The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) of Vietnam has recently issued a circular regarding the management and use of industrial explosives and explosive precursors under its jurisdiction. Originally issued as Circular No. 23/2024/TT-BCT dated November 7, 2024, the regulation took effect on January 1, 2025. It has since been amended and supplemented by Circular No. 38/2025/TT-BCT issued on June 19, 2025 (effective from July 1, 2025), and Circular No. 15/2026/TT-BCT issued on March 25, 2026 (effective from April 10, 2026).
The circular clearly stipulates that the management and use of industrial explosives and explosive precursors must be carried out strictly in accordance with the law, covering all stages including production, trading, export, import, use, storage, and destruction.
The scope of the circular includes the following:
- List of Industrial Explosives
The circular provides a list of industrial explosives, including blasting accessories and various high explosives.
- List of Explosive Precursors
It sets out the list of explosive precursors permitted for production, trading, and use in Vietnam.
- Authority to Issue Licenses and Certificates
Regarding management authority, the circular clearly assigns responsibilities: The Authority for Industrial Safety and Environment Technology is responsible for issuing licenses related to the production, trading, use of industrial explosives, and blasting services. The Chemicals Agency is responsible for licensing the trading, export, and import of explosive precursors and industrial explosives. Provincial People's Committees are responsible for licensing the use of industrial explosives within their respective localities and managing relevant local activities.
- Dossiers and Procedures for Research, Development, Testing, Evaluation, and Product Approval
The circular also details the dossiers and procedures for initial and supplementary registration of research, development, and testing tasks for new industrial explosive products. For new products imported into Vietnam for the first time, the evaluation, testing, and acceptance of results must follow procedures involving a science and technology council, with specific time limits for processing.
- Database Construction and Management
The circular stipulates that the MOIT shall build, manage, and operate a database on industrial explosives and explosive precursors, ensuring regular updates and meeting requirements for safety, information security, data connectivity, and sharing. It also defines the responsibilities of relevant agencies in updating, developing, and utilizing the data in accordance with the law.
- Blasting Plans and Emergency Response Plans
Organizations and enterprises are required to conduct safety risk assessments, develop blasting plans, prepare blasting instructions and emergency response plans, and organize drills on an annual basis or whenever operating conditions change, as prescribed.
- Reporting System
Organizations and enterprises must submit semi-annual and annual periodic reports on time.
