Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) is expected to issue new national emission standards for motorcycles this month as part of efforts to reduce urban air pollution and complete the national system of technical regulations൲ on vehicle emissions, according to Hoang Van Thuc, Director of the ministry’s Vietnam Environment Agency.

In line with the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, the agency has been assigned to draft a circular regulating national technical standards (QCVN) on emissions for automobiles, motorcycles, and motorised vehicles, along with a proposed roadmap for implementation to be submitted to the minister for approval. At the same time, the MAE is preparing a draft government decision on the roadmap for applying emission standards for motorcycles and motorised vehicles to be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval. Under the draft, motorcycles produced before 2008 will be subject to the lowest level of inspection standards, level 1, while those manufactured from 2008 onwards will be assessed to a higher standard. Similar rules will also apply to motorised vehicles, with level 1 for those manufactured before 2016. Accordingly, emission inspections for motorcycles and motorised vehicles will begin on July 1, 2027, in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Major cities such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Can Tho, and Hue will follow, starting on July 1, 2028. From January 1, 2030, inspections will be rolled out nationwide, with provinces and cities given the flexibility to implement earlier timelines based on local conditions. To ease the transition for vehicle owners, the draft includes a grace period of 18 months after the start of inspections, during which authorities will focus on public awareness and reminders. After this period, vehicles that fail to meet emission standards will be barred from circulation. Between 2009 and 2023, Vietnam’s total number of road vehicles increased by an average of 10–15% annually, according to the MAE. By December 2023, the country had 6.3 million automobiles and over 74 million motorcycles registered nationwide. This rapid growth in vehicles has contributed to worsening air quality in urban areas, with particulate matter (PM) pollution emerging as the most pressing concern. Environmental experts estimate that traffic activities contribute 20–60% of fine particulate pollution in cities. According to the World Bank, air pollution in Vietnam results in annual economic losses equivalent to 5–7% of GDP. A 2013 study by Fulbright University Vietnam estimated that air pollution cost the country 9.86–12.45 billion USD, with losses increasing significantly in recent years./.