Issuing a series of circulars and regulations related to elevator conformity and conformity assessment

1. Circular 14/2026/TT-BKHCN: Regulations on declaration of conformity with standards, declaration of conformity with technical regulations, and methods for conformity assessment

The Ministry of Science and Technology issued Circular No. 14/2026/TT-BKHCN dated April 9, 2026, regulating the declaration of conformity with standards, declaration of conformity with technical regulations, and methods for conformity assessment. It takes effect from May 25, 2026.

Notably, Clause 2, Article 11 of Circular 14/2026/TT-BKHCN stipulates the principles for declaration of conformity with technical regulations as follows: Based on the risk level of products, goods, services, processes, environment, and other objects in socio-economic activities, the declaration of conformity with the corresponding technical regulations is based on:

a) The result of conformity certification by a certification body designated in accordance with legal regulations;

b) The result of conformity certification by a certification body accredited in accordance with legal regulations;

c) The self-assessment result of an organization or individual based on the testing results of a testing organization that is accredited or designated in accordance with legal regulations;

d) The conformity assessment result of an international, regional, or foreign organization recognized in accordance with regulations.

Regarding certification methods, Circular No. 14/2026/TT-BKHCN maintains the 8 certification methods as per previous regulations. Furthermore, Clause 3, Article 5, which regulates certification methods, adds a provision: The line ministry, sectoral management agency, or certification body may apply methods other than those mentioned above, but must ensure compliance with the provisions of the TCVN ISO/IEC 17067 standard and international practices.

Additionally, for high-risk goods, the Circular clearly stipulates that certification according to Method 1 and Method 6 shall not be applied.

2. Consolidated Document No. 7/VBHN-BNV on the quality management of products and goods with potential safety hazards under the state management responsibility of the Ministry of Home Affairs

On March 31, 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued Consolidated Document No. 7/VBHN-BNV, consolidating the following 2 Circulars:

- Circular No. 26/2018/TT-BLĐTBXH dated December 25, 2018, by the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, regulating the quality management of products and goods with potential safety hazards under the state management responsibility of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, effective from February 20, 2019, amended and supplemented by:

- Circular No. 13/2024/TT-BLĐTBXH dated December 5, 2024, by the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 26/2018/TT-BLĐTBXH dated December 25, 2018, by the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, regulating the quality management of products and goods with potential safety hazards under the state management responsibility of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Thus, regarding the management of Group 2 product and goods quality, as well as conformity declaration and assessment, including for elevators, enterprises can refer to and implement based on Consolidated Document No. 7/VBHN-BNV.

3. Circular 16/2026/TT-BKHCN: Detailed regulations on the signing and implementation of agreements and arrangements for mutual recognition and unilateral recognition of conformity assessment results

On April 9, 2026, the Minister of Science and Technology issued Circular 16/2026/TT-BKHCN detailing the signing and implementation of agreements and arrangements for mutual recognition and unilateral recognition of conformity assessment results. Circular 16/2026/TT-BKHCN takes effect from May 14, 2026.

Accordingly, Circular 16/2026/TT-BKHCN regulates the signing and implementation of:

- Mutual Recognition Agreements for conformity assessment results (hereinafter abbreviated as Recognition Agreements) between Vietnam and one or more countries or territories, based on the provisions of law on international treaties.

- Mutual Recognition or Unilateral Recognition Arrangements for conformity assessment results between a Vietnamese conformity assessment body and an international, regional, national, or territorial conformity assessment body, signed and implemented based on Vietnamese law, international treaties to which Vietnam is a party, and international practices.