Circular 30/2011/TT-BCT is an important compliance basis for manufacturers, importers and traders of electrical and electronic products to review limits for Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Hexavalent Chromium, PBB and PBDE before products are circulated in Vietnam. For imported goods, the risk does not stop at HS code: catalogue, homogeneous materials, test reports and model-level records must also be controlled.

QUICK SUMMARY

Nội dung / Item	Chi tiết / Details
Regulated issue	Temporary permissible content limits of certain hazardous chemicals in electrical and electronic products circulated in Vietnam.
Effective milestones	Effective from 23/09/2011; information publication and recordkeeping obligations apply from 01/12/2012.
Affected parties	Manufacturers, traders and importers of electrical and electronic products.
Immediate action	Review products against Appendix 2, limits in Appendix 1, exemptions in Appendix 3 and maintain hazardous-substance management records.

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

Trường / Field	Thông tin / Information
Document name	Circular providing temporary regulations on permissible content limits of certain hazardous chemicals in electrical and electronic products
Number	30/2011/TT-BCT
Issuing authority	Ministry of Industry and Trade
Date of issuance	10/08/2011
Effective date	23/09/2011
Validity status	Must be checked against official sources at the time of application because the Circular states that it applies until replaced by corresponding National Technical Regulations.
Scope	Electrical and electronic products circulated on the Vietnamese market, except the excluded groups under Article 1.
Regulated entities	Organizations and individuals manufacturing, trading in or importing electrical and electronic products.

KEY POINTS TO NOTE

Article 1 sets the scope and exclusions such as components, batteries/accumulators, replacement parts, gifts/exhibitions, temporary import for re-export/transit and products circulated before the effective date.
Article 5 identifies six restricted substances: Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr6+, PBB and PBDE; specific limits are in Appendix 1.
Article 6 requires manufacturers/importers to ensure limits, publish general compliance information and build/retain hazardous-substance management records.
Appendix 2 lists relevant E&E product groups; businesses should not rely only on commercial names but must review description, function and reference HS code.
Appendix 3 provides exemptions; many exemption deadlines have passed, so actual application requires checking current validity and any replacing QCVN/standards.

AFFECTED PARTIES / PRODUCT GROUPS

Nhóm / Group	Tác động / Impact
Importers	Check E&E products before circulation and retain evidence proving hazardous-substance limits.
Trading companies / distributors	Only trade products for which hazardous-substance limit information has been published under Article 6.
Factories, EPE/FDI, brand owners	Review material compliance, test reports, manufacturer records and retention duties before putting goods on the Vietnamese market.
Logistics / customs operation	Warn cargo owners before ETA about catalogue, HS, test report, label and technical-file requirements.

IMPACT ON IMPORT-EXPORT / LOGISTICS

Khâu / Stage	Lưu ý vận hành / Operational note
Customs declaration	The Circular does not itself determine HS codes, but Appendix 2 contains reference HS codes that must be checked against actual function, structure and dossier.
Technical documents	Catalogue, datasheet, material data and test reports under IEC 62321 or equivalent standards may be needed.
Logistics timeline	If test reports or chemical-compliance files are not ready before ETA, market circulation and customs-related processing may be delayed.
Post-clearance compliance	Businesses should retain model/shipment-level hazardous-substance records for audits or market inspections.

BUSINESS DOCUMENT CHECKLIST

Tài liệu / Document	Mục đích rà soát / Review purpose
Catalogue/Datasheet	Identify product group, model, function and main materials.
Reference HS code	Compare with Appendix 2 but do not treat it as official HS classification.
Test report / inspection certificate	Prove Pb, Hg, Cd, Cr6+, PBB and PBDE do not exceed limits.
Information publication	Website, user manual, electronic document or printing on product/packaging.
Internal records	Material control procedure, manufacturer records, test results and compliance statement.
Exemption review	Check Appendix 3, expired dates and replacing regulations if any.

