On 9 October 2026, Vietnam's Ministry of Health issued Circular No. 38/2026/TT-BYT promulgating the national technical regulation QCVN 31:2026/BYT, Permissible Exposure Limits of 80 Chemical Factors in the Workplace, which takes effect on 9 April 2027. From that date, the corresponding occupational hygiene standards issued in 2002 will be repealed at the same time.
QCVN 31:2026/BYT applies to Vietnam's occupational hygiene management agencies and working environment monitoring agencies, as well as organizations and individuals whose workplaces generate chemical factors. The 80 chemical factors listed cover various forms such as dusts, gases, vapors and fumes, including ethylene oxide, styrene, tetrachloroethylene, inorganic mercury and its compounds, toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI), titanium dioxide and welding fume.
For each chemical factor, the regulation specifies an 8-hour time-weighted average permissible exposure limit (TWA, calculated based on an 8-hour workday and a 40-hour workweek) and a 15-minute short-term exposure limit (STEL), both expressed in mg/m³, and indicates the carcinogenicity classification of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Four of the listed factors—ethylene oxide, coal tar pitch volatiles, soluble nickel and its compounds, and nickel carbonyl—are IARC Group 1 carcinogens. Where exposure exceeds 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week, the limits shall be adjusted using the formulas given in the regulation.
Concentrations of chemical factors shall be measured using the standard measurement methods listed in Table 2 of the regulation. Employers shall carry out regular working environment monitoring at workplaces with exposure to the chemical factors listed in Table 1 and take measures to control the hazardous factors, with the monitoring frequency following Clause 2 of Article 18 of Vietnam's Law on Occupational Safety and Hygiene.
From the date the circular takes effect, the occupational hygiene standards for the above 80 chemical factors annexed to Decision No. 3733/2002/QĐ-BYT will be repealed, and the relevant exposure limits will be uniformly applied in accordance with QCVN 31:2026/BYT; the other occupational hygiene standards, principles and parameters issued under that decision remain unaffected.
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