Vietnam Simplifies Import-Export Procedures: Certain Chemical Products Now Eligible for Permit-Free Clearance

In a move to streamline import-export processes and support business operations, Vietnamese authorities have announced a significant policy adjustment concerning the clearance of certain chemical products. This follows a recent incident in which customs officials temporarily detained a shipment at a border checkpoint due to its inclusion of industrial precursor substances.

The detained shipment, valued at approximately USD 410,000, comprised products such as paints, printing inks, adhesives, cleaning agents, and construction materials. Upon inspection, Vietnamese customs determined that the goods contained substances listed in Appendix IVB of Decree No. 57/2022/ND-CP – a regulatory list concerning narcotic substances and industrial chemical precursors. Additionally, these substances fall under the industrial precursor control list outlined in Appendix I, Category II of Decree No. 113/2017/ND-CP, which guides the implementation of the Law on Chemicals.

IVB: Solvent and Catalyst Precursors in Drug Manufacturing
No.	Name	CAS No.	HS Code
1	Acetic acid	64-19-7	2915.21.00
2	Acetone	67-64-1	2914.11.00
3	Acetyl chloride	75-36-5	2915.90.10
4	Ammonium formate	540-69-2	2915.12.00
5	Diethylamine	109-89-7	2921.19.00
6	Ether	60-29-7	2909.11.00
7	Ethylene glycol diacetate	111-55-7	2915.39.90
8	Formamide	75-12-7	2924.19.90
9	Formic acid	64-18-6	2915.11.00
10	Hydrochloric acid	7647-01-0	2806.10.00
11	Methyl ethyl ketone	78-93-3	2914.12.00
12	Methylamine	74-89-5	2921.11.00
13	Nitroethane	79-24-3	2904.20.90
14	Potassium permanganate	7722-64-7	2841.61.00
15	Sulfuric acid	7664-93-9	2807.00.00
16	Tartaric acid	526-83-0 87-69-4 133-37-9	2841.61.00
17	Thionyl chloride	7719-09-7	2812.17.00
18	Toluene	108-88-3	2902.30.00

As a result, the importing company was initially required to present an import-export permit issued by the Chemical Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade to proceed with customs clearance.

However, disputes emerged around the legal basis for the detention. According to recent amendments introduced by Decree No. 82/2022/ND-CP (Clause 11, Article 1), a range of products are excluded from the scope of regulated chemicals under Vietnam's chemical management legislation. These include:

* Medicines

* Pesticides, food, and cosmetics

* Animal feed, veterinary drugs, agricultural pesticides

* Organic and mixed fertilizers

* Materials used in processing agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products

* Radioactive substances

* Construction materials

* Paints and inks

* Household adhesives and cleaning products

* Petroleum and fuels governed by the Law on Petroleum

* Condensates and naphtha used in petroleum production

Given these exclusions, customs officials questioned the jurisdiction of the Chemical Agency in issuing permits for such goods, resulting in temporary clearance delays.

The matter gained further clarity with the issuance of Government Resolution No. 66/NQ-CP dated March 26, 2025, which explicitly calls for reduced administrative procedures to facilitate business operations. Customs authorities have since acknowledged that items such as paints, adhesives, and household cleaning products containing industrial precursor substances are essential consumer goods and vital to production activities, especially under current economic challenges.

Accordingly, importers meeting the following two criteria will be exempt from the permit requirement:

1. The imported goods fall within the categories listed in Clause 11, Article 1 of Decree No. 82/2022/ND-CP;

2. The goods contain industrial precursors listed under Appendix IVB of Decree No. 57/2022/ND-CP.

In such cases, companies are no longer required to obtain a permit from the Chemical Agency. Instead, they must submit a written declaration confirming the lawful and appropriate use of the imported substances. This policy shift is expected to significantly ease compliance burdens and accelerate production timelines for qualifying businesses.

Exporters and importers operating in Vietnam are strongly advised to take note of these regulatory changes. Eligible enterprises can now complete customs clearance based on self-declaration, thereby improving trade efficiency and reducing procedural delays. However, it is recommended that businesses establish robust internal tracking systems for the end-use of imported products to ensure ongoing compliance with exemption criteria.

This regulatory adjustment reflects Vietnam's broader efforts to create a more business-friendly environment and underscores the government's commitment to facilitating international trade while maintaining effective chemical oversight.