Chemical imports are entering a phase of stricter control. The year 2026 marks a major shift in Vietnam’s legal system. The new regulations not only affect import procedures but also impact the entire operational chain of businesses.
The market is no longer driven solely by price or supply. It is now heavily influenced by regulatory policies and safety standards. In this context, businesses need to clearly understand the regulations to avoid legal risks. This also serves as a foundation for improving business efficiency.
DEFINITION
Chemical import refers to the activity of bringing chemicals from abroad into Vietnam for production or business purposes. This is a sector under specialized management and is strictly controlled by multiple government agencies.
From 2026, the most important legal foundation is the Law on Chemicals 2025, effective from January 1, 2026. This law replaces the Law on Chemicals 2007 and focuses on safety control, environmental protection, and information transparency.
In addition, import activities are also governed by various decrees and guiding circulars. This makes the process more complex. Businesses need to understand each regulatory layer to operate effectively.
CHEMICAL IMPORT REGULATIONS 2026
New legal system
The legal system in 2026 is built to be more synchronized and detailed. The core is the Law on Chemicals 2025 issued by the National Assembly. After that, the Government issued three important decrees in January 2026 to implement the law.
Among them, Decree 24/2026/ND-CP regulates the list of chemicals under the scope of regulation. Decree 25/2026/ND-CP focuses on developing the chemical industry and ensuring safety. Decree 26/2026/ND-CP is the most important document for importing businesses. This document directly guides import-export activities, declaration, and disclosure of chemical information.
In addition, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Circular 01/2026/TT-BCT to provide detailed guidance on procedures and documentation. Thus, businesses need to read all three layers of documents simultaneously. The law to understand principles, decrees to understand obligations, and circulars to implement procedures correctly.
Classification of imported chemicals
Chemical classification is an important step in the entire import process. According to Decree 24/2026/ND-CP, chemicals are divided into four main groups.The first group is basic chemicals in key industrial sectors. These are common chemicals such as methanol, sodium hydroxide, or toluene. This group is still regulated even though it is widely used.
The second group is chemicals for conditional production and business. This is a group that many businesses often encounter. The list includes substances such as acetaldehyde, acrylonitrile, or acrylic acid. These substances require businesses to meet specific conditions before importing.
The third group is specially controlled chemicals. This group is divided into two levels under Circular 01/2026/TT-BCT. Each level has different requirements for licensing and management.
The fourth group is chemicals that require incident prevention and response plans. This group poses high risks to the environment and humans.
Correct classification helps businesses accurately determine legal obligations. If classified incorrectly, the risk of customs clearance rejection is very high.
Conditions for importing chemicals
Businesses that want to import chemicals must meet many conditions. First is business registration appropriate to the chemical sector.
For chemicals in the conditional or specially controlled groups, businesses must have corresponding permits. In addition, businesses need to demonstrate their capability in chemical safety management.
Human resources are also very important. The person in charge of expertise must have knowledge of chemistry and safety. This helps reduce risks during operation.
In addition, facilities must meet technical standards. Warehouses and storage systems must ensure safety according to regulations.
Thủ tục khai báo và công bố thông tin
Declaration and information disclosure procedures
Chemical declaration is a mandatory step before customs clearance. From 2026, this process is carried out on the national chemical database system.
Businesses must provide detailed information about chemicals such as name, CAS code, composition, and purpose of use. This is the basis for authorities to assess risk levels.
In addition to declaration, Decree 26/2026/ND-CP also requires disclosure of information for hazardous chemicals in products and goods. The disclosure content includes composition and hazard levels.
If the information is incomplete or inaccurate, the application may be rejected. This directly affects the import schedule.
Regulations for specially controlled chemicals
Specially controlled chemicals are the group with the strictest requirements. Businesses must apply for a separate permit for each shipment.
The application dossier includes many technical documents. These include safety data sheets, commercial invoices, and reports on previous usage.
According to regulations, the processing time is usually 7 working days after a valid application is submitted. The permit is valid for 6 months.
Without a valid permit, goods will not be cleared. This requires businesses to prepare complete documents from the beginning.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES
Challenges
The new regulations require a higher level of compliance than before. Businesses need to invest in management systems and staff training. This increases short-term costs.
Legal procedures are also more complex. For specially controlled chemicals, the licensing process may take longer.
In addition, specialized inspections are becoming stricter. Even small errors can cause delays in customs clearance.
Opportunities
Clear regulations make the market more transparent. Businesses that comply well will gain a clear competitive advantage.
Digital transformation in declaration helps reduce processing time. This contributes to optimizing operational costs.
In addition, demand for high-quality chemicals is increasing. This is an opportunity to expand the import market.
IMPACTS ON BUSINESSES
The 2026 regulations directly affect operational activities. Businesses need to strictly control processes from import to storage.
Document management becomes more important. Small errors can disrupt the supply chain.
Compliance costs increase but help businesses maintain long-term stability. In this context, technology is an important solution.
CONCLUSION
The 2026 chemical import regulations bring many major changes. Competition is no longer based solely on price or supply.
Businesses need to focus on compliance and risk management. At the same time, they must quickly adapt to policy changes.
A suitable strategy will help enhance competitive advantage. This is the foundation for sustainable development.
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