Problems relating to Trade and Investment on Vietnam

19. Industrial standards, approval of safety standards
Issue	Issue details	Requests	Reference

(1) Marking Requirement for Compulsory Technical Standard Certification	- On 1 June 2011, Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) released promulgation on 1 August of proposed regulation for technical standard, including concrete reinforcing steel (RFS) Standard under WTO for enforcement from January 2012. Manufacturers and Importers of RFS (both domestic and foreign) must declare the Standard Name, Certification and provide the appropriate marking. On 3 June 2013, Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) notified joint implementation with Ministry of Science and Technology "draft technical standard, including steel standard for concrete reinforcement". If enforced, all manufacturers and parties concerned with manufacture / import of the products must conform to the requirements contained in this circular. (Dates of circular and enforcement both remain undecided.)	- It is requested that MOST and MOIT -- refrain from introduction of the measures, and -- provide adequate exclusionary provisions.
	(Action) - On 1 June 2014, Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT), Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) Joint Circular No. 44/2013/TTLT-BCT-BKHCN dated December 31, 2013 entered into force. It provides for the management of the compulsory standard for the domestically produced and imported steel quality.
	(Improvement) - On 25 August 2014, MoST promulgated MoST Circular No.1591, formally approving JICQA and JQA as foreign test laboratory (foreign accreditation body). - Since 24 June 2014, MIT and MST Joint Circular No. 44/2013/TTLT-BCT-BKHCN concerning compulsory standard for the steel products has excluded steel products from quality inspection requirement (1) steel products imported for further processing of the end products destined to export, and (2) steel products imported by export processing enterprises with manufacturing depots located outside EPZ.

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