Circular No. 01/TTLT/CN-KCM of February 28, 1997 to suspend the production and use of dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) in the synthetic detergents industry.

From November 4, 1996, all projects on the production and trading of DBSA and synthetic detergents containing DBSA shall not be considered for licenses.

From January 1st, 1998, all production and business establishments operating on the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam shall not be allowed to use DBSA in the synthetic detergents industry and shall have to use linear ankylbenzen sulfonic acid (LSA) or other surface active substances with high biological diffusion as substitutes for DBSA after obtaining permission from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment.

DBSA detergents are allowed to be sold on the domestic market only up to the end of March 31, 1998.

Units importing and trading in DBSA and DBSA synthetic detergents shall have to readjust their import plans to conform with the above-said provisions.

Production establishments shall have to draw up plans for the import of materials for the production of DBSA and DBSA materials to manufacture synthetic detergents in conformity with the above-said provisions.- (Summary)