Guidelines on implementing Circular 02/2024/TT-BKHCN on the management of product and goods traceability in Vietnam

Guidelines on implementing Circular 02/2024/TT-BKHCN on the management of product and goods traceability in Vietnam​ (Image from the Internet)

On May 23, 2024, the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam issued Official Dispatch 1727/BKHCN-TDC regarding the implementation of Circular 02/2024/TT-BKHCN on the management of product and goods traceability.

Guidelines on implementing Circular 02/2024/TT-BKHCN on the management of product and goods traceability in Vietnam

To implement Decree 13/2022/ND-CP dated January 21, 2022, of the Government of Vietnam amending and supplementing some articles of Decree 132/2008/ND-CP dated December 31, 2008, Decree 74/2018/ND-CP dated May 15, 2018, of the Government of Vietnam detailing the implementation of some articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality and Decree 86/2012/ND-CP dated October 19, 2012, of the Government of Vietnam detailing and guiding the implementation of some articles of the Law on Measurement, on March 28, 2024, the Minister of Science and Technology of Vietnam issued Circular 02/2024/TT-BKHCN on the management of product and goods traceability (effective from June 1, 2024).

According to Circular 02/2024/TT-BKHCN, organizations and individuals producing products and goods subject to traceability by sector-specific ministries, as publicly announced on their respective electronic information portals (as stipulated in Clause 4, Article 19d of Decree 132/2008/ND-CP, supplemented by Clause 3, Article 1 of Decree 13/2022/ND-CP) must comply with the provisions of Circular 02/2024/TT-BKHCN.

Organizations and individuals producing, trading, or servicing products and goods not subject to the above stipulations may choose to implement traceability under Circular 02/2024/TT-BKHCN if desired. Moreover, organizations and individuals engaged in production, trading, or services wishing to connect to the National Product and Goods Traceability Information Portal must comply with the provisions of Circular 02/2024/TT-BKHCN.

The product and goods traceability systems as per Circular 02/2024/TT-BKHCN must ensure the principles of: "One step ahead - one step behind", "Availability of key data elements", "Transparency", and "Full participation of traceability parties".

Furthermore, the product and goods traceability systems of organizations and individuals must ensure the complete traceability process in accordance with the national standards, national technical regulations, international standards, and regional standards corresponding to the product and goods types and publicly declare conformity to the respective standards and regulations.

The basis for declaring conformity depends on the self-assessment results of the organization or individual or the certification results from a designated certification body according to legal regulations.

Circular 02/2024/TT-BKHCN defines the minimum information required in the traceability data of each product and good in the traceability system; the minimum information required in the traceability system for connecting to the National Product and Goods Traceability Information Portal; and the minimum information required in the traceability data to serve consumers’ inquiries on the National Product and Goods Traceability Information Portal.

Circular 02/2024/TT-BKHCN also specifies the state management content regarding product and goods traceability by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Directorate for Standards, Metrology, and Quality, sector-specific ministries, and the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-affiliated cities; the responsibilities of organizations and individuals performing product and goods traceability; and the responsibilities of organizations and individuals providing traceability services and solutions.

More details can be found in Official Dispatch 1727/BKHCN-TDC dated May 23, 2024.

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