The Ministry of Industry and Trade addresses concerns regarding chemical imports from 2026.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade addresses concerns regarding chemical imports from 2026.

The company operates in the field of importing and trading chemicals, including items that require import licenses for industrial precursors according to legal regulations.

Previously, the procedure for granting import licenses for chemicals was carried out at the Department of Chemicals – Ministry of Industry and Trade. However, since the Law on Chemicals No. 69/2025 came into effect, the Department of Chemicals no longer issues import licenses and advises businesses to contact the relevant industry and trade management agency to comply with the new regulations.

Upon submitting the application to the competent Department of Industry and Trade, the response received was that there are currently no specific guidelines, directives, or procedures for granting import licenses for chemicals under the Chemical Law No. 69/2025; therefore, the application cannot be accepted and processed for the enterprise.

The Chemical Law No. 69/2026, effective January 1, 2026, will make it impossible to import goods for January and February. The company will face a severe shortage of supplies for domestic production and export. Production will be temporarily suspended, and workers will be laid off.

To resolve obstacles and create favorable conditions for businesses, we propose allowing the temporary import of certain goods.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade provides the following guidance on the above matter:

According to Official Letter 61/HC-QLHC of 2026, to guide the implementation of the Chemical Law 2025 No. 69/2025/QH15, the following legal documents have been issued and are effective from January 17, 2026:

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- Decree No. 24/2026/ND-CP dated January 17, 2026, of the Government stipulates the list of chemicals falling within the scope of the Law on Chemicals.

- Decree No. 25/2026/ND-CP dated January 17, 2026, of the Government, stipulating detailed regulations and measures for organizing and guiding the implementation of certain articles of the Law on Chemicals concerning the development of the chemical industry and chemical safety and security.

- Decree No. 26/2026/ND-CP dated January 17, 2026, of the Government, providing detailed regulations and guidance on the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Chemicals regarding the management of chemical activities and hazardous chemicals in products and goods.

- Circular No. 01/2026/TT-BCT dated January 17, 2026, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade, providing detailed regulations and guidance on the implementation of several articles of the Law on Chemicals and Government Decree No. 26/2026/ND-CP detailing and guiding the implementation of several articles of the Law on Chemicals regarding the management of chemical activities and hazardous chemicals in products and goods.

- Circular No. 02/2026/TT-BCT dated January 17, 2026, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade, providing detailed regulations and guidance on the implementation of several articles of the Law on Chemicals and Government Decree No. 25/2026/ND-CP detailing several articles and measures for organizing and guiding the implementation of several articles of the Law on Chemicals concerning the development of the chemical industry and chemical safety and security.

The Department of Chemicals requests that organizations and individuals involved in chemical activities seriously implement and fully comply with regulations and submit administrative procedures to the competent authorities as prescribed in the aforementioned documents for processing.

Prohibited acts under the Chemicals Act 2025

According to Article 3 of the 2025 Chemical Law, the following acts are strictly prohibited:

1. Illegally appropriating chemicals; producing, trading, transporting, storing, using, buying, selling, exchanging, giving away, sending, borrowing, lending, renting, leasing, or pledging chemicals.

2. Appropriating, buying, selling, exchanging, giving away, borrowing, lending, renting, leasing, pledging, forging, altering, or erasing licenses, certificates, or permits related to chemicals.

3. Failure to provide, or intentionally providing incomplete, untimely, or inaccurate information regarding the hazardous properties of chemicals; products and goods containing hazardous chemicals; loss or leakage of hazardous chemicals; and chemical incidents.

4. Using chemicals of unknown origin, or chemicals not permitted for use in the production, sale, and preservation of food, medicines, pharmaceutical raw materials, cosmetics, animal feed, aquatic feed, veterinary drugs, pesticides, fertilizers, and consumer chemical products.

5. The production and importation of products and goods containing hazardous chemicals that do not comply with the provisions of this Law, causing serious harm to people, infrastructure, property, and the environment.

6. Abusing one's position, authority, or profession to commit acts that violate the law on chemical management.

7. The production, trading, and use of chemicals that seriously affect people, infrastructure, property, and the environment; infringe upon national security, chemical security, social order and safety; and the legitimate rights and interests of agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Source: Law Library