Comprehensive Compilation of Legal Regulations for Washing Machines

• Circular No. 36/2016/TT-BCT issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade on December 28, 2016, which provides detailed regulations on energy labeling for products;
• Decision No. 04/2017/QĐ-TTg enacted by the Prime Minister on March 09, 2017, which specifies the official list of appliances, including household washing machines, that are subject to mandatory energy labeling and outlines the corresponding implementation schedule;
• Consolidated Document No. 23/VBHN-BCT from the Minister of Industry and Trade, dated December 28, 2016, which governs the energy labeling requirements for all energy-consuming means and equipment falling under the Ministry’s scope of management;
• Decision No. 1182/QĐ-BCT, dated April 06, 2021, from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, which details the specific imported goods that must undergo specialized inspection as part of the Legal Regulations for Washing Machines and other appliances;
• Decision No. 14/2023/QĐ-TTg, issued by the Prime Minister on May 24, 2023, which establishes the list and roadmap for phasing out inefficient energy-using equipment and bans the construction of new low-efficiency power generators, superseding the previous Decision No. 24/2018/QĐ-TTg.

• Circular No. 11/2012/TT-BKHCN, issued April 12, 2012, by the Ministry of Science and Technology, which introduced the foundational national technical regulation QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN for the electromagnetic compatibility of household electrical and electronic devices.
• Circular No. 13/2013/TT-BKHCN, dated April 12, 2013, from the Ministry of Science and Technology, which serves to amend and supplement the original EMC circular from 2012.
• Decision No. 1983/QĐ-TĐC, dated October 15, 2014, by the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality, providing official guidance on the certification process for conformity with QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN, a critical component of the Legal Regulations for Washing Machines.
• Circular No. 07/2018/TT-BKHCN, effective June 06, 2018, from the Ministry of Science and Technology, which issued Amendment 1:2018 QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN standard for EMC in household appliances.
• Circular No. 01/2022/TT-BKHCN, dated February 16, 2022, by the Ministry of Science and Technology, further amending the 2018 circular to ensure regulations remain current.
• Consolidated Document No. 07/VBHN-BKHCN, dated February 21, 2022, a unified text from the Ministry of Science and Technology that consolidates all circulars pertaining to the national technical regulation on EMC for household and similar appliances.

b) Other Applicable Regulations

• Decision No. 2906/QĐ-BKHCN, issued on December 29, 2006, by the Ministry of Science and Technology, which promulgated the official Vietnam standards for Household and similar electrical appliances.
• Circular No. 28/2012/TT-BKHCN, dated December 12, 2012, by the Ministry of Science and Technology, which specifies the procedures for declaring conformity to both standards and technical regulations, as well as the approved methods for conformity assessment.
• Decision No. 3721/QĐ-BKHCN, dated December 31, 2014, from the Ministry of Science and Technology, which announced the National Standard detailing performance measurement methods specifically for household electric washing machines and washer-dryers.
• Circular No. 02/2017/TT-BKHCN, issued March 31, 2017, by the Ministry of Science and Technology, to amend and update the provisions of Circular 28/2012/TT-BKHCN.
• Decision No. 2711/QĐ-BKHCN, dated December 30, 2022, by the Ministry of Science and Technology, which officially announces the list of “Group-2” products and goods that fall under its management responsibility, superseding the previous Decision No. 3810/QĐ-BKHCN from 2019.

Declaration of energy labeling

⇒ Affix the energy label before circulation on the market.

– Electrical safety testing in accordance with Decision 2906/QĐ-BKHCN, specifically applying TCVN 5699-2-7:2010 (IEC 60335-2-7:2008);

– Declaration of regulation conformity labeling (CR mark).

⇒ Requires the product to bear the conformity mark (CR mark) and be subject to market surveillance by the product and goods quality inspection agency as required by this regulation.

• 8450.11.10 – Fully-automatic washing machines, each of a dry linen capacity not exceeding 6 kg
• 8450.11.90 – Fully-automatic washing machines, each of a dry linen capacity exceeding 6 kg but not exceeding 10 kg
• 8450.12.10 – Other machines, with built-in centrifugal drier, each of a dry linen capacity not exceeding 6 kg
• 8450.12.90 – Other machines, with built-in centrifugal drier, each of a dry linen capacity exceeding 6 kg but not exceeding 10 kg
• 8450.19.11 – Other washing machines, electrically operated, each of a dry linen capacity not exceeding 6 kg
• 8450.19.19 – Other washing machines, electrically operated, each of a dry linen capacity exceeding 6 kg but not exceeding 10 kg

– TCVN 5699-2-7:2010 (IEC 60335-2-7:2008) specifies the safety requirements for electric washing machines for household and similar purposes, designed for washing clothes and textiles, with a rated voltage not greater than 250 V for single-phase appliances and 480 V for other appliances.

