What are dangerous chemicals? Regulations on the transportation of hazardous chemicals in Vietnam

What are dangerous chemicals? Regulations on the transportation of hazardous chemicals in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. What are hazardous chemicals?

According to Clause 4, Article 4 of the Law on Chemicals 2007, hazardous chemical means a chemical having one or several of the following hazardous properties according to classification principles of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals:

- Explosive;

- Strongly oxidative;

- Strongly corrosive;

- Flammable;

- Acutely toxic;

- Chronically toxic;

- Causing irritation to humans;

- Causing cancer or posing threats of causing cancer;

- Causing genetic mutation;

- Reproductively toxic;

- Bio-accumulative;

- Organically polluting and hard to decay;

- Environmentally toxic.

2. Regulations on the transportation of hazardous chemicals in Vietnam

The transportation of hazardous chemicals under Article 20 of the Law on Chemicals 2007 is as follows:

- Organizations and individuals that transport hazardous chemicals shall abide by the provisions on the transportation of dangerous cargoes in the laws on road, inland waterway, railway, air and sea transport and other relevant laws.

- If an incident occurs en route, vehicle operators, goods owners and vehicle owners shall take necessary measures to minimize and remedy consequences and, at the same time, notify the incident to the nearest Peoples Committee and concerned agencies.

3. Storage and preservation of hazardous chemicals in chemical production or trading in Vietnam

According to Article 21 of the Law on Chemicals 2007 stipulates that the production or business organizations and individuals that store or preserve hazardous chemicals must satisfy the following requirements:

- Satisfying the conditions on safety distance and safety techniques in chemical storage and preservation;

- Displaying necessary warnings at places of storage and preservation of hazardous chemicals as prescribed at Point f, Clause 1, Article 12, of the Law on Chemicals 2007;

- Having equipment and vehicles in response to incidents, which are suitable to hazardous properties of chemicals;

- Adopting chemical incident prevention and response measures or plans as prescribed in Chapter VI of the Law on Chemicals 2007.

4. Safety distances of hazardous chemical production and trading facilities in Vietnam

The safety distances of hazardous chemical production and trading facilities according to Clauses 1 and 2, Article 22 of the Law on Chemicals 2007 are as follows:

- Production places and warehouses of facilities producing or trading in chemicals on the list prescribed in Clause 1, Article 38, of this Law must ensure safety distances from residential quarters, public works, historical and cultural relics, beauty spots, bio-diversity conservation zones and daily-life water sources.

- Organizations and individuals may not build dwelling houses and other works in the safety distances, except special-use works permitted by competent state agencies.

5. Chemical safety data sheets in Vietnam

According to Clauses 1, 2 and 3, Article 29 of the Law on Chemicals 2007, the chemical safety data sheets are prescribed as follows:

- Hazardous chemicals include hazardous substances or mixtures with the content of hazardous substances exceeding the prescribed limit. For hazardous chemicals, chemical safety data sheers must be made.

- Organizations and individuals producing or importing hazardous chemicals, before using or marketing these chemicals, shall make chemical safety data sheets.

- A chemical safety data sheet contains the following contents:

+ Identification of the chemical;

+ Identification of hazardous properties of the chemical;

+ Information on the composition of substances;

+ Physical and chemical properties of the chemical-

+ Stability and activity of the chemical;

+ Information on toxicity;

+ Ecological information;

+ First-aid measures;

+ Fire-fighting measures;

+ Incident prevention and response measures;

+ Storage requirements;

+Effects on humans and requirements for personal protection devices;

+ Requirements on disposal of the chemical;

+ Requirements on transportation:

+ Applicable technical regulations and laws;

+ Other necessary information.

Thus, organizations and individuals that produce and import dangerous chemicals before putting them into use and circulating them on the market must make a chemical safety report.

Le Truong Quoc Dat

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