Guidance on Energy Efficiency Testing for Refrigerators in Vietnam

Refrigerators, coolers, and freezers are legally required to undergo Energy Efficiency Testing for Refrigerators in Vietnam when circulated in the market. Consequently, organizations and individuals involved in importing, manufacturing, and trading these devices—as well as the testing facilities—must fully understand the relevant regulations concerning implementation deadlines, testing methodologies, technical requirements, and the scope of application for each specific product type.

See more: Capacity Profile Of Phuc Gia Laboratory Corporation

1. When are enterprises required to conduct Declaration of Energy Labeling and Energy Efficiency Testing for Refrigerators in Vietnam?

a) Energy Efficiency Testing

In Appendix I of Decision No. 14/2023/QĐ-TTg – the “Decision promulgating the List and roadmap for energy-using equipment to be eliminated and low-efficiency generating sets not permitted for new construction,” issued on May 24, 2023 (replacing Decision No. 24/2018/QĐ-TTg), the products Refrigerators, coolers, and freezers are regulated as prohibited for import, manufacture, and trade if their energy efficiency fails to meet the minimum energy efficiency level stipulated in the National Standard. Specifically:

• TCVN 7828:2013 is applied to refrigerators and freezers from the Decision’s effective date (July 15, 2023) until February 31, 2025.
• TCVN 7828:2016 is applied to Refrigerators, coolers, and freezers from April 1, 2025.
• Accordingly, enterprises importing, manufacturing, and trading these items are mandatorily required to proceed with Energy Efficiency Testing for Refrigerators in Vietnam according to the aforementioned roadmap and standard and must achieve the Minimum Energy Performance Standard.

b) Declaration of Energy Labeling

Pursuant to Decision No. 04/2017/QĐ-TTG – the “Decision stipulating the list of vehicles and equipment required to have an Energy Label, applying the Minimum Energy Performance Standard and implementation roadmap,” the products Refrigerators, coolers, and freezers are regulated as follows:

• In Clause 1, Article 1, it is clearly stated that household refrigerators, coolers, and freezers belong to the group of equipment required to have an energy label and apply the minimum energy performance standard.
• In Point a, Clause 1, Article 2 regarding the Roadmap for energy labeling implementation, it requires mandatory energy labeling for the group of household equipment and industrial equipment, which includes Refrigerators, coolers, and freezers.
• Accordingly, enterprises importing, manufacturing, and trading this item are mandatorily required to perform the Declaration of Energy Labeling for Refrigerators, Coolers, and Freezers.

2. Does the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) have a document guiding enterprises to perform Declaration of Energy Labeling and Energy Efficiency Testing for Refrigerators?

Circular No. 36/2016/TT-BCT – “Stipulating energy labeling for energy-using vehicles and equipment under the management scope of the Ministry of Industry and Trade,” issued on December 28, 2016 (combined with Consolidated Document No. 23/VBHN-BCT dated March 24, 2020). The document mandates that enterprises manufacturing, importing, and trading vehicles and equipment on the List of products required to have an energy label (which includes all types of Refrigerators, coolers, and freezers) must submit a dossier for energy labeling registration to the MOIT before market release.

Besides, Circular No. 36/2016/TT-BCT also clearly stipulates two cases requiring re-registration of energy labeling: when the evaluation standard has changed, or when the labeled vehicles and equipment have changes in their energy consumption level. Concurrently, this Circular also specifies the conditions that energy labeling testing organizations must meet for Energy Efficiency Testing for Refrigerators in Vietnam.

3. Which types of Refrigerators, Coolers, and Freezers are required to undergo Energy Efficiency Testing for Refrigerators in Vietnam?

Based on TCVN 7828:2013 and TCVN 7828:2016 – National Standards on Energy Efficiency for Refrigerators, coolers, and freezers, the following product types are mandatorily required to undergo Energy Efficiency Testing for Refrigerators in Vietnam according to these technical standards:

TCVN 7828:2013 (From July 15, 2023, until the end of February 31, 2025)

• Applies to Refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers with a volume up to 1,000 L using electrically driven vapor-compression cooling machines.

TCVN 7828:2016 (From April 1, 2025)

• Applies to coolers, refrigerators, and freezers with a volume up to 1,000 L, cooled by natural convection or forced air circulation.
• This standard does not apply to absorption cooling appliances, commercial refrigerated display cabinets (glass-front display cabinets), or specialized cooling appliances (used in industry and medicine).

Related definitions:

• Refrigerating appliance: An insulated cabinet with one or more compartments maintained at specific temperatures, of suitable size, cooled by natural or forced air circulation, in which cooling is achieved by one or more refrigerating machines.
• Refrigerator: An appliance cooled by an electrically driven vapor-compression refrigerating machine with one or more compartments for storing fresh food under necessary temperature conditions and one freezer compartment.
• Refrigerator-Freezer/Freezer: An appliance cooled by an electrically driven vapor-compression refrigerating machine with one or more compartments for storing food at specified temperatures, including at least one freezer compartment.
• Cooler (Refrigerator): A refrigerating appliance designed for food storage, including at least one fresh food storage compartment.

