Dissemination of the Decree implementing the Convention prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons

Speaking at the conference to disseminate Decree 33/2024/ND-CP regulating the implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, Use and on its Destruction organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 10, Mr. Phung Manh Ngoc - Director of the Department of Chemicals (Ministry of Industry and Trade) said: Vietnam signed the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, Use and on its Destruction in 1993 and ratified the Convention in 1998.

Phổ biến Nghị định thực hiện Công ước cấm phát triển, sản xuất, tàng trữ, sử dụng vũ khí hoá học

Mr. Phung Manh Ngoc - Director of the Department of Chemicals spoke at the conference

Also according to the representative of the Department of Chemicals, the Vietnamese national agency implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention (VNA) was established under Decision No. 76/2002/QD-TTg dated June 14, 2002 of the Prime Minister and has submitted to the Government for promulgation Decree No. 38/2014/ND-CP dated May 6, 2014 of the Government on the management of chemicals subject to control of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, Use and Destruction of Chemical Weapons. Up to now, it has been nearly 10 years and has achieved many results in the management of chemicals subject to control of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The internalization of the Chemical Weapons Convention through Decree No. 38/2014/ND-CP is also a legal tool for Vietnam to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention, helping Vietnam fulfill its national obligations, manage and declare the import and export of Schedule chemicals and the production of separate organic chemicals DOC, DOC-PSF, affirming Vietnam's determination to implement the provisions of the Convention.

However, according to Mr. Phung Manh Ngoc, after 10 years of implementation, in addition to the achieved results, Decree No. 38/2014/ND-CP has some shortcomings and limitations due to changes in socio -economic conditions and needs to be amended and supplemented to suit the actual situation and improve the effectiveness of state management in the chemical sector. To overcome the above shortcomings, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will preside with ministries and branches to develop and submit to the Government for promulgation Decree 33/2024/ND-CP regulating the implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, Use and Destruction of Chemical Weapons on March 27, 2024, effective from May 19, 2024.

Mr. Le Viet Thang - Deputy Chief of Office of the Department of Chemicals presented the new points of Decree 33/2024/ND-CP

In order for the provisions of Decree No. 33/2024/ND-CP to quickly come into practice, management agencies at all levels and enterprises to grasp and implement the provisions of the Decree well, the Department of Chemicals (Ministry of Industry and Trade) organized a conference to disseminate the provisions of the Decree. Attending the conference were representatives of the Departments of Industry and Trade in the North, representatives of management agencies, production, business and use units of chemicals under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

At the Conference, Mr. Le Viet Thang - Deputy Chief of Office of the Department of Chemicals presented the necessity of issuing the Decree, new points, list of chemicals in the Table and forms, regulations on transition...

In particular, regarding the new points of Decree No. 33/2024/ND-CP, Mr. Le Viet Thang said that the Decree has inherited the provisions on conditions, documents, procedures for granting export licenses for Schedule chemicals of Decree No. 38/2014/ND-CP. Along with that, it adds provisions on exemption from export and import licenses for Schedule 2 chemicals and Schedule 3 chemicals. The proposed exemption content threshold is 1% (the lowest threshold that must be declared for Schedule 2 chemicals and Schedule 3 chemicals according to the Convention). Add provisions that in case organizations and individuals import Schedule chemicals for business purposes, they must be granted a Schedule Chemical Business License before carrying out import and export procedures.

According to Mr. Le Viet Thang, Decree 33/2024/ND-CP also supplements the regulation that the annual reporting deadline for organizations and individuals is February 15 for declarations of activities in the previous year and planned activities for the following year (up to December 31 of that year), in accordance with the reporting deadline in Decree No. 82/2022/ND-CP to facilitate organizations and individuals in the declaration work. In particular, the declaration and reporting activities related to Table chemicals, DOC chemicals, DOC - PSF according to the life cycle are carried out in the form of electronic testing through the National Chemical Database.

Business representatives speak at the conference

Decree 33/2024/ND-CP also supplements regulations on inspection and examination of establishments producing, trading, using, and storing Table chemicals, DOC chemicals, DOC – PSF. In particular, the regulation on inspection is adjusted to strengthen the propaganda and dissemination of the provisions of the Convention, and at the same time support the facilities of Table chemicals, DOC chemicals, DOC – PSF to be trained and familiarized with the order and procedures for receiving the International Inspection Delegation. In case of detecting shortcomings, through inspection, the related facilities of Table chemicals, DOC chemicals, DOC – PSF will have the opportunity to complete and supplement before officially welcoming the International Inspection Delegation...

At the conference, representatives of the Department of Chemicals also answered many questions from businesses related to the declaration and import and export of chemicals. At the same time, it is recommended that businesses and research units take the time to study and carefully read the contents stated in Decree 33/2024/ND-CP to properly implement the regulations and soon put the Decree into practice.

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