Refrigerators, coolers, and freezers are essential electrical and electronic appliances, not only serving the food preservation needs of households but also playing a crucial role in business, production, and service operations, especially in the food and beverage industries. In Vietnam, these products must comply with numerous legal regulations regarding electrical safety, energy efficiency, and electromagnetic compatibility. These regulations not only help products meet legal requirements but also protect consumer health and minimize environmental impact.
A clear understanding of technical regulations, standards, and legal requirements not only helps enterprises ensure their products comply with regulations but also mitigates the risk of violations and enhances their reputation in the market. This article will provide a comprehensive, systematic, and up-to-date summary of the legal regulations for refrigerators in Vietnam from the stages of importation, testing, and certification to declaration, all to help enterprises, importers, and distributors easily reference and apply them.
See more: Capacity Profile Of Phuc Gia Laboratory Corporation
Table 1: Testing Requirements for Refrigerators
Table 2: Procedures for Implementing Licenses for Refrigerators
I. WHAT ARE REFRIGERATORS, COOLERS, AND FREEZERS?
Refrigerating appliance: An insulated cabinet with one or more compartments controlled at specific temperatures, of a suitable size, cooled by natural convection or a forced-air system, in which the cooling is effected by one or more refrigerating machines.
Refrigerator: An appliance cooled by an electrically-operated, compression-type refrigerating machine, having one or more compartments for preserving fresh food at the required temperatures and a freezing compartment.
Refrigerator-Freezer/Freezer: An appliance cooled by an electrically-operated, compression-type refrigerating machine, having one or more compartments for preserving food at specified temperatures, including at least one freezing compartment.
Cooler (refrigerator): A refrigerating appliance designed for the preservation of food, which has at least one compartment for fresh food preservation.
Pursuant to Decision 3810/QĐ-BKHCN on the promulgation of the list of Group 2 products and goods under the Ministry of Science and Technology, refrigerators, freezers, and other refrigerating or freezing equipment, electric; heat pumps for household and similar purposes with a capacity of up to 1000 liters (excluding products using 3-phase electricity) are included. This includes:
8418.10.11 – Combined refrigerator-freezers, fitted with separate external doors. Household type, with a capacity not exceeding 230 liters
8418.10.19 – Combined refrigerator-freezers, fitted with separate external doors. Household type, with a capacity exceeding 230 liters
8418.10.20 – Combined refrigerator-freezers, fitted with separate external doors. With a capacity not exceeding 350 liters
8418.10.90 – Combined refrigerator-freezers, fitted with separate external doors. With a capacity exceeding 350 liters
8418.21.10 – Refrigerators, household type, compression-type, with a capacity not exceeding 230 liters
8418.21.90 – Refrigerators, household type, compression-type, other (such as coolers, preservation cabinets)
8418.29.00 – Refrigerators, household type, non-compression type
8418.30.10 – Freezers of the chest type, with a capacity not exceeding 200 liters
8418.30.90 – Freezers of the chest type, with a capacity from 200 liters to not exceeding 800 liters
8418.40.10 – Freezers of the upright type, with a capacity not exceeding 200 liters
8418.40.90 – Freezers of the upright type, with a capacity from 200 liters to not exceeding 900 liters
8418.50.19 – Other furniture for storage and display: counters, display cases, and the like, incorporating refrigerating equipment, with a capacity exceeding 200 liters (not suitable for medical, surgical, or laboratory use)
8418.50.99 – Other furniture: cabinets, showcases, and the like for storage and display, incorporating refrigerating or freezing equipment (not suitable for medical, surgical, or laboratory use)
8418.69.10 – Beverage refrigerating equipment
8418.69.30 – Cold water dispensers
II. LEGAL REGULATIONS FOR REFRIGERATORS IN VIETNAM
1. Legal Regulations for Refrigerators in Vietnam
| Ministry of Industry and Trade | Ministry of Science and Technology |
| – Decision No. 14/2023/QĐ-TTg: “Decision promulgating the list and roadmap for energy-using means and equipment to be eliminated and low-efficiency power generation units not to be newly built,” issued on May 24, 2023.
