Vietnam releases Draft Decree on Vehicle Type-Approval

The draft stipulates inspection and certification of the quality, technical safety, and environmental protection of imported vehicles and components to ensure that they meet international safety and environmental standards.

The draft decree aims to transpose international type-approval requirements into national law to be in line with global standards and treaties.

Based on the obligations arising from international agreements to which Vietnam has either recently become or soon will be contracting party, the Draft Decree shall transpose those international obligations into national law. The decree is based mainly on the European-Vietnamese Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), the UK-Vietnamese Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), the UNECE 1958 Agreement, the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Agreement on Type Approval, and the Motor Vehicles Production Protocol with Russia.

The draft decree applies to importers and agencies, organizations and individuals involved in managing, inspecting and certifying the quality, technical safety and environmental protection of imported automobiles and components. In scope of the draft decree are complete M1 motor vehicles and parts and equipment of such vehicles as defined and regulated in the UNECE regulations. In addition, it applies to parts and equipment of motor vehicles of categories M2 and N3, as regulated in the UNECE Regulations.

It covers a wide range of requirements for imported vehicles and components, including safety, quality, and environmental standards. Furthermore, it explains the testing and certification procedures that importers must follow to ensure compliance with these standards. Many requirements and procedures are already in place to some extent, as provided for by the Ministry of Transport, however, Vietnam has not yet had a regulation in line with international law.

The draft is currently planned to be adopted on 15 June 2023, and shall enter into force on 15 August 2023.

See the Draft Decree HERE.