Energy regulatory officials urged for strengthened implementation of energy efficiency labels
HÀ NỘI — National Assembly deputies highlighted the need for stringent penalties against businesses that disregard energy labeling requirements, particularly online, during the 9th session of the 15th National Assembly on Wednesday. They also advocated for transparency in disclosing violators to safeguard consumer interests.
The focus of the discussion was a draft law modifying and supplementing various provisions of the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy.
Deputy Đỗ Ngọc Thịnh from Khánh Hòa Province underscored the importance of mandatory energy labeling and public disclosure of product information. He stressed the lack of mechanisms to monitor and enforce compliance, particularly in the burgeoning digital market.
Proposing improvements, Thịnh suggested the law include provisions outlining regulatory agencies' responsibilities to conduct regular inspections and penalize non-compliant businesses. He also recommended publishing a list of violating enterprises to bolster consumer rights protection.
Furthermore, he proposed explicit provisions for specific administrative penalties, such as fines, license revocations, or temporary business suspensions for major energy-consuming facilities failing to meet energy-saving standards.
Addressing the obstacles faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in adopting energy-saving technologies, Thịnh pinpointed their limited financial and technical resources. He suggested including support measures, such as subsidies for energy audits, free technical consulting, and reduced interest rates from the Energy Efficiency Promotion Fund, in the law.
Deputy Trần Quớc Tuấn from Trà Vinh Province backed the revisions, describing them as essential in aiding Vietnam in meeting its commitment to becoming carbon-neutral by 2050.
Tuá̛n highlighted the benefits of employing certified energy-efficient construction materials, like insulated glass, which can reduce electricity consumption and waste public funds. He emphasized that Europe, the US, Japan have long implemented energy labeling for building materials, thereby conserving energy and boosting business competitiveness.
However, Tuá̛n acknowledged the difficulties in applying such regulations in Vietnam, such as a deficit of national standards for varying materials, a paucity of accredited testing laboratories, high testing fees, and inadequate post-market oversight.
To tackle this, Tuá̛n proposed issuing a roadmap for mandatory energy labeling of key construction materials, such as glass, insulation, and other building components affecting electricity consumption. He also urged the development of Vietnamese energy efficiency standards in tandem with international benchmarks, strengthening the participation of the private sector in testing and certification.
Deputy Trần Quốc Tuấn from Trà Vinh Province speaks at the 9th session of the 15th National Assembly on Wednesday. VNA/VNS Photo
Lê Minh Nam, a deputy from Hậu Giang Province, noted that the proposed law tackled a complex issue. He underscored the necessity of a flexible and multidimensional approach to enhancing energy efficiency. Nam urged the drafting committee to expand the law's scope to encompass a broader range of actors and sectors. He argued energy efficiency should be addressed holistically, from input to output, and recommended incorporating stronger oversight of energy supply sources into the law.
In summary, challenges in enforcing energy labeling and energy-saving regulations in Vietnam are rooted in weak enforcement and insufficient penalties, particularly in the digital marketplace and construction sector. Proposed solutions concentrate on stricter enforcement, streamlined certification processes, and improved regulatory frameworks to reduce low-efficiency products and promote greater corporate responsibility.
- The draft law under consideration emphasizes the need for regulatory agencies to enforce energy labeling requirements for businesses, particularly those operating online and in the construction sector.
- Deputy Đỗ Ngọc Thịnh suggests the law should include provisions for administrative penalties, such as fines, license revocations, or temporary business suspensions for businesses that fail to meet energy-saving standards.
- To help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adopt energy-saving technologies, Thịnh proposes the inclusion of support measures like subsidies for energy audits, free technical consulting, and reduced interest rates from the Energy Efficiency Promotion Fund in the law.
- Deputy Trần Quớc Tuấn proposes issuing a roadmap for mandatory energy labeling of key construction materials and developing Vietnamese energy efficiency standards in alignment with international benchmarks to improve enforcement and oversight.
