Vietnam Tightens Import Review for Dyeing Machines

Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) issued Circular 18/2026/TT-BCT on May 5, 2026, introducing new mandatory documentation requirements for imported dyeing machines. Effective June 15, 2026, the regulation directly affects textile machinery importers, exporters, and compliance service providers — particularly those engaged in China–Vietnam trade flows.

Event Overview

On May 5, 2026, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) published Circular 18/2026/TT-BCT. The circular mandates that all imported dyeing machines must be accompanied by: (1) a Class 1 energy efficiency certificate issued by China’s Energy Efficiency Labeling Administration Center; and (2) a comparative test report titled ‘GB 30251–2023 vs JIS B 8402:2026 Energy Efficiency Testing Method Comparison’, validated by a VILAS-accredited laboratory in Vietnam. The requirement takes effect on June 15, 2026.

Which Subsectors Are Affected

Direct Trading Enterprises (Importers/Exporters)

Companies importing dyeing machines into Vietnam from China — or re-exporting Chinese-origin units through third countries — must now verify dual compliance before customs clearance. Non-compliant shipments risk rejection, delays, or mandatory retesting at importer expense.

Machinery Manufacturing & OEM Suppliers

Chinese manufacturers supplying dyeing machines to Vietnamese buyers are indirectly affected: their ability to support customers with valid Class 1 certificates and method-comparison reports determines market access. Absence of such documentation may shift procurement toward pre-certified or locally adapted models.

Supply Chain & Compliance Service Providers

Laboratories, certification consultants, and logistics firms offering conformity assessment services face increased demand for GB/JIS method alignment verification. However, only VILAS-accredited labs in Vietnam may issue the required comparison report — limiting options for cross-border coordination.

What Relevant Enterprises or Practitioners Should Focus On — And How to Respond

Monitor official implementation guidance from MOIT and VILAS

Circular 18/2026 does not specify whether transitional arrangements apply to shipments booked before June 15, 2026 but arriving afterward. Enterprises should track MOIT notices and VILAS accreditation updates regarding eligible laboratories and accepted report formats.

Confirm eligibility of existing and pending shipments

Importers must verify whether current inventory or near-term orders meet both the Class 1 energy label requirement under China’s GB 30251–2023 and the JIS B 8402:2026 test method equivalency. Units certified only to older versions (e.g., JIS B 8402:2016) do not satisfy the new condition.

Engage early with Chinese suppliers on documentation readiness

Since the Class 1 certificate must originate from China’s Energy Efficiency Labeling Administration Center, importers should request confirmation of active labeling status and obtain certified copies well ahead of shipment scheduling. Delays in certificate issuance may cascade into customs hold times.

Validate laboratory accreditation before commissioning comparison reports

The comparative report must be issued by a VILAS-accredited lab in Vietnam — not by Chinese or third-country labs, even if they perform the underlying tests. Enterprises should confirm lab scope coverage for GB 30251–2023 / JIS B 8402:2026 alignment before initiating testing.

Editorial Perspective / Industry Observation

Observably, this measure reflects Vietnam’s broader shift toward harmonizing energy efficiency enforcement across imported industrial equipment — especially in energy-intensive sectors like textile processing. Analysis shows it is less a standalone trade barrier and more a signal of tightening technical regulatory alignment with international standards. From an industry perspective, the requirement functions primarily as a procedural gatekeeper: its immediate impact lies in documentation workflow complexity rather than product performance restrictions. Current more relevant interpretation is that it elevates due diligence requirements for compliance coordination between Chinese manufacturers and Vietnamese importers — not a fundamental change in market access conditions, but a material increase in pre-arrival administrative burden.

Conclusion
This circular marks a formalization of technical compliance expectations for dyeing machine imports into Vietnam — emphasizing traceability of energy efficiency claims and cross-standard methodology validation. It does not ban imports nor revise energy thresholds, but introduces a two-layer verification system requiring coordinated action across supply chain actors. For stakeholders, the current priority is not policy advocacy or strategic redirection, but precise operational preparation: verifying documentation validity, confirming lab accreditation status, and aligning timelines across manufacturing, certification, and logistics partners.

Information Sources
Main source: Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), Circular 18/2026/TT-BCT, effective June 15, 2026.
Note: Implementation details — including list of VILAS-accredited labs authorized for JIS/GB comparison reporting and handling of shipments in transit as of June 15 — remain pending official clarification and are subject to ongoing monitoring.