Circular 04/2026/TT-BKHCN: Amendments to Measurement Standards for Gold Trading, LED Products, Children Toys, and Group-2 Measuring Instruments
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Based on:04/2026/TT-BKHCN - Government Official Gazette
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Circular 04/2026/TT-BKHCN, issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology on February 27, 2026 and effective from April 15, 2026, amends a series of technical regulations on measurement and product quality. It covers four main groups of changes. First, it resets the requirements for scales used in gold trading: scales must have accuracy suited to the gold weight being measured (per a verification scale interval table) and must carry a valid verification certificate. It also sets a table of maximum allowable measurement error by gold weight bracket, plus a formula for weights not listed. This matters directly for gold shops and jewelry/gold-ware trading businesses. Second and third, the Circular amends two national technical regulations, one for LED lighting products (QCVN 19:2019/BKHCN) and one for children toy safety (QCVN 03:2019/BKHCN), requiring conformity-certification testing to be performed only by a designated or recognized testing organization. The LED provision itself expires on June 1, 2026. Fourth, the Circular reissues the full list of Group-2 measuring instruments (roughly 69 categories, from taximeters and various scales to fuel dispensers, water meters, electricity meters, and EV charging meters) along with control measures and specific verification cycles per instrument type (6 to 72 months). It also repeals one provision in the regulation on household electrical installation equipment. Gold traders, LED and toy manufacturers/importers, and businesses that operate listed measuring instruments (gas stations, water and power utilities, taxi operators, etc.) should review their calibration and verification schedules against the new cycles before the effective date.
Scope and Effective Date
Circular 04/2026/TT-BKHCN, signed by Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung on February 27, 2026, amends, supplements, and repeals provisions of several legal documents in the field of standards, measurement, and quality. The Circular takes effect on April 15, 2026. The provision in Article 2 (LED lighting products) remains in effect only until June 1, 2026.
Article 1: Scales for Weighing Gold in Trading
The Circular amends clauses 1 and 3, Article 4 of Circular 22/2013/TT-BKHCN on measurement management in gold trading. Scales used to determine the weight or gold content in transactions between organizations and individuals must have a measuring range and accuracy suited to the weighed quantity, with a verification scale interval (e) tied to the weighing capacity: up to 200g requires e no greater than 1mg; over 200g to 3kg requires e no greater than 10mg; over 3kg to 10kg requires e no greater than 100mg; over 10kg requires e no greater than 1g. Scales must be verified by an accredited or designated verification body, with a valid verification certificate.
The Circular also sets maximum error limits for gold weight measurement results across weight brackets (from 30g to over 6kg), plus an interpolation formula for weights not listed in the table, with three worked examples. The actual gold weight in a transaction or inspection may not be less than the declared weight.
Articles 2 and 3: Testing Organizations for LED Products and Children Toys
The Circular amends National Technical Regulation QCVN 19:2019/BKHCN (LED lighting products) and QCVN 03:2019/BKHCN (children toy safety), requiring that testing for conformity certification be carried out by a testing organization designated under Decree 132/2008/ND-CP (as amended by Decree 74/2018/ND-CP and Decree 154/2018/ND-CP) or recognized under Circular 27/2007/TT-BKHCN.
Article 4: List of Group-2 Measuring Instruments
The Circular reissues the entire list of Group-2 measuring instruments under Article 4 of Circular 23/2013/TT-BKHCN, covering roughly 69 instrument categories together with the applicable control measures (type approval, initial verification, periodic verification, post-repair verification) and specific verification cycles. Representative examples:
- Taximeters: periodic verification every 18 months
- Truck scales, static railway scales, fuel dispensers, fuel meters: 12 months
- Mechanical cold-water meters: 60 months; electronic cold-water meters: 36 months
- Single-phase electronic AC electricity meters: 72 months; induction-type: 60 months
- AC charging meters for electric motorbikes/bicycles: 60 months; electric car charging meters: 36 months
- Breath alcohol testers: 12 months
The metrological characteristics of a measuring instrument must be maintained throughout its verification cycle and period of use.
Article 5: Repeal of a Household Electrical Equipment Provision
Point 5.3, Article 5 of National Technical Regulation QCVN 25:2025/BKHCN on electrical equipment for household and similar electrical installations is repealed.
Article 6: Implementation
If any legal document referenced in this Circular is amended, supplemented, or replaced by another document, the amending or replacing document shall apply. The Chairman of the National Committee for Standards, Metrology and Quality and relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals are responsible for implementation.