All imported chemical substances sold in Vietnam must be labelled in the Vietnamese language, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has announced.

The ministry's circular on classifying and labelling of chemical substances said that labels must include the chemical's name, identity code, potential hazards, ingredients, date of manufacture and expiry date. Information about manufacturers and importers must be affixed to the products.

Original labels are also compulsory in addition to the Vietnamese versions.

In addition to the labels, the circular required that chemical substances must be classified depending on their material and health hazards.

The new system, which will go into effect on March 30, is expected to effectively control imported chemical substances circulating within the country./.