Nhóm văn bản / Group	Tên/số hiệu / Name-number	Cơ quan / Authority	Vai trò / Role
Law	Law on Chemicals 2007	National Assembly	Legal basis for chemical management.
Decree	Decree 189/2007/ND-CP; Decree 44/2011/ND-CP	Government	Functions and tasks of MOIT when the Circular was issued.
Circular	Circular 09/2009/TT-BKHCN	Ministry of Science and Technology	Guidance on designation of conformity assessment bodies/laboratories.
Standard	IEC 62321 or equivalent standard	IEC / standards body	Temporary basis for testing six restricted substances before corresponding QCVN.
QCVN/TCVN	Corresponding National Technical Regulations if issued	Sectoral authority	Must be checked at time of application because the Circular is applied until replaced by corresponding QCVN.

VIEW / SOURCE DOCUMENT

View full text below

Full text source: Vietnamese DOC files of Circular 30/2011/TT-BCT and its three appendices provided in this conversation. Businesses should cross-check official legal databases or the MOIT website before applying the document to a specific shipment.

TERMINOLOGY NOTES

Thuật ngữ / Term	Giải thích / Note
Homogeneous material	A material that cannot be mechanically separated into different materials.
RoHS	Restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
IEC 62321	Testing standard for determining levels of the six regulated substances.
Test report	Evidence used to prove substance content does not exceed limits.
Appendix 2	Product list required to meet hazardous-substance limits.
Appendix 3	Exemption list not subject to Appendix 1 limits.

FULL TEXT OF THE DOCUMENT

FULL TEXT OF CIRCULAR 30/2011/TT-BCT – OPERATIONAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION

MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE
No.: 30/2011/TT-BCT

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
Independence – Freedom – Happiness
Hanoi, 10 August 2011

This is an operational reference translation, not an official legal translation.

CIRCULAR

Providing temporary regulations on permissible content limits of certain hazardous chemicals in electrical and electronic products

Legal grounds

Pursuant to Decree No. 189/2007/ND-CP dated 27 December 2007 of the Government defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Industry and Trade; Decree No. 44/2011/ND-CP dated 14 June 2011 amending and supplementing Article 3 of Decree No. 189/2007/ND-CP; Pursuant to the Law on Chemicals dated 21 November 2007; the Minister of Industry and Trade temporarily regulates permissible content limits of certain hazardous chemicals in electrical and electronic products as follows:

Article 1. Scope of regulation

1. This Circular temporarily regulates permissible content limits of certain hazardous chemicals in electrical and electronic products circulated on the Vietnamese market. 2. The following goods are outside the scope of this Circular: a) Electrical and electronic components; batteries and accumulators; b) Replacement parts used for repair, reuse or upgrade of electrical and electronic products; c) Electrical and electronic products being gifts, souvenirs, goods serving exhibitions and product introductions; hand luggage and movable personal assets of organizations and individuals; goods temporarily imported for re-export, goods in border-gate transfer or transit; d) Electrical and electronic products already circulating on the Vietnamese market before this Circular takes effect.

Article 2. Regulated entities

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals manufacturing, trading in or importing electrical and electronic products.

Article 3. Interpretation of terms

1. The permissible content limit of certain hazardous chemicals in electrical and electronic products means the maximum percentage by weight of these substances allowed in homogeneous materials constituting electrical and electronic products. 2. Homogeneous material means a material that cannot be mechanically separated into different materials.

Article 4. Electrical and electronic products required to meet permissible content limits

Electrical and electronic products circulated on the Vietnamese market must meet permissible content limits of certain hazardous chemicals as provided in Appendix 2 to this Circular, including: 1. Large household appliances; 2. Small household appliances; 3. Information technology and telecommunications equipment; 4. Consumer equipment; 5. Lighting equipment; 6. Electrical and electronic tools, except large stationary industrial tools; 7. Toys, leisure and sports equipment; 8. Automatic measuring instruments.