4. What technical requirements must be ensured when conducting Energy Efficiency Testing for Refrigerators in Vietnam?

Enterprises importing, manufacturing, and trading coolers, refrigerators, and freezers, as well as the units performing Energy Efficiency Testing, must firmly grasp the regulations on indices (values) regarding Tolerance (Permissible deviation between measured value and declared value), Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS), and Energy Efficiency Class.

a) Permissible deviation between measured value and declared value (Tolerance)

• The manufacturer must ensure that the measured volume value according to Appendix C, TCVN 7829:2016 (with TCVN 7828:2016) and Appendix H, IEC 62552-3:2015 (with TCVN 7828:2016) is not less than the declared value by more than 3% or 1 L, allowing the greater value to be used.
• The measured electricity consumption value according to TCVN 7829 (with TCVN 7828:2016) and TCVN 7829:2016 (with TCVN 7828:2016) must not be greater than the declared value plus 15%.

b) Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) for coolers, refrigerators, and freezers

The Minimum Energy Performance Standard for refrigerators, freezers, and coolers is determined according to the conditions stipulated in the implementation roadmap of TCVN 7828:2013, TCVN 7828:2016 and must comply with Table 1. This is a critical factor in Energy Efficiency Testing for Refrigerators in Vietnam.

Table 1 – The Minimum Energy Efficiency Level

Type	MEPS
	TCVN 7828:2013 (From July 15th, 2023 till the end of February 31st, 2025)	TCVN 7828:2016 (From April 1st, 2025)
Refrigerators	Emax = 0,302 Vadj + 386	Emax = 451 Vadj + 515 000
Freezers	Emax = 0,451 Vadj + 515
Coolers	–	Emax = 302 Vadj + 386 000
Note: Emax – Maximum annual power consumption (kWh/year) Vadj – Adjusted volume, measured in liters (L), determined by the following formula: Vadj =  Where: n – Number of compartments Vc – Compartment volume, measured in liters Kc – Coefficient for the adjusted volume specified in Table 2

Table 2 – Coefficient for the adjusted volume (K_c)

c) Energy Efficiency Levels (Key Factor in Energy Efficiency Testing for Refrigerators in Vietnam)

– The Energy Efficiency Index (R) is calculated using the following formula:

Where:
Eyear – Annual power consumption (Wh/year) determined according to TCVN 7829:2016;
E_max – Maximum power consumption (Wh/year) as stipulated in Table 1.

– The Energy Efficiency Levels are divided from 1 to 5. Level 1 indicates the lowest energy efficiency and Level 5 indicates the highest energy efficiency; the specific threshold values are stipulated in Table 3.

Table 3 – Levels of Enery Efficiency

5. How many samples must enterprises bring to the Testing Center for Energy Efficiency Testing for Refrigerators in Vietnam?

Enterprises importing, manufacturing, and trading Coolers, Refrigerators, and Freezers only need to provide one sample per product type to the testing unit for Energy Efficiency Testing.

6. Which organizations are designated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) to conduct Energy Efficiency Testing?

The procedure for Energy Efficiency Testing for these products must be carried out by a designated testing organization. To confirm whether your intended testing center holds the required designation, please contact the selected unit directly to obtain the MOIT designation decision issued to that Center/Laboratory, or check the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s official website.

Phuc Gia Testing and Inspection Center is one of the nation’s leading reputable testing centers, designated by the MOIT to perform Energy Efficiency Testing for Refrigerators in Vietnam (Coolers, Refrigerators, and Freezers) under the Registration Certificate for Energy Efficiency Testing Operations No. 986/GCN-BCT.

7. What is the Fee and Duration for Energy Efficiency Testing for Refrigerators in Vietnam?

The testing fee vary based on the listed price of each Testing Laboratory. The testing cost at Phuc Gia® is listed at: QUOTATION – Testing and other Certification Services [2025].

Testing turnaround time is dependent on the specific client. Phuc Gia Testing Center provides optimal customer support regarding testing time; consequently, we complete Energy Efficiency Testing for Refrigerators in Vietnam (Coolers, Refrigerators, and Freezers) samples within 05–07 days/model.

Please wait a moment to load the Designation from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT)

Click here to download the Designation from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT)

RELATED POSTS:

• What Impact has Decision No. 14/2023/QĐ-TTg had and will have on Enterprises importing and manufacturing household and office electrical equipment?
• Guidance on Energy Efficiency Testing for Commercial Refrigerators
• A Very Thorough Guidance on Energy Efficiency Testing for Electric Rice Cookers

For more details, please contact us at:
PHUC GIA LABORATORY CORPORATION
PHUC GIA CERTIFICATION CENTER
PHUC GIA INSPECTION TESTING CENTER

Address: ICD Long Bien, No. 01 Huynh Tan Phat, Sai Dong B Industrial Park, Long Bien Ward, Hanoi City, Vietnam.
Hotline: 0981 996 996/ 0982 996 696/ 024 7779 6696
E-mail: lab@phucgia.com.vn
Website: phucgia.com.vn
Working time: Monday to Friday 8:00 – 18:30; Saturday 8:00 – 12:00