Proposal to raise emission levels and mark substandard vehicles

Mr. Nguyen Huu Tri - Deputy Director of the Vietnam Register said that implementing the direction of the Ministry of Transport, the Register has completed the draft and submitted a plan to test automobile emissions.

Accordingly, the Department proposed to reduce the CO emission level index for vehicles using gasoline fuel from 4.5 (level 1) to 3.5 (level 2); the HC index (Hydrocarbon concentration) from 1,200 ppm to 800 ppm; Vehicles using diesel fuel will reduce the emission concentration from 72% HSU to 60% HSU.

Vietnam Register proposes to increase emission control to level 2.

Regarding the roadmap, old vehicles from 1999 and earlier, which were put into use before emission control, only need to meet the current emission level (level 1). Mr. Tri noted that trucks and passenger cars will expire within the next 5 years.

Vehicles imported and exported from 1999 to present will be subject to the new level (level 2) as mentioned above. In which, vehicles manufacturedVehicles manufactured from 2009 to the end of 2017 will apply level 2 standards from January 1, 2020. Older vehicles manufactured from 1999 to 2008 will apply level 2 from January 1, 2021.

For new vehicles manufactured and imported from 2018, the first inspection will apply the new emission level immediately when the Decision takes effect because these vehicles have reached EURO4 - high quality, meeting the above standards.

The Deputy Director of the Registration Department affirmed that the emission testing according to the new standards does not incur any costs when vehicles are inspected because the inspection process is linked to the technical safety inspection. If the results are satisfactory, the vehicle will be granted a certificate and inspection stamp as currently (no new stamps will be issued).

In addition, the Registry Department plans to propose a red line on the inspection stamp for vehicles with low emission levels. The unique identification mark will help localities, especially cities with high vehicle density, easily control and restrict these vehicles from entering the core area to minimize environmental pollution.

All vehicles, including those manufactured before 1999, if they meet level 2 will be given a normal inspection sticker (without red lines).

Mr. Nguyen Huu Tri said that after more than 10 years of applying emission standards at level 1 - the lowest level according to the Prime Minister's Decision since 2005, the number of vehicles nationwide has increased nearly 3 times, leading to an increase of about 2.5 times in emissions into the environment, causing environmental pollution.

"This new inspection proposal is highly feasible, does not create additional procedures, does not increase inspection prices, does not eliminate old vehicles (that cannot be repaired to meet new emission standards), and encourages vehicle owners to maintain and repair vehicles to achieve higher emission levels. At the same time, it helps localities manage and zone operations for vehicles that emit a lot of pollution, most importantly, achieving the goal of gradually improving the environment," said Mr. Tri.