– Effective from June 01, 2014, testing and regulation conformity certification according to QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN must be performed using TCVN 7492-1 (CISPR 14-1).

From December 29, 2006, washing machines were required to apply TCVN 5699-2-7:2006 (IEC 60335-2-7:2004), and have been required to apply TCVN 5699-2-7:2010 (IEC 60335-2-7:2008) since 2010.

– Electromagnetic compatibility testing for household washing machines according to QCVN 9, applying TCVN 7492-1 – CISPR 14-1 Requirements for household appliances, electric tools and similar apparatus – Part 1: Emission (applicable from June 01, 2014).

– TCVN 6575:2014 (IEC 60456:2010) on Clothes washing machines for household use – Methods for measuring the performance (applicable from December 31, 2014).

– TCVN 10346:2014 (IEC 62512:2012) on Electric clothes washer-dryers for household use – Method for measuring the performance (applicable from December 31, 2014).

– Testing/Certification must be performed by a designated or recognized third-party laboratory.

– The test results serve as the basis for affixing energy labels to products of the same model, with the same technical specifications, same origin, and from the same manufacturer. The test results are valid indefinitely, unless a competent state authority discovers errors in the test results or identifies misconduct or violations by the testing organization.

– The energy label may be resized (increased or decreased) in proportion to the label to fit the appliance or equipment, but it must not cause confusion, obscure, or affect the information recorded on the goods label as stipulated by law (Article 6, Circular No. 36/2016/TT-BCT).

– TCVN 5699-2-7:2010 (IEC 60335-2-7:2008) does not apply to washing machines designed for use in locations with special environmental conditions, such as atmospheres containing corrosive or explosive substances (dust, vapor, or gas).

– Testing/Certification must be performed by a designated or recognized third-party laboratory.

– The validity of the certificate of regulation conformity shall not exceed 3 years.

– During the validity period of the certificate of regulation conformity, the enterprise possessing certified electrical and electronic equipment must promptly provide written notification to the conformity certification body of any changes to essential components related to the EMC of the certified equipment.

– The enterprise must retain records for a minimum of 10 years from the date the final product of the registered type or model is manufactured.

– The conformity mark may be enlarged or reduced but must maintain the correct proportions and basic dimensions as specified in Appendix I of Circular No. 28/2012/TT-BKHCN and be recognizable to the naked eye; Furthermore, it must be ensured that it is not easily erased and cannot be removed and reaffixed.

(1) Prepare the registration form for energy efficiency testing;

(2) Submit the washing machine testing registration form to the Customs authority;

(3) The enterprise may be granted immediate customs clearance or may complete procedures to bring the goods to their warehouse for preservation;

(4) Take samples for testing to verify the minimum energy efficiency for the household washing machine;

(5) Submit the efficiency test report to the Customs authority to complete the clearance procedures;

(6) Complete the procedures for the declaration of energy labeling with the Ministry of Industry and Trade;

(7) Affix the energy label to the product before circulating it on the market.

∗ In cases where the enterprise already possesses the efficiency test results or the energy label declaration, the enterprise can submit them immediately to the Customs authority for instant customs clearance.

– For Domestically Produced Household Washing Machines

(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.

(1) Prepare the registration form for electromagnetic compatibility testing according to 9:2012/BKHCN.

(2) Submit the washing machine testing registration form to the Customs authority.

(3) The enterprise may be granted immediate customs clearance or complete procedures to bring the goods to their warehouse for preservation.

(4) Take samples for testing to verify electromagnetic compatibility and electrical safety for the household washing machine.

(5) Submit the electromagnetic compatibility and electrical safety test results to the Customs authority to complete the clearance procedures.

(6) Complete the procedures for the declaration of regulation conformity at the local Department of Standards, Metrology and Quality.

(7) Affix the CR conformity mark to the product before circulating it on the market.

∗ In cases where the enterprise already possesses the electromagnetic compatibility, electrical safety test results, or the declaration of regulation conformity, the enterprise can submit them immediately to the Customs authority for instant customs clearance.

– For Domestically Produced Household Washing Machines

(1) Perform electromagnetic compatibility testing according to QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN at a designated testing laboratory.

(2) Submit the regulation conformity certification dossier and one sample device for inspection to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

(3) Complete the procedures for the declaration of regulation conformity at the local Department of Standards, Metrology and Quality.

(4) Affix the CR conformity mark to the product before circulating it on the market.

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