– Decision No. 04/2017/QĐ-TTg: “Decision stipulating the list of means and equipment required to bear an energy label, to which the minimum energy efficiency level and implementation roadmap apply.” – Circular No. 36/2016/TT-BCT: “Circular stipulating the energy labeling for energy-using means and equipment under the management scope of the Ministry of Industry and Trade,” issued on December 28, 2016 (along with Consolidated Document No. 23/VBHN-BCT dated March 24, 2020). |
– Decision 3810/QĐ-BKHCN (December 18, 2019) from the Ministry of Science and Technology, which defines the list of goods requiring quality inspection and is a foundational part of the legal regulations for refrigerators in Vietnam.
– Decision No. 1983/QĐ-TĐC (October 15, 2014) by the Ministry of Science and Technology, providing certification guidance for EMC conformity under national technical regulation QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN for household and similar appliances. – Circular No. 11/2012/TT-BKHCN (April 12, 2012), which officially issued QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN and its corresponding list of products requiring EMC testing. – Circular No. 13/2013/TT-BKHCN (April 12, 2013), an important update from the Ministry of Science and Technology that amends several previous circulars to refine the compliance framework for electrical appliances. – Circular No. 07/2018/TT-BKHCN (June 6, 2018), issuing Amendment 1:2018 QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN, which further clarifies the national technical standards on electromagnetic compatibility. – Circular No. 01/2022/TT-BKHCN (February 16, 2022), issued by the Minister of Science and Technology to amend previous circulars, ensuring the legal regulations for refrigerators in Vietnam remain current and effective. => Therefore, refrigerators, freezers, and commercial refrigerated display cabinets are officially listed as products requiring mandatory quality inspection per QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN. |
2. Required License Type/Requirements
| Ministry of Industry and Trade | Ministry of Science and Technology |
| – Energy efficiency testing
– Declaration of the energy efficiency label => Affixing the energy label is mandatory before placing the product on the market. |
– Registration for state inspection of goods quality.
– Product testing in accordance with QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN and Amendment 1:2018 QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN. – Conformity certification. – Declaration of conformity. – Affixing the conformity stamp. => Registration for state quality inspection, conformity certification, declaration of conformity, and the conformity stamp are mandatory regulations for refrigerators, coolers, and freezers before being circulated on the market. |
3. Types of Refrigerators, Coolers, and Freezers within the Scope of Application
| Ministry of Industry and Trade | Ministry of Science and Technology |
| – Pursuant to TCVN 7828:2013: Applies to refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers with a capacity of up to 1000L using electrically-operated, compression-type refrigerating machines.
– Pursuant to TCVN 7828:2016: Applies to coolers, refrigerators, and freezers with a capacity of up to 1000L, cooled by natural convection or forced air circulation. *Note: This standard does not apply to refrigerating appliances using the absorption method, commercial refrigerated cabinets (glass-door display cabinets), or specialized refrigerating equipment (used for industrial and medical purposes). |
TCVN 7492-1 (CISPR 14-1) applies to the emission of radio frequency disturbance in the frequency range from 9 kHz to 400 GHz for refrigerators and freezers. |
4. Mandatory Application Date
| Ministry of Industry and Trade | Ministry of Science and Technology |
| – TCVN 7828:2013 applies to refrigerators and freezers from the effective date of this Decision on July 15, 2023, until the end of February 31, 2025.
– TCVN 7828:2016 applies to refrigerators, coolers, and freezers from April 1, 2025. |
The national technical regulation QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN was issued under Circular No. 11/2012/TT-BKHCN, with a mandatory implementation date of June 1, 2014. |
5. Regulations/Standards for Testing Operations
| Ministry of Industry and Trade | Ministry of Science and Technology |
| – TCVN 7828:2013
(Effective from July 15, 2023 to February 28, 2025) (Effective from April 1, 2025) |
The testing protocol for refrigerators, coolers, and freezers is mandated to be in compliance with QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN and its subsequent Amendment 1:2018 QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN. A key component of this protocol is the adherence to the technical testing specifications outlined in TCVN 7492-1 (CISPR 14-1). |
6. Important Notes on Import, Production, and Business Policie
| Ministry of Industry and Trade | Ministry of Science and Technology |
| Enterprises that manufacture, import, or trade in refrigerators, coolers, and freezers must submit their energy labeling registration dossiers to the Ministry of Industry and Trade before placing the products on the market.
