Set up a chemical business company in Vietnam

In the modern world, the chemical industry plays an undeniable role in the global economy. From daily goods production to applications in agriculture and healthcare, chemicals play an important role in every field. With unlimited development potential and increasing demand, establishing a chemical business company can be an attractive business opportunity. In the article below, Viet An Law will advise you to set up a chemical business company in Vietnamaccording to current legal regulations.

Market access conditions in the chemical business sector

Currently, according to regulations in Vietnam’s WTO Schedule of Commitments, chemical business is not committed. Therefore, foreign investors investing in this field in Vietnam need to explain and seek opinions from relevant ministries and branches regarding meeting chemical business conditions under current Vietnamese law.

Set up a chemical business company in Vietnam

Chemical business is a conditional business investment line under Appendix IV of the Law on Investment 2020, amended in 2025. Therefore, when establishing a chemical business company in Vietnam, it is necessary to note the conditions on chemical business under Article 11 of the Law on Chemicals 2025 (effective from January 1, 2026):

Enterprise established according to the provisions of law

Chemical business companies in Vietnam can be established under one of the enterprise forms according to the Enterprise Law 2020, amended in 2025, such as: Limited Liability Company (LLC), Joint Stock Company, Partnership, Private Enterprise, etc.. When establishing a company, it is necessary to note the general conditions for enterprise establishment such as the founding subject, name, headquarters address, etc..

Do not trade in prohibited chemicals

Do not trade in prohibited chemicals

According to Point b, Clause 1, Article 6 of the Law on Investment 2020, business investment activities in chemicals specified in Appendix II of this Law are prohibited. Accordingly, some chemicals prohibited from business investment include:

• O-Alkyl (<C10, including cycloalkyl) alkyl (Me, Et, n-Pr or i-Pr)-phosphonofluoridates;
• O-Alkyl (<C10, including cycloalkyl) N,N-dialkyl (Me, Et, n-Pr or i-Pr)-phosphoramidocyanidates;
• O-Alkyl (H or <C10, including cycloalkyl) S-2-dialkyl (Me, Et, n-Pr or i-Pr)-aminoethyl alkyl (Me, Et, n-Pr or i-Pr) phosphonothiolates and corresponding alkylated or protonated salts;
• Sulfur mustard gases, etc..

In addition, some chemicals prohibited from business are also prescribed under the International Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction. Specifically, Vietnam has internalized this Convention in Decree 33/2024/ND-CP regulating the implementation of the Convention.

Documents proving satisfaction of operational conditions

Chemical business organizations must have sufficient legal documents, safety documents, physical-technical foundations, and professional capacity meeting requirements to perform chemical business activities.

Ensuring safety and security in chemical activities

• Organizations and individuals operating in chemicals must ensure requirements on physical-technical foundations regarding chemical safety and security.
• Organizations and individuals operating in chemicals must have persons responsible for chemical safety expertise with suitable qualifications.
• Employees related to chemical activities must be trained in chemical safety and equipped with personal protective equipment suitable for assigned tasks.

Must have a Certificate of eligibility or License

• Certificate of eligibility for conditional chemical business: Issued by the Provincial People’s Committee when the chemical business organization meets the above conditions and must comply with requirements on safety and environmental protection prescribed in the Law on Chemicals 2025 and other relevant legal regulations.
• License for chemical business subject to special control: Issued by the Ministry or Ministerial-level agency when the chemical business organization meets the above conditions and must comply with the following requirements:
  • Chemical activities regarding chemicals subject to special control must comply with regulations on safety and environmental protection;
  • Have sectors, types, scales, and duration suitable to the production/business license;
  • Be controlled regarding the purpose of use;
  • Organizations and individuals trading in chemicals subject to special control have the obligation to strictly control quantity; prevent and combat loss and chemical incidents; and comply with international treaties on chemicals of which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member.

Licenses related to chemical business

Thus, organizations trading in conditional chemicals or chemicals subject to special control must have a Certificate of eligibility for conditional chemical business or a License for chemical business subject to special control. For organizations trading in chemicals not subject to special control, they must have a Certificate of eligibility for conditional chemical business.

According to Clause 2, Article 9 of the Law on Chemicals 2025, chemicals subject to special control include dangerous substances and mixtures belonging to the List of chemicals subject to special control issued by the Government, including:

• Chemicals subject to control to implement international treaties on chemicals of which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member;
• Chemicals capable of causing harm to national defense, security, social safety, people, physical facilities, property, and the environment.

The License for chemical business subject to special control has a term of 05 years from the date of issuance. The Ministry or Ministerial-level agency performs the re-issuance, adjustment, and revocation of the License.

Note on regulations regarding the control of buying and selling chemicals subject to special control by chemical business companies

According to Article 18 of the Law on Chemicals 2025, cases exempted from the Grant of Certificate of eligibility for conditional chemical business and License for chemical business subject to special control include:

• Mixtures containing substances belonging to the list issued by the Government according to Point a Clause 1, Point a Clause 2 Article 9 of the Law on Chemicals 2025 classified as low-level danger;
• Cases of extracting or mixing chemicals to serve directly for internal production activities of the organization performing the extraction or mixing;
• Other cases as prescribed by the Government.

Note on control of buying and selling chemicals subject to special control

According to Article 17 of the Law on Chemicals 2025, organizations trading in chemicals belonging to the List of chemicals subject to special control must prepare a control slip for buying and selling chemicals subject to special control for each delivery.

In addition, organizations trading in chemicals belonging to the List of chemicals subject to special control may only sell chemicals subject to special control to the following subjects:

• Organizations having a license for chemical business subject to special control;
• Organizations and individuals using chemicals subject to special control who have declared the type of chemical and purpose of use on the National Chemical Database.

Some questions related to set up a chemical business company in Vietnam

After being granted the Enterprise Registration Certificate, what procedures does the company need to perform?

After being granted the Enterprise Registration Certificate, the company needs to perform the following initial procedures to start production and business activities:

• Apply for the Certificate of eligibility for conditional chemical business or License for chemical business subject to special control if falling into the case requiring a license.
• Carve the seal for the company.
• Hang the company sign at the company headquarters address.
• Open a corporate bank account.
• Register a digital signature to perform electronic tax payment.
• Perform initial tax declaration procedures.
• Contribute capital fully and on time according to the provisions of law.

What are the business lines required for a chemical business company?

The business lines a chemical business company needs to register when establishing an enterprise according to the Vietnam Standard Industrial Classification prescribed in Decision 36/2025/QD-TTg include:

• 4679: Other specialized wholesale not elsewhere classified. Detail: Wholesale of other chemicals (excluding those used in agriculture).
• 8240: Business support service activities not elsewhere classified (excluding financial intermediation).
• 2011: Manufacture of basic chemicals.
• 2021: Manufacture of pesticides and other agro-chemical products.

Viet An Law’s enterprise establishment consulting services

• Consulting on establishment conditions according to current regulations;
• Drafting company establishment dossiers;
• Representing customers to work with competent state agencies during the enterprise establishment process;
• Consulting on applying for sub-licenses for the enterprise;
• Regular consulting for the enterprise after establishment.

The above is advice on the set up a chemical business company in Vietnam. Customers wishing to establish a chemical business company, please contact Viet An Law for detailed advice and guidance!