Article 5. Hazardous chemicals restricted in electrical and electronic products

1. Restricted hazardous chemicals include Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Hexavalent chromium (Cr6+), Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE). 2. The content of hazardous chemicals in electrical and electronic products circulated on the Vietnamese market must not exceed the permissible limits specified in Appendix 1, except for the cases specified in Appendix 3 to this Circular. 3. An electrical and electronic product is considered compliant if all homogeneous materials constituting such product comply with hazardous chemical content limits. 4. Pending corresponding Vietnamese National Technical Regulations, the current IEC 62321 standard, Electrotechnical products – Determination of levels of six regulated substances, or an equivalent standard, shall temporarily apply to assessing hazardous chemical content in electrical and electronic products.

Article 6. Responsibilities of manufacturers and importers

1. Ensure that manufactured or imported electrical and electronic products do not contain hazardous chemicals exceeding the limits in Appendix 1. 2. Manufacturers and importers shall publish general information that the electrical and electronic products they manufacture or import comply with this Circular on permissible content limits of hazardous substances. Information may be published by: a) Posting on the organization’s or individual’s website; b) Providing information in user manuals or documents accompanying products; c) Providing information in electronic form, such as CD; d) Printing directly on products or packaging. 3. In all cases, manufacturers and importers are legally responsible for the truthfulness of the information published under Clause 2 of this Article. 4. Build or retain management dossiers on hazardous chemical content in electrical and electronic products before such products circulate on the Vietnamese market. Such dossiers must include one of the following: a) Testing/inspection certificates proving that products do not exceed the permissible limits in Appendix 1; b) Management procedures or other documents proving that products do not exceed the permissible limits in Appendix 1.

Article 7. Responsibilities of traders

Distributors and retailers of electrical and electronic products may only trade in products for which information on permissible hazardous chemical content has been provided in accordance with Clause 2 Article 6 of this Circular.

Article 8. Responsibilities of state management agencies

1. Vietnam Chemicals Agency: a) Preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies in inspecting manufacturers and importers whose electrical and electronic products fail to meet permissible content limits under this Circular; b) Designate laboratories accredited as conforming to ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, to test the indicators in Appendix 1. Designation of testing laboratories shall comply with Circular No. 09/2009/TT-BKHCN dated 08 April 2009 of the Ministry of Science and Technology guiding requirements, procedures and processes for designating conformity assessment organizations. 2. The Market Surveillance Agency shall handle violations in accordance with law for electrical and electronic products circulating on the market that do not meet permissible content limits.

Article 9. Effect

1. This Circular takes effect from 23 September 2011 and applies until replaced by corresponding National Technical Regulations. 2. From 01 December 2012, manufacturers and importers of electrical and electronic products must: a) Publish information on permissible content limits of certain hazardous chemicals under Clause 2 Article 6; b) Ensure permissible content limits of certain hazardous chemicals in electrical and electronic products as specified in Appendix 1; c) Build or retain documents on permissible content limits of certain hazardous chemicals in electrical and electronic products as required under Clause 4 Article 6. 3. Any difficulties arising during implementation should be reported to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for amendment or supplementation as appropriate.

Recipients and signing

Recipients include the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers; ministries, ministerial-level agencies and Government bodies; provincial-level People’s Committees; Department of Legal Document Examination under the Ministry of Justice; Vietnam Electronic Industries Association; Government website; Official Gazette; Ministry of Industry and Trade website; relevant units of the Ministry of Industry and Trade; filing: archives and Chemical Department. For the Minister – Deputy Minister (signed): Nguyen Nam Hai.

