Law No. 21/2026/QH16: New Regulations on Plant Protection Products

On August 24, 2026, the National Assembly promulgated Law No. 21/2026/QH16 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws concerning administrative procedures and business conditions in the agriculture and environment sectors. The Law takes effect on January 1, 2027. Among other things, it introduces several notable provisions concerning the management of plant protection products.

Reduction and Decentralization of Administrative Procedures under 10 Relevant Laws

Reduction and simplification of administrative procedures and business conditions: The Law amends and supplements 8 laws, thereby eliminating 40 administrative procedures, simplifying 12 administrative procedures, and removing 40 business conditions.

Decentralization of authority for administrative procedures: The Law amends and supplements 4 laws, transferring the authority to handle 24 administrative procedures currently under the authority of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to the Chairpersons of provincial-level People's Committees.

Registration Certificates for Plant Protection Products Valid for 10 Years

Under the amendments to the Law on Plant Protection and Quarantine, registration certificates for plant protection products are valid for 10 years and may be renewed multiple times. Each renewal extends the validity of the certificate for 10 years, instead of 5 years as previously stipulated.

Business Eligibility Certificates for Plant Protection Products to Become Valid Indefinitely

Certificates of eligibility for the production of plant protection products will continue to be valid for 05 years. Meanwhile, certificates of eligibility for trading in plant protection products have been amended so that they are valid indefinitely.

Changes to the Quality Management of Imported Plant Protection Products

For imported plant protection products, the Chairperson of the provincial-level People's Committee shall organize quality inspections in accordance with the laws governing product and goods quality.

Where a plant protection product is a fumigant used for disinfection, the manufacturer's quality certificate is deemed equivalent to a certificate of conformity.

Transitional Provisions for Certificates Already Issued

Registration certificates for plant protection products issued before May 18, 2026, that remain valid or have not yet expired shall have their validity extended by an additional 05 years from the expiry date stated on the certificate.

Certificates of eligibility for trading in plant protection products issued before May 18, 2026, that remain valid or have not yet expired shall continue to be used without a time limit.

Accordingly, from January 1, 2027, Law No. 21/2026/QH16 will help reduce and decentralize numerous administrative procedures, thereby facilitating the operations of relevant businesses. It also introduces several notable changes to the management of plant protection products, focusing on product registration validity periods, production and trading eligibility requirements, and quality management of imported plant protection products.