemicals had submitted to the Ministry of Industry and Trade Circular No. 19/2024/TT-BCT, which amends the National Technical Standard on safety in the production, business, use, storage, and transportation of hazardous chemicals.

"In order for the contents of Decision No. 104/QD-TTg and the regulations of Circular No. 19/TT-BCT to quickly come into practice, and for management agencies at all levels and businesses to grasp and effectively implement the regulations, the Department of Chemicals is actively coordinating with the Departments of Industry and Trade of provinces and cities nationwide to organize conferences to disseminate the above documents," the Director of the Department of Chemicals emphasized.

Representatives from the Department of Chemicals presented the National Action Plan on Prevention, Detection, and Response to Chemical, Biological, Radiation, and Nuclear Risks and Incidents for the period 2019-2025 and the List of Dual-Use CBRN Goods at the conference.

At the conference, delegates heard a presentation from representatives of the Chemical Department on the core points of the National Action Plan on Prevention, Detection, and Response to Chemical, Biological, Radiation, and Nuclear Risks and Incidents for the period 2019-2025, and the List of Dual-Use CBRN Goods; and Circular No. 19 dated October 10, 2024, of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, "Circular Amending Regulation 1:2024 of QCVN 05A:2020/BCT, National Technical Standard on Safety in the Production, Business, Use, Storage, and Transportation of Hazardous Chemicals".

During the discussion, representatives from the Departments of Industry and Trade and businesses highly appreciated several new amendments and additions in the two documents, which are appropriate and practical to the needs and urgency of businesses and units involved in the production, trading, use, storage, and transportation of hazardous chemicals.

In addition, the Department of Chemicals has received many contributions from management units at all levels, and businesses involved in the production, trading, and use of chemicals, regarding new points, supplementary information, and amendments. At the same time, it has thoroughly addressed the opinions of delegates at the conference.

Aiming to improve state management in chemical activities, at the conference, the Department of Chemicals conducted a survey to gather information from chemical businesses regarding their response to chemical, biological, radiation, and nuclear incidents. The survey also stated that this information is very valuable to the Department of Chemicals' survey work and committed to using the information and opinions of businesses solely for the purpose of improving the effectiveness of chemical management in the future.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/bo-cong-thuong-pho-bien-quy-chuan-san-xuat-kinh-doanh-hoa-chat-voi-co-quan-quan-ly-doanh-nghiep-356989.html