Appendix 1: Permissible content limits of certain hazardous chemicals in electrical and electronic products

Chemical	Permissible content limit
Lead (Pb)	0.1% by weight
Mercury (Hg)	0.1% by weight
Cadmium (Cd)	0.01% by weight
Hexavalent chromium (Cr6+)	0.1% by weight
Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)	0.1% by weight
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)	0.1% by weight

Appendix 2: List of electrical and electronic products required to meet permissible content limits

Product name	HS code
1. LARGE HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES
Large cooling appliances	8418
Coolers	8418
Ice makers	8418
Large appliances used for cooling, preserving and storing food	8418
Washing machines	8450
Clothes dryers	8451
Dishwashers	8422
Cooking appliances	7323
Electric cookers/stoves	8516
Electric heaters	7322
Microwave ovens	8516
Other large appliances used for cooking and food processing	8516
Electric heating/furnace equipment	8516
Electrically operated heating equipment	8516
Large appliances for heating rooms and beds	8516
Electric fans	8414
Air-conditioning equipment	8415
Other air-conditioning and ventilation equipment using air blowing or suction	8415
2. SMALL HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES
Vacuum cleaners	8508
Carpet vacuum cleaners	8508
Appliances used for sewing, knitting and garment processing (household tools)	8205
Irons and other appliances for ironing clothes	8516
Electric toasters	7321
Electric frying pans	7321
Coffee grinders and coffee makers	8516
Other devices used for opening and sealing containers and packages	7615
Knives	8211
Hair cutting devices	8510
Hair dryers	8516
Electric toothbrushes	9603
Massage and other body-care devices	9019
Wristwatches and other devices for measuring, displaying and recording time	9102
Wall clocks and other devices for measuring, displaying and recording time	9105
Electronic scales	8423
3. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
– Centralized data processing equipment, including:
Mainframe computers / servers	8471
Small computers	8471
Printing and photocopying equipment	8443
– Personal computers, including:
Personal computers (CPU, mouse, monitor and keyboard)	8471
Portable computers / laptops	8471
Notebook computers	8471
Notepad-type computers	8471
Printers	8443
Copying equipment	8443
Pocket calculators	8471
Other products and equipment used to collect, store, process, present or connect information by electronic means	—-
– User terminals and systems, including:
Fax machines	8443
Telegraph equipment	8517; 8518
Telephones	8518
Public telephones	8518
Walkie-talkies	8517
Mobile phones	8517
Products and equipment transmitting audio, images and other information by telecommunications	8517
4. CONSUMER EQUIPMENT
Radios	8527
Televisions	8528
Video cameras	8521
Video recorders	8521
High-fidelity audio recorders	8527
Amplifiers	8523
Musical instruments	92
Other products and equipment used to record and replay sound or images, or other technologies for distributing sound and images by telecommunications	—-
5. LIGHTING EQUIPMENT
Light sources of fluorescent lamps, excluding light sources used in households	8539
Straight fluorescent lamps	8539
Compact fluorescent lamps	8539
High-intensity discharge lamps, including high-pressure sodium lamps and metal-halide lamps	8539
Low-pressure sodium lamps	8539
Other lighting equipment or equipment used for distributing and controlling light, excluding incandescent bulbs	8539
6. ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC TOOLS
Drills	8459
Saws	8461; 8465
Sewing machines	8452
Equipment used for turning, grinding, polishing, sanding, sawing, cutting, shearing, drilling, perforating, tamping, folding, bending or processing wood, metal or other materials	—-
Tools used for riveting, nailing or screwing, or removing rivets, nails and screws, and other hand tools	8203
Welding tools (welding machines, welding rods, electric welding or gas welding, etc.)	8468
Equipment used for spraying or dispersing liquids and gases	8424
Tools used for cutting and trimming trees or other gardening activities	8201
7. TOYS, LEISURE AND SPORTS EQUIPMENT
Electric train and car toy sets	9503
Hand-held game consoles	9503
Bicycling, diving, running, rowing and other sports equipment with electrical or electronic components	9506
Coin-operated machines	9504
Other electronic games operated by coins, tokens or bank cards	9504
8. AUTOMATIC MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
Machines for filling, closing, capping, sealing or labelling bottles, cans, boxes, bags or other containers	8422
Automatic measuring equipment for solid products	8423
Money-counting machines and automatic cash dispensers	9029
Automatic vending machines for various products	8476
Measuring instruments in general	9029