– The manufacturer must ensure that the measured storage volume and the measured energy consumption value are in accordance with TCVN 7829:2016 (for products under TCVN 7828:2016) and IEC 62552-3:2015 (for products under TCVN 7828:2016). |
This technical regulation does not apply to refrigerators, coolers, and freezers that use a 3-phase power supply. |
Furthermore, it is important to note that the legal regulations for refrigerators in Vietnam extend beyond electrical and energy standards. Components such as ice trays and storage bins, typically manufactured from hard or soft plastics and aluminum, are designed for direct contact with food. Consequently, these items are classified as food contact materials and are subject to mandatory compliance, requiring a formal Declaration of Conformity for Food Safety before circulating the product on the market.
7. Pre-Market Compliance Procedures: A Detailed Guide
| Ministry of Industry and Trade | Ministry of Science and Technology |
| – Imported Refrigerators, Coolers, and Freezers
(1) Complete the registration for energy efficiency testing; (2) Submit the test registration certificate to the Customs authority; (3) The enterprise may either clear customs immediately or carry out procedures to bring the goods to a storage facility; (4) Take samples for testing to verify the minimum energy efficiency for the appliance; (5) Submit the efficiency test results to the Customs authority to complete customs clearance procedures; (6) Carry out the procedure for declaring the energy label with the Ministry of Industry and Trade; (7) Affix the energy label to the product before circulating it on the market. – Domestically Produced Refrigerators, Coolers, and Freezers (1) Perform minimum energy efficiency testing; (2) Declare the energy label with the Ministry of Industry and Trade; (3) Affix the energy label to the product before circulating it on the market. |
– Imported Refrigerators, Coolers, and Freezers
(1) Register for state quality inspection; (2) Transmit the import declaration along with the quality inspection registration certificate; (3) Complete customs clearance procedures and bring the goods to the warehouse; (4) Conduct conformity testing of the product according to the applicable technical regulation; (5) Obtain conformity certification; (6) Make a declaration of conformity; (7) Affix the conformity stamp to the product before circulating it on the market. – Domestically Produced Refrigerators, Coolers, and Freezers (1) Perform electromagnetic compatibility testing in accordance with QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN, Amendment 1:2018 QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN. (2) Submit the conformity certification dossier and one sample unit for assessment to the Ministry of Science and Technology; (3) Declare conformity at the local Sub-department of Standards, Metrology and Quality; (4) Affix the conformity label to the product before circulating it on the market.
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A clear understanding of and compliance with the legal regulations for refrigerators, coolers, and freezers is not only a mandatory requirement for products to be permitted to circulate on the Vietnamese market, but also a key factor that helps enterprises protect their reputation, minimize legal risks, and enhance their competitiveness. Therefore, enterprises must fully comply with current regulations and regularly stay updated on changes in the legal system to ensure their products operate safely and meet regulatory requirements.
III. PHUC GIA LABORATORY CORPORATION: COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES FOR REFRIGERATORS, COOLERS, AND FREEZERS
| ORD. | PHUC GIA®’S CAPACITY | MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE | MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY |
| 1 | Testing Capacity (Certification/ Designation) | Phuc Gia holds an official designation that is currently valid and in effect. (Detail) | Phuc Gia holds a valid and in effect official designation for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing. (Detail) |
| 2 | Quotation and Duration for Tests | The official listed quotation is available. | |
| 3 | Support | – Consultancy on product quality improvement;
– Free 24/7 consultation service; – Consultancy on product quality improvement. |
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| 6 | Contact for Testing Services |
For assistance with testing/certification, please contact:
Address: ICD Long Bien, No. 01 Huynh Tan Phat, Sai Dong B Industrial Park, Long Bien Ward, Hanoi |
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| Important: Phuc Gia Testing and Inspection Center is a designated laboratory that directly conducts conformity testing for refrigerators, coolers, and freezers as stipulated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Science and Technology. Additionally, Phuc Gia offers comprehensive support services, including assistance with the Energy Label Declaration process, available at the client’s request. | |||
RELATED POSTS:
- Guidance on Energy Efficiency Testing for Refrigerators, Coolers, and Freezers
- Declaration of Energy Labeling for Refrigerators
- Testing of Commercial Refrigerators According to QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN on Electromagnetic Compatibility
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Testing According to QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN for Refrigerators and Freezers
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/cert@phucgia.com.vn/info@phucgia.com.vn
Website: phucgia.com.vn
Working time: Monday to Friday 8:00 – 18:30; Saturday 8:00 – 12:00
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