New Regulations Force Millions of Motorcycles to Queue: Will the Implementation Date Be Postponed?

Latest Draft of Regulations on Motorcycle Emission Control

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has just announced the latest draft of the Regulations on the Roadmap for the Application of National Technical Regulations on Motorcycle and Motorbike Emissions.

According to the new draft, the time to start emission inspections for motorcycles and motorbikes in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City has been postponed to July 1, 2027, six months later than the previous draft. Other major cities such as Haiphong, Danang, Can Tho, and Thua Thien-Hue will start inspections from July 1, 2028, also six months later.

For other provinces across the country, the emission inspection implementation time is determined from July 1, 2030, but localities can proactively adjust the timeline earlier depending on their capacity and actual situation.

The draft also provides a specific classification of emission levels for motorcycles and motorbikes, based on their production time:

Motorcycles: Produced before 2008: Apply Level 1. Produced from 2008 to 2016: Apply Level 2. Produced from 2017 to June 30, 2026: Apply Level 3. Produced after July 1, 2026: Apply Level 4

Motorboats: Produced before 2016: Apply Level 1. Produced from 2017 to June 30, 2027: Apply Level 2. Produced from July 1, 2027 onwards: Apply Level 4.

Notably, from January 1, 2030, all motorcycles and motorbikes circulating in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City must meet at least Level 2 or higher. This adjustment is two years earlier than the previous proposal (2032), showing a strong determination to improve air quality in the two most populous cities in the country.

The draft also includes a separate section for the “low-emission zone” in Hanoi. Accordingly, vehicles entering these areas will have to comply with stricter emission regulations, based on the resolutions of the Hanoi People’s Council and the Law on the Capital. This move clearly demonstrates the policy of zoning and tightly controlling emissions by area.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will be the agency in charge of guiding the implementation and developing and promulgating the National Technical Regulations on Motorcycle and Motorbike Emissions. The agency also said that it would continue to monitor, study, and advise the Prime Minister on the roadmap for improving emission standards and expanding the scope of application in the future.

How will the new regulation affect the people?

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment positively evaluates the implementation of the motorcycle and motorbike emission inspection policy. This policy is expected to improve the living environment, protect community health, especially vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.

Positive impact on the environment and community health

The motorcycle and motorbike emission inspection policy will contribute to reducing air pollution in large cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, controlling motorcycle emissions improves the living environment, reduces respiratory and cardiovascular diseases related to air pollution.

This not only improves community health but also reduces indirect medical costs and economic losses caused by these diseases.

This policy is particularly significant for vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly, who are often severely affected by air pollution. By reducing pollution, this policy will help protect their health.

Promoting technological development and economic opportunities

An important impact of the policy is to promote research and technology for means of transport, especially motorcycles and motorbikes. This policy not only supports enterprises in improving vehicle quality but also creates opportunities for the development of electric vehicles.

This opens up a new market for auxiliary industries, including the production and recycling of batteries, as well as the purchase and recycling of old motorcycle components.

In addition, the socialization of emission inspections will create business and job opportunities for the community, especially in the field of vehicle maintenance and repair to meet emission standards. This can generate new jobs in the auxiliary industry and motivate recycling industries.

Improving the legal system and raising community awareness

The emission inspection policy is also crucial in perfecting the legal system on emission control, concretizing the regulations in the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024.

Implementing emission inspections will not only reduce pollution but also help with vehicle maintenance and repair, thereby detecting faults and malfunctions early on, reducing the risk of traffic accidents.

This policy also raises community awareness of the importance of emission control and promotes awareness of vehicle maintenance and repair, not only to meet emission standards but also to ensure the safety of road users.