Appendix 3: Exemptions not subject to permissible content limits

No.	Exemption case	Scope and applicable term
1	Mercury in single-capped fluorescent lamps shall not exceed the following levels (per burner):
1.1	For general lighting purposes with power below 30W: 5 mg	Expired on 31/12/2011; after 31/12/2011 each burner may use 3.5mg until 31/12/2012; after 31/12/2012 each burner may use 2.5mg.
1.2	For general lighting purposes with power from 30W to 50W: 5 mg	Expired on 31/12/2011; after 31/12/2011 each burner may use 3.5mg.
1.3	For general lighting purposes with power from 50W to 150W: 5 mg
1.4	For general lighting purposes with power above 150W: 15 mg
1.5	Tri-band phosphor fluorescent lamps with normal lifetime and tube diameter greater than 17mm and up to 28mm: 5mg; tri-band phosphor fluorescent lamps with normal lifetime and tube diameter greater than 28mm: 5mg	No use restriction until 31/12/2011; after 31/12/2011 each burner may use 7mg.
1.6	For special purposes: 5mg
2	Mercury in certain fluorescent lamps, including:
2.1	Mercury in double-capped linear fluorescent lamps for general lighting shall not exceed the following levels (per lamp):
2.1.a	Tri-band phosphor fluorescent lamps with normal lifetime and tube diameter below 9mm: 5mg	Expired on 31/12/2011; after 31/12/2011 one lamp may use 4mg.
2.1.b	Tri-band phosphor fluorescent lamps with normal lifetime and tube diameter from 9mm to 17mm: 5mg	Expired on 31/12/2011; after 31/12/2011 one lamp may use 3mg.
2.1.c	Tri-band phosphor fluorescent lamps with normal lifetime and tube diameter from 17mm to 28mm: 5mg	Expired on 31/12/2011; after 31/12/2011 one lamp may use 3.5mg.
2.1.d	Tri-band phosphor fluorescent lamps with normal lifetime and tube diameter of 28mm or more: 5mg	Expired on 31/12/2012; after 31/12/2012 one lamp may use 3.5mg.
2.1.e	Tri-band phosphor fluorescent lamps with long lifetime (2,500 hours or more): 8mg	Expired on 31/12/2011; after 31/12/2011 one lamp may use 5mg.
2.2	Mercury in other fluorescent lamps shall not exceed the following levels (per lamp):
2.2.a	Linear calcium halophosphate fluorescent lamps with tube diameter greater than 28mm: 10mg	Expired on 13/4/2012.
2.2.b	Non-linear calcium halophosphate fluorescent lamps (any diameter): 15mg	Expired on 13/4/2016.
2.2.c	Non-linear tri-band phosphor fluorescent lamps with tube diameter greater than 17mm	No use restriction until 31/12/2011; after 31/12/2011 each lamp may use 15mg.
2.2.d	Lamps for general lighting and other special purposes (for example induction lamps)	No use restriction until 31/12/2011; after 31/12/2011 each lamp may use 15mg.
3	Mercury in cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode fluorescent lamps for special purposes shall not exceed the following levels (per lamp):
3.1	Short type (500 mm or less)	No use restriction until 31/12/2011; after 31/12/2011 each lamp may use 3.5mg.
3.2	Medium type (greater than 500 mm and up to 1,500 mm)	No use restriction until 31/12/2011; after 31/12/2011 each lamp may use 5mg.
3.3	Long type (greater than 1,500 mm)	No use restriction until 31/12/2011; after 31/12/2011 each lamp may use 13mg.
4	Mercury in certain other lamps, including:
4.1	Mercury in other low-pressure discharge lamps (per lamp)	No use restriction until 31/12/2011; after 31/12/2011 each lamp may use 15mg.
4.2	Mercury in high-pressure sodium vapour lamps for general lighting shall not exceed the following levels (per burner) in lamps with improved CRI Ra greater than 60: P≤155W; 155W<P≤405W; P>450W	No use restriction until 31/12/2011; after 31/12/2011 each burner may use respectively 30mg, 40mg, 40mg.
4.3	Mercury in other high-pressure sodium vapour lamps for general lighting: P≤155W; 155W<P≤405W; P>405W	No use restriction until 31/12/2011; after 31/12/2011 each burner may use respectively 25mg, 30mg, 40mg.
4.4	Mercury in high-pressure mercury vapour lamps	Expired on 13/4/2015.
4.5	Mercury in metal-halide lamps
4.6	Mercury in other discharge lamps for special purposes not mentioned in this table
5	Lead in glass of cathode-ray tubes, electronic components and fluorescent tubes, including:
5.1	Lead in glass of cathode-ray tubes
5.2	Lead in glass of fluorescent tubes not exceeding 0.2% by weight
6	Lead as an alloying element in steel, including:
6.1	Lead as an alloying element in steel for machining purposes and in galvanized steel, not exceeding 0.35% by weight
