At its 9th session, the 15th National Assembly passed the amended Law on Standards and Technical Regulations, marking a significant step toward aligning Vietnam’s national standards system with global practices.

According to Ha Minh Hiep, Chairman of the National Council for Standards, Metrology, and Quality, Vietnam previously issued short-term annual or five-year standardization plans. The new strategy aims to align with sectoral development goals, international integration commitments, and national policies on science-technology planning, quality infrastructure (NQI), and innovation.

To date, Vietnam has issued over 13,000 national standards - ranking first in ASEAN - with 60% harmonized with international and regional standards. This progress reflects Vietnam’s efforts to bridge the quality and regulatory gap with developed economies.

In addition, more than 800 national technical regulations have been introduced, serving as key tools for managing environmental protection, public health, and mitigating risks from goods and services that impact national, business, and consumer interests.

Legal framework aligns with global norms while preserving cultural integrity

Experts emphasized that international standards increasingly underpin national development policies. Building a strategic vision for standards not only drives competitiveness and innovation but also enhances community health and safety while facilitating global trade. Active participation in developing international standards helps nations strengthen their global value chain position.

The revised law facilitates broader participation from non-governmental organizations in the standardization process. Enterprises, associations, research institutes, and science-technology organizations are now empowered to propose and contribute to national standards development.

This approach mirrors international trends seen in countries like Germany, the United States, and Japan, where over 80% of standards are proposed by the private sector. Experience shows that standards are most effective when they reflect practical needs - especially from businesses that directly operate, manufacture, and apply new technologies.

A key highlight of the amended law is the introduction of the "one product - one regulation" principle. This aims to resolve overlapping regulations, where a single product may previously have been subject to multiple technical requirements issued by different agencies.

Mr. Hiep emphasized that standards serve as a bridge between science and production, between domestic and international markets. When timely developed and harmonized with global norms while staying grounded in practical business needs, standards can accelerate technology commercialization, support technology transfer, and boost the competitiveness of Vietnamese products.

The revised Law on Standards and Technical Regulations, effective January 1, 2026, provides a new legal foundation for Vietnam’s national standards system to converge with international norms and support sustainable business development.

Nhan Dan