Circular 22/2026/TT-BCT: MOIT Rules for Developing and Applying National Standards and Technical Regulations
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Based on:22/2026/TT-BCT - Government Official Gazette
This explanation was generated by AI and checked by an automated AI review, not by a human expert. It is not legal, tax or accounting advice and may contain errors. Check the official document before you rely on it.
Circular 22/2026/TT-BCT, issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) on April 29, 2026 and effective the same day, sets out the internal process for planning, drafting, appraising, and publishing or issuing Vietnamese national standards (TCVN) and national technical regulations (QCVN) in sectors under MOIT's management. It is based on the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations (as amended in 2018 and 2025) and Decree No. 22/2026/ND-CP, which implements that law. In essence, this is an internal division-of-responsibility document among MOIT units - chiefly the Department of Innovation, Green Transition and Industrial Promotion (the focal point managing the TCVN/QCVN system) and the Legal Affairs Department (which leads appraisal of draft Circulars issuing QCVN) - rather than a rule that creates new compliance obligations directly for businesses. It fixes deadlines for five-year and annual TCVN/QCVN development plans, an appraisal-council procedure, mandatory consultation with the Ministry of Science and Technology, and steps for amending, repealing, or correcting existing standards and regulations. Manufacturers and importers of goods in MOIT-regulated sectors (electricity, chemicals, industrial materials, etc.) do not need to take any action under this Circular itself, but may want to watch the annual QCVN development plan - published on the National Database on Standards, Metrology and Quality and MOIT's web portal - to anticipate new technical regulations that could later require conformity certification (hop quy). The Circular replaces Circular No. 46/2014/TT-BCT dated December 3, 2014.
Scope and Applicability
This Circular governs the development and application of Vietnamese national standards (TCVN) and national technical regulations (QCVN) within the state management remit of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT). It applies to MOIT's internal units and other related organizations and individuals.
Legal Basis
The Circular is issued under the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations No. 68/2006/QH11 (as amended by Law No. 35/2018/QH14 and Law No. 70/2025/QH15) and Decree No. 22/2026/ND-CP, which provides detailed guidance and measures for implementing that law.
Funding
Funding for developing, applying, and disseminating TCVN and QCVN comes from: the state budget for science, technology, innovation and digital transformation; other state budget allocations approved under the annual budget estimate; and voluntary contributions from domestic and foreign organizations or individuals. Funding for drafting a Circular issuing a QCVN is allocated from the budget for legal-document drafting tasks.
Developing, Appraising and Publishing TCVN
TCVN development plans follow two cycles: a five-year plan (prepared the year before the plan period starts) and an annual plan (prepared before December 1 each year, adjustable before June 30 of the implementation year). Units and science-and-technology organizations submit TCVN proposals to the Department of Innovation, Green Transition and Industrial Promotion, which consolidates them for the Minister to forward to the Ministry of Science and Technology for approval.
Draft TCVN follow one of three tracks: standard procedure, an expedited procedure (when decided by the Minister), or a procedure for items on the state-secret list. Once complete, appraisal dossiers go to the Department of Innovation, Green Transition and Industrial Promotion for review before being forwarded to the Ministry of Science and Technology for appraisal and publication. The lead unit has 70 days to revise the dossier based on appraisal comments.
Developing and Issuing QCVN
Five-year and annual QCVN plans must be finalized and approved by December 15 of the year before implementation, then published on the National Database on Standards, Metrology and Quality and MOIT's web portal within 30 days of approval.
Draft QCVN dossiers go through an appraisal council formed by the Legal Affairs Department within 7 days of receiving a valid dossier, covering two parallel appraisal tracks: technical content (led by the Department of Innovation, Green Transition and Industrial Promotion) and legal-document form (led by the Legal Affairs Department). Drafting-team members may not also sit on the appraisal council. After appraisal, the lead unit obtains written comments from the Ministry of Science and Technology before finalizing the dossier for issuance by Ministry leadership; any dissenting views must be recorded in the submission report.
The Circular also sets procedures for amending, supplementing, repealing, replacing, or correcting QCVN (following the same process as initial development), registering QCVN with the Ministry of Science and Technology, assigning QCVN numbers, dossier retention, and a five-year periodic review of QCVN effectiveness.
Implementation Responsibilities
- Department of Innovation, Green Transition and Industrial Promotion: focal point managing MOIT's TCVN/QCVN system; assigns QCVN numbers; leads preparation and approval of TCVN/QCVN development and dissemination plans; leads appraisal of state-secret-classified dossiers.
- Legal Affairs Department: leads appraisal of draft Circulars issuing QCVN.
- Specialized units within MOIT: propose plans, lead TCVN/QCVN development in their assigned sectors, are accountable for content, and manage conformity certification and declaration activities.
- Department of E-Commerce and Digital Economy: focal point operating the National Database on Standards, Metrology and Quality.
- Multilateral Trade Policy Department, Department of Foreign Market Development, Import-Export Department: coordinate on international integration, foreign standards information, and serve as MOIT's WTO Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) enquiry point.
Effective Date
The Circular takes effect from April 29, 2026, and replaces Circular No. 46/2014/TT-BCT dated December 3, 2014 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.