6.2	Lead as an alloying element in aluminium alloys, not exceeding 0.4% by weight
6.3	Copper alloy containing not more than 4% lead by weight
7	Lead in certain details/components, including:
7.1	Lead in high-melting-temperature solders (for example lead-based alloys containing 85% lead by weight or more)
7.2	Lead in solders in servers, storage systems and storage equipment, network infrastructure equipment for switching, signalling, transmission and network management for telecommunications
7.3	Electrical and electronic devices/components containing lead in glass or ceramics, except dielectric ceramics in capacitors, or in glass/ceramic matrices
7.3.a	Lead in dielectric ceramic in capacitors rated at 125V AC or 250V DC or higher
7.3.b	Lead in dielectric ceramic in capacitors rated below 125V AC or 250V DC	Expired on 01/01/2013; thereafter may be used in replacement components for products placed on the market before 01/01/2013.
8	Cadmium and its compounds in the following cases:
8.1	Cadmium and its compounds in one-shot thermal cut-offs	Expired on 01/01/2012; thereafter may be used in replacement components for products placed on the market before 01/01/2012.
8.2	Cadmium and its compounds in electrical contacts
9	Hexavalent chromium as an anti-corrosion agent in carbon-steel cooling systems of absorption refrigerators, not exceeding 0.75% by weight of the cooling solution
10	Lead in bearing shells and bushes of refrigerant-containing compressors for heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration applications
11	Lead used in compliant pin connector systems
11.1	Lead used in C-press compliant pin connector systems	May be used in replacement components for products placed on the market before 24/9/2010.
11.2	Lead used in compliant pin connector systems other than C-press systems	Expired on 01/01/2013 and thereafter may be used in replacement components for products placed on the market before 01/01/2013.
12	Lead used as coating material for C-ring thermal conduction modules	May be used in replacement components for products placed on the market before 24/9/2010.
13	Lead and cadmium in glass
13.1	Lead in glass used for optical applications
13.2	Cadmium and lead in filter glasses and glasses used for reflectance standards
14	Lead in solders consisting of more than two elements for connection between pins and microprocessors with lead content of 80% to 85% by weight	Expired on 01/01/2011 and thereafter may be used in replacement components for products placed on the market before 01/01/2011.
15	Lead in solders to complete a viable electrical connection between semiconductor die and carrier within integrated circuit flip-chip packages
16	Lead in linear incandescent lamps with silicate-coated tubes	Expired on 01/9/2013.
17	Lead halide as radiant agent in high-intensity discharge lamps used in professional reprography applications
17b	Lead as activator in fluorescent powder (lead content not exceeding 1% by weight) of discharge lamps used as sun-tanning lamps containing phosphors such as BSP (BaSi2O5:Pb)
18	Lead and cadmium in printing inks for enamel applications on glass, such as borosilicate and soda-lime glass
19	Lead in finishes of fine-pitch components, other than connectors with pitch of 0.65 mm or less	Use in replacement components for products placed on the market before 24/9/2010.
20	Lead in solders for soldering multilayer ceramic disc capacitors through-hole and planar array
21	Lead oxide in surface-conduction electron-emitter displays (SED) used in structural elements
22	Lead bound in crystal glass
23	Cadmium alloy as electrical/mechanical solder for electrical conductors located directly on the voice coil of transducers used in high-powered loudspeakers with sound pressure levels of 100dB or more
24	Lead in soldering materials in mercury-free flat fluorescent lamps (used for liquid-crystal displays and industrial lighting)
25	Lead oxide in seal frit used for making window assemblies for argon and krypton laser tubes
26	Lead in solders for soldering thin copper wires of 100 µm diameter or less in power transformers
27	Lead in potentiometer elements
28	Lead in plating layer of high-voltage diodes with zinc borate glass body
29	Cadmium and cadmium oxide in thick-film pastes used for bonding beryllium oxide with aluminium
30	Cadmium in colour-converting II-VI LEDs for display and lighting systems (less than 10 µg Cd per mm² of light-emitting area)	Expired on 01/7/2014.

