All helmets sold in Vietnam must bear a new CR quality seal from July 1, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) announced.

Tran Quoc Tuan, head of MoST's Department of Product Quality Management, said new nationwide quality standards for locally made and imported helmets are needed.

It would help authorities improve management of the helmet manufacture and sales industry in Vietnam and prevent consumers from relying on substandard products for protection.

The new CR seal would replace the current CS or RS certification on helmets. CS stamps on helmets will be invalid on July 1, according to circular No.23 issued by the Ministry last year.

Khuong Kim Tao of the National Traffic Safety Committee said the CR stamp would certify helmet manufacturers have been tested by authorised agencies and help customers recognise the fakes and copies that flood shops and market places.

MoST recently asked the departments of science and technologies to inspect the helmet quality in 63 cities and provinces.

The inspection teams inspected over 1,800 manufacturers and businesses. They fined 950 facilities and confiscated over 41,000 helmets with total penalties of 1.5 billion VND.

Despite the crackdown, bogus helmet sales continued, with prices ranging from 25,000 to 40,000 VND, in popular styles without CR stamps or place of manufacture labels.

Nguyen Van Lap, director of Nhua Chi Thanh Trading and Manufacturing Ltd Co that produces CHITA, OMONO, SAFE brand helmets, said his company has invested tens of million dong to make certification standard helmets but was losing because of cheap helmets on the market.

A representative of MoST's Market Management Department said authorities need to enforce the new safety standards and raise public awareness about helmet safety.

Tran Quoc Tuan said there should be more penalties for motorists wearing substandard helmets./.