VietNamNet Bridge - The plan on inspecting motor vehicle emissions, approved by the Prime Minister eight years ago, has yet to be implemented because agencies have not set detailed plans. 

Vietnam plans to inspect motor vehicle emissions

Under the plan, the Vietnam Register (VR) has suggested the examination be carried out with 15-year-old vehicles or older initially, and after that, other vehicles will be examined. 

The examination will be conducted once every two years in Hanoi, HCM City, Hai Phong, Da Nang and Can Tho. Automobile registration centers will be in charge of the examination.

Three are three options for the examination roadmap. With Option 1, from July 1, 2018, the motorbikes with cylinder capacity of 175 cubic meters and higher will be forced to have mandatory examinations. 

With Option 2, the motorbikes with cylinder capacity of 175 cubic meters will begin examination from July 1, 2018, and smaller motorbikes from July 1, 2020 (vehicles with more than 15-year use, registered for the first time prior to July 1, 2005). The vehicles with over 10 years of use will be examined from July 1, 2022. 

Meanwhile, from July 1, 2025, the examination will be implemented for motorbikes with more than five years of use.

With Option 3, registration agencies will examine emissions of motorbikes with cylinder capacity of 175 cubic meters and more from July 1, 2018, and motorbikes with 130 cubic meters and more from July 1, 2020. 

The motorbikes found meeting emission standards after the examination will be given certificates. 

According to the HCM City Police, by early March 2018, the city had 7,493,592 motorbikes and 677,309 cars, a major source of pollution. 

Lack of regulations cause delays

In principle, the examination needs to be implemented in accordance with Circular 70 dated in 2015. However, the emission standards stipulated in the circular are very low. They can be applied only to automobiles in circulation, while there are still no regulations for motorbikes.

Asked why the motorbike emission examination could not be implemented, a representative of the HCM City Transport Department attributed it to a lack of regulations. 

In principle, the examination needs to be implemented in accordance with Circular 70 dated in 2015. However, the emission standards stipulated in the circular are very low. They can be applied only to automobiles in circulation, while there are still no regulations for motorbikes.

In addition, Decision No 49 dated in 2011 did not apply to vehicles in circulation.

According to Nguyen Minh Dong, an automobile expert, if the emission controls can be implemented, air pollution caused by motor vehicles could fall from 80 percent to 50 percent in three to four years.