On 08 July 2026, the Government of Vietnam issued Decree No. 275/2026/ND-CP on administrative penalties for violations in the field of chemicals and industrial explosives.

The Decree will officially take effect from 25 August 2026, replacing the relevant regulations under Decree No. 71/2019/ND-CP, as amended by Decree No. 17/2022/ND-CP.

Manufacturing enterprises that import, use, store or handle chemicals as raw materials, additives or supporting substances in their production processes should also review their current compliance status.

The key question for manufacturers is not simply “How much is the penalty?” but whether their licenses, chemical documentation, declared information and actual factory operations remain consistent with one another.

• Safety conditions for chemical manufacturing, trading and storage services;
• Certificates and licenses for conditional chemicals and specially controlled chemicals;
• Chemical trading and storage activities;
• Declaration of imported chemicals;
• Import and export of regulated chemicals;
• Updating information in the specialized chemical database;
• Chemical classification under the GHS system;
• Safety Data Sheets (SDS/MSDS);
• Registration and management of new chemicals.

For an organization committing the same violation, the monetary penalty is generally twice the amount applicable to an individual.

Individuals: VND 3 million – VND 50 million

Organizations: VND 6 million – VND 100 million per violation

However, the monetary fine may not always be the most significant business risk.

Certain violations may also result in additional penalties or remedial measures. In cases involving imported chemicals, depending on the specific violation, the enterprise may also face measures such as compulsory removal of goods from Vietnamese territory or re-export.

For FDI manufacturers, such consequences may directly affect:

• Raw-material import schedules;
• Customs clearance;
• Production plans;
• Delivery commitments;
• Overall supply-chain continuity.

• Does the enterprise require a specialized license or certificate for the relevant chemical activity?
• Are all existing licenses and certificates still valid?
• Does the registered operating location correspond with the actual location?
• Is the actual manufacturing, trading or storage scale within the approved scope?
• Have required amendments or reissuance procedures been completed following changes in company information, operating location or business activities?

The more important question is whether the actual conditions are appropriate for the chemicals being stored and the scale of operations.

• Chemical safety regulations and internal rules;
• Warning signs and hazard information;
• Chemical segregation and storage arrangements;
• Safe operating procedures;
• Emergency-response equipment;
• Warehouse and factory conditions appropriate to the type and quantity of chemicals handled.

• Accuracy of imported chemical declarations;
• Invoices and supporting commercial documents;
• Safety Data Sheets;
• Information required to be updated after importation;
• Whether the chemical is subject to declaration requirements or qualifies for an exemption.

Actual chemical → Composition/CAS Number → GHS Classification → SDS/MSDS → Label → Import Declaration → Specialized Chemical Database

• Chemicals are correctly classified under the applicable GHS requirements;
• SDS documents accurately reflect the actual chemical composition;
• Vietnamese-language SDS information is complete where required;
• Labels and declarations are consistent with the SDS;
• Information recorded in the specialized chemical database remains accurate and up to date.

• Supporting documentation;
• Specialized database information;
• Valid licenses and certificates;
• Compliant storage conditions;
• Records of chemical activities;
• Consistency between imported materials and chemicals actually being used at the factory.

Chemical compliance should be treated as an ongoing control process rather than a one-time import procedure for each shipment.

Purchasing – Import/Export – Production – Warehouse – EHS – Customs

• Chemical composition or CAS information in the SDS is inconsistent;
• A regulated chemical has not been properly identified;
• The enterprise’s existing license no longer reflects its actual operations;
• Declared information differs from internal factory records;
• Storage conditions do not satisfy applicable requirements.

Therefore, THT recommends that manufacturers do not wait until a shipment encounters problems or an inspection is initiated before conducting a compliance review.

Industrial Logistics & Customs Compliance for FDI Factories

01 — Review the complete list of chemicals currently being imported, used, traded or stored.

The review should not be limited to products officially described internally as “chemicals”. Raw materials, additives, solvents, treatment substances and production-supporting chemicals may also need to be assessed.

02 — Match each chemical against its applicable compliance requirements.

For each chemical, enterprises should verify the relevant:

• License or certificate requirements;
• SDS/MSDS;
• Import declaration obligations;
• GHS classification;
• Specialized management requirements;
• Applicable exemptions, where relevant.

03 — Compare legal documentation with actual factory operations.

The purpose is to determine whether:

remains consistent.

• Shipments being held;
• Raw materials arriving late;
• Compulsory re-export;
• Production interruptions;
• Unexpected compliance issues during inspections.

Proactive Chemical Compliance

Review before the Decree takes effect — not after a shipment encounters a problem.

📎
Download the full text of Decree No. 275/2026/ND-CP

📊 Infographic: Key areas enterprises should review before 25 August 2026 – available above.

Need support reviewing your chemical compliance?

THT Cargo Logistics supports FDI manufacturers in reviewing imported chemical documentation, SDS/MSDS, chemical declarations, specialized licenses and compliance risks that may affect customs clearance and production continuity.

THT CARGO LOGISTICS

Logistics expert for FDI enterprises

Industrial Logistics & Customs Compliance for FDI Factories

Disclaimer: This article is prepared by THT Cargo Logistics for regulatory updates and general compliance awareness. The actual application of Decree 275/2026/ND-CP should be determined based on the specific chemical, intended use, type of business activity and actual documentation of each enterprise. This content does not replace a case-specific legal or regulatory assessment.