Reference translation note: This English version is provided for operational reference only and is not an official legal translation.

Pursuant to the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations dated 29 June 2006;

Pursuant to Decree No. 127/2007/ND-CP dated 1 August 2007 detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations;

Pursuant to Decree No. 20/2013/ND-CP dated 26 February 2013 defining the functions, duties, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Science and Technology;

At the proposal of the Director General of the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality and the Director of the Legal Department;

The Minister of Science and Technology promulgates the Circular “Promulgating Amendment 1:2016 to QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN – National Technical Regulation on Safety for Electrical and Electronic Appliances”.

Article 1. Promulgated together with this Circular is Amendment 1:2016 to QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN – National Technical Regulation on Safety for Electrical and Electronic Appliances.

Article 2. This Circular does not apply to:

1. Electrical wires and cables already installed in electrical or electronic appliances or forming part of complete electrical or electronic appliances.

2. Electrical wires and cables imported for installation into electrical or electronic appliances which are subsequently exported (export processing or temporary import for re-export).

Article 3. This Circular takes effect from 1 February 2017.

Article 4. From 1 August 2018, electrical wires and cables manufactured, imported and circulated on the market must comply with Amendment 1:2016 to QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN.

Article 5. Implementation

1. The Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality shall guide and organize the implementation of this Circular.

2. The Director General of the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality, the Director of the Legal Department and relevant organizations and individuals shall be responsible for implementing this Circular.

3. Any difficulties or issues arising during implementation shall be promptly reported in writing to the Ministry of Science and Technology for consideration and resolution.

National technical regulation on safety for electrical and electronic appliances

Foreword

Amendment 1:2016 to QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN amends and supplements a number of provisions of QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN.

Amendment 1:2016 to QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN was drafted by the Drafting Committee for the national technical regulation on low-voltage electrical wires and cables, submitted by the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality and promulgated together with Circular No. 21/TT-BKHCN dated 15 December 2016 of the Minister of Science and Technology.

2. SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

1. Clause 2.10 is amended and supplemented as follows:

“2.10 For electrical wires and cables with voltage from 50 V and above:

a. Manufacturers and importers of electrical wires and cables must declare the applicable standard for such products. The declared standard must be a Vietnamese national standard (TCVN), a national standard of another country, an international standard or a regional standard. The declared standard must at least include the following basic criteria:

• DC resistance of conductors;
• Thickness of sheath and insulation;
• Insulation resistance;
• Voltage withstand strength;
• Tensile test before and after ageing of insulation and sheath.

For electrical cables without sheath and/or insulation, criteria relating to sheath and/or insulation shall not apply.

b. Marking on electrical wires and cables must at least satisfy the following requirements:

• It must state origin and identifying characteristics of the wire/cable, including voltage rating, conductor and insulation materials, cross-section and code/type designation;
• The marking must not be easily erasable, and must be clear and distinguishable;
• The distance between the start of one marking and the start of the next must follow the declared standard. If the standard does not specify this distance, it must not exceed 1,000 mm, or the distance from the end of one complete marking to the start of the next must not exceed 550 mm.

Marking must also comply with regulations on goods labelling.

For electrical wires and cables with voltage below 50 V, manufacturers and importers must declare the applicable standard for the products. Marking on such wires and cables must clearly state the corresponding voltage rating.

3. MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS

2. Clause 3.1 is amended as follows:

“3.1 Circulation on the market

Domestically manufactured and imported electrical and electronic appliances, excluding electrical wires and cables with voltage below 50 V and above 1,000 V, must be certified as conforming to the relevant safety requirements in Section 2 of this Regulation, bear the conformity mark (CR), and comply with applicable management measures before being placed on the market.”

3. Clause 3.2 is supplemented as follows:

“3.2.3 Recognition of certification assessment results of foreign conformity assessment bodies shall comply with Circular No. 27/2007/BKHCN dated 31 October 2007 on signing and implementing agreements and arrangements on mutual recognition of conformity assessment results.

Before recognizing conformity assessment results or using a testing body for conformity certification, the certification body must ensure that the conformity assessment body has the required competence and must report to the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality for consideration and management.”

4. Clause 3.3 is supplemented as follows:

“Designation of foreign conformity assessment bodies to perform conformity assessment for electrical and electronic appliances shall comply with Circular No. 26/2013/TT-BKHCN dated 15 November 2013 on requirements, order and procedures for designation of foreign conformity assessment bodies for products and goods under national technical regulations promulgated by the Ministry of Science and Technology.”

5. Clause 3.5 is amended as follows:

“3.5 Registration

3.5.1 Manufacturers of electrical and electronic appliances, after obtaining conformity certification, must register the declaration of conformity with the local Sub-Department for Standards, Metrology and Quality where the enterprise is registered before placing products on the market, in accordance with Circular No. 28/2012/TT-BKHCN.

The registration dossier shall comply with Article 14 of Circular No. 28/2012/TT-BKHCN.

3.5.2 Importers of electrical and electronic appliances, after obtaining conformity certification, must register state quality inspection with the Sub-Department for Standards, Metrology and Quality in accordance with Circular No. 27/2012/TT-BKHCN on state quality inspection of imported goods under the management of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The registration dossier shall comply with Article 6 of Circular No. 27/2012/TT-BKHCN.”

6. Clauses 3.5.3, 3.5.4 and 3.5.5 are repealed.

4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS

7. Clause 4.3 is supplemented as follows:

“Manufacturers and importers of electrical wires and cables must retain the quality standard used for declaring conformity and provide it to competent state management agencies upon request. The standard must be in Vietnamese or English. If it is in English, an official Vietnamese translation must accompany it. Enterprises shall be responsible for such Vietnamese translation.

Enterprises must retain the dossier of the declaration of applicable standards.”

APPENDIX
List of electrical and electronic appliances subject to safety requirements under QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN

Ordinal number 10 is amended as follows: