The new rule forces organizations and individuals involved in trading and production of hazardous chemicals in the city to provide adequate documents on the origin of their products, and purchase chemicals from legitimate entities.

 

They must have sufficient data on the sale and purchase of toxic chemicals, including detailed information on their customers. Hazardous chemicals can only be sold only to organizations and individuals willing to provide full information about users, places and purposes of usage. They will face legal action if they break the rule.

 

Meanwhile, handlers of hazardous chemicals must strictly comply with regulations on transport routes, stops and shipping hours, and such chemicals cannot be transported together with passengers, livestock and other types of goods.

 

District authorities in HCMC will not issue business registration certificates for those producing and trading hazardous chemicals in residential areas.

 

Some fires and explosions in residential areas in the past involved chemical manufacturing and trading facilities. For instance, a deadly explosion caused by chemicals at Dang Huynh Production and Trade Co Ltd in District 12 on October 2014 left three people dead and four others injured.

 

Preliminary statistics show that the city has 640 chemical trading facilities, with some 400 of them selling industrial chemicals, 130 trading health chemicals and the remainder agricultural chemicals.