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3.120. Over the years, the Viet Nam Development Bank has financed numerous programmes and projects assigned by the Government [69], and provided credit guarantees for SMEs to receive loans from commercial banks. Eligible projects are announced each period, and the VDB prepares internal procedures for the appraisal of its lending decisions.

[69] Examples of these funding activities are the construction of canals, afforestation, power generation, (...) The Government entrusted the VDB with the disbursement and management of official development assistance (ODA) loans, which related to 380 projects with a total commitment of USD 13.8 billion at the end of 2019.

3.123. There are also industry-specific incentives, (...). Between 2017 and 2019, solar-power projects benefitted from lower corporate income tax, exemption on import duties, lower land rents, and a selling price of electricity generated above the average retail price. Currently, a support programme for wind-power energy offers similar benefits for projects between 2019 and 2021.

3.127. During the review, (...) new laws on environmental protection and construction also were enacted and have some impact on technical standards in these fields.

3.129. Several ministries are responsible for standards, technical regulations, conformity assessment procedures, and other measures related to technical requirements. These include (...) [the Ministry of] Natural Resources and Environment; (...).

3.131. (...) During the review period, four specific trade concerns (STCs) were raised in the Committee.(...) another concerned the vehicle type approval certificates and emission, quality, and safety inspection for every lot of imported cars [84], (...).

[84]WTO documents G/TBT/N/VNM/116 of 7 March 2018; G/TBT/N/VNM/116/Add.1 of 25 November 2019; G/TBT/N/VNM/116/Add.2 of 28 April 2020; and G/TBT/N/VNM/140 of 6 April 2019, notifying Decree No. 116/2017/ND-CP on business requirements for manufacturing, assembly and imports of automobiles, automobiles' warranty, and maintenance services.

3.132. The 2006 Law on Standards and Technical Regulations remains the main legal basis for standards and technical regulations and seeks to promote harmonization of national standards with international ones. (...) The main laws, decrees, and decisions by the Prime Minister that cover standards and technical regulations are listed in Table A3.8. Besides these, some ministerial circulars and ministerial decisions provide guidance on the implementation of laws, decrees, and Prime Minister's decisions. [87]

[87] A number of ministerial circulars were issued during the review period to promulgate particular standards and technical regulations, including (...) MOST Circular No. 22/2015/TT-BKHCN promulgating and implementing the national technical regulation on gasoline, diesel fuel, and biofuel.

3.133. In Viet Nam, there are two types of standards – national standards (Tieu chuan Viet Nam (TCVNs)), and company/organization standards (Tieu Chuan Co So (TCCSs)) – and two types of technical regulations – national technical regulations (QCVNs) and local technical regulations (QCDPs). [89] (...).

[89] Local technical regulations (QCDPs) are developed by local authorities, e.g. Chairpersons of People's Committees, to enforce compulsory application within local management of specific products, goods, services, processes, and local environmental requirements (...).

3.137. The authorities state that there are 23 local technical regulations (QCDPs), which provide further details on national regulations to meet local needs. Some examples of QCDPs include (...) waste water treatment in Bac Ninh province.

3.138. Under the Law on Products and Goods Quality, products and goods are classified in two groups. Products "incapable of causing unsafety" (Group 1) are distinguished from those "capable of causing unsafety" (Group 2). "Those products and goods which, under rational conditions of transportation, storage, preservation and use for proper purposes, can latently cause harms to humans, animals, plants, assets or the environment" belong to Group 2, while all other products belongs to Group 1.(...).

3.144.)...) Decree No. 21/2011/ND-CP requires energy labels to be affixed to equipment and vehicles pursuant to the Law on Energy Conservation. MARD and MOST Joint Circular No. 45/2015/TTLT-BNNPTNT-BKHCN, issued on 23 November 2015, provides further details on labelling requirements applied to foods containing at least 5% of genetically modified ingredients.