Procedures for receiving combat gears for entities not under the management of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam

Procedures for receiving combat gears for entities not under the management of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam (Image from Internet)

1. What are combat gears?

According to Clause 11 Article 3 of the Law on management and use of weapons, explosives and combat gears 2024, combat gears are means or service animals used to enforce the law and perform protective tasks to restrict, obstruct individuals with unlawful acts from retaliating or fleeing; protecting the law enforcers, those performing protective tasks, or signaling emergencies, including:

- Electric shock, gas, toxic, anesthetic, magnetic, laser, and net guns; rope-throwing guns; guns firing plastic, explosive, rubber, tear gas, signal, command, and marking bullets and ammunition for these guns; gas, toxic, anesthetic, and itchy substance sprayers; smoke grenades, tear gas grenades, explosive grenades; electric batons, rubber batons, metal batons; handcuffs, caltrops, spike ropes; armor vests; electric gloves, knife-catching gloves; shields, bulletproof helmets; sound suppression devices; interrogation chairs for specific subjects listed by the Minister of Public Security;

- Service animals are animals trained for national security protection requirements, ensuring public order and safety, as listed by the Minister of Public Security;

- Other tools with similar features and effects as combat gears described in Point a Clause 11 Article 3 of the Law on management and use of weapons, explosives and combat gears 2024, not listed by the Minister of Public Security.

2. Procedures for receiving combat gears for entities not under the management of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam

The procedures for receiving combat gears for entities not under the management of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam are implemented according to Clause 4 Article 15 of the Law on management and use of weapons, explosives and combat gears 2024 as follows:

- A written request, stating the name and address of the agency, organization, or enterprise that needs to receive and the foreign organization, enterprise, or individual donating, giving, or aiding the weapons and combat gears; reasons; quantity, type, and brand of weapons and combat gears; full name, personal identification number or passport number of the legal representative and the contact person;

- The request document specified in Point a Clause 4 Article 15 of the Law on management and use of weapons, explosives and combat gears 2024 should be submitted to the competent police authority prescribed by the Minister of Public Security;

- Within 03 working days from the date of receipt of the request document, the competent police authority issues the permit to receive the weapons and combat gears; if not issued, a written response must be provided giving clear reasons.

3. 04 conditions for receiving combat gears for entities not under the management of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam

Receiving weapons and combat gears must ensure the following conditions:

- Foreign organizations, enterprises, or individuals donating, giving, or aiding weapons and combat gears must ensure compatibility with Vietnamese law and international treaties that the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member and relevant international agreements;

- The received weapons and combat gears must comply with Vietnamese law, international treaties that the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member;

- Weapons and combat gears may only be received for research, manufacture, production, equipment, use, or display and exhibition in accordance with the Law on management and use of weapons, explosives and combat gears 2024;

- The received weapons and combat gears must have a clear origin and ensure compliance with technical standards and regulations according to Vietnamese law.

(According to Clause 2 Article 15 of the Law on management and use of weapons, explosives and combat gears 2024)

More details can be found in the Law on management and use of weapons, explosives and combat gears 2024 effective from January 1, 2025, except for Articles 17, 32, and Clause 1 Article 49 of the Law on management and use of weapons, explosives and combat gears 2024 effective from July 1, 2025.

Law on management and use of weapons, explosives and combat gears 2017 will cease to be effective from the date Law on management and use of weapons, explosives and combat gears 2024 comes into effect, except for the following cases:

- Provisions in Articles 17, 35, Clause 1 Article 52 of the Law on management and use of weapons, explosives and combat gears 2017 (amended and supplemented) will remain effective until the end of June 30, 2025;

- Provisions in Article 75 of the Law on management and use of weapons, explosives and combat gears 2017.

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