Source for translation: Vietnamese DOC text and appendices provided in this conversation. This English text is for operational reference only.

FAQ

When does Circular 30/2011/TT-BCT take effect?

From 23/09/2011. Certain manufacturer/importer obligations apply from 01/12/2012 under Article 9.

Does it apply to all electrical and electronic products?

No. Article 1 excludes components, batteries, replacement parts, gifts, exhibitions, hand luggage, movable property, temporary import for re-export, transit and products already circulated before the effective date.

What should importers prepare?

Review Appendix 2, limits in Appendix 1, exemptions in Appendix 3, and prepare test reports or management documents proving compliance.

Is a product automatically covered if its HS appears in Appendix 2?

No. Product name, function, model, structure, import purpose and technical documents still need to be reviewed.

Does this Circular change import duty or C/O?

No direct tax or C/O rule is provided, but descriptions and HS data should remain consistent across customs records.

Are post-clearance records needed?

Yes. Article 6 requires management records on hazardous chemical content before products circulate in Vietnam.

TGIMEX OPERATIONAL SOLUTIONS

1. Review applicability based on product name, model, reference HS code, catalogue and actual import purpose.

Review applicability based on product name, model, reference HS code, catalogue and actual import purpose.

2. Compare Appendix 1/2/3 to identify product groups, restricted substance limits and exemptions.

Compare Appendix 1/2/3 to identify product groups, restricted substance limits and exemptions.

3. Control pre-ETA documents including Invoice, Packing List, B/L/AWB, catalogue, datasheet, test report and original label.

Control pre-ETA documents including Invoice, Packing List, B/L/AWB, catalogue, datasheet, test report and original label.

4. Build a technical-document and customs-operation timeline to reduce storage/demurrage risks.

Build a technical-document and customs-operation timeline to reduce storage/demurrage risks.

5. Archive records by shipment/model for post-clearance audit, market inspection or internal compliance review.

Archive records by shipment/model for post-clearance audit, market inspection or internal compliance review.

6. Businesses should review legal documents and technical files before booking confirmation or ETA to reduce delivery delays.

Businesses should review legal documents and technical files before booking confirmation or ETA to reduce delivery delays.

ELECTRICAL – ELECTRONICS – IT EQUIPMENT

F&B

MACHINERY

HOUSEHOLD GOODS

COSMETICS – PERSONAL CARE