Improving the legal framework and addressing shortcomings in the field of metrology.

On December 31, 2025, the Ministry of Science and Technology issued Circular No. 54/2025/TT-BKHCN, regulating the inspection, calibration, and testing of measuring instruments and measurement standards. The issuance of this Circular aims to complete the legal framework for metrology, promote decentralization and delegation of authority to meet the requirements of socio-economic development, administrative reform, and digital transformation in the new era.

In daily life, Group 2 measuring instruments such as electricity meters, water meters, and fuel dispensers are used directly in buying, selling, payment, and providing essential services. The accuracy of these measuring instruments is not only related to production and business efficiency but also closely linked to the legitimate rights of consumers and social trust.

Therefore, the inspection, calibration, and testing of measuring instruments play a particularly important role in ensuring the accuracy, reliability, and consistency of measurements, contributing to preventing commercial fraud, reducing disputes, and protecting market order.

Circular No. 54/2025/TT-BKHCN was issued to replace Circular No. 24/2013/TT-BKHCN, which had been in effect for over ten years. During its implementation, Circular 24 played a positive role, but also revealed some limitations, such as complex administrative procedures, inconsistent jurisdiction at the local level, and some regulations failing to keep pace with the demands of reform and digital transformation.

Building upon existing relevant regulations, Circular No. 54/2025/TT-BKHCN amends, supplements, and removes outdated provisions. It also clarifies the responsibilities of organizations and individuals involved in inspection, calibration, and testing activities. Furthermore, the Circular provides more specific regulations on procedures, competency requirements, and ensures transparency, consistency, and feasibility in implementation.

To complete the legal framework in the field of metrology, ensuring uniformity, transparency, and compliance with current state management requirements, Circular 54 specifically stipulates the principles, procedures, content, and technical requirements for inspection, calibration, and testing activities; the rights and responsibilities of organizations performing metrology activities; and the conditions for ensuring professional capacity, equipment, measurement standards, and quality management systems.

One of the highlights of Circular No. 54/2025/TT-BKHCN is the reduction and simplification of administrative procedures, unifying the authority to resolve issues at the local level, in line with the new model of local government organization. Regulations on dossiers, certificates, inspection and calibration deadlines have been clarified, contributing to reducing compliance time and costs for organizations and businesses.

In addition, the Circular promotes the application of digital transformation in measurement activities, allowing the use of electronic records, electronic certificates, and requiring data updates to the National Database on Standards, Measurement, and Quality, creating a foundation for modern, data-driven management.

Measurement activities help enhance the competitiveness of businesses (Illustrative image).

Protecting consumer rights

Circular No. 54/2025/TT-BKHCN clarifies the responsibilities of state management agencies and designated organizations in maintaining capacity, preserving measurement standards, and retaining records and inspection results. Strict control over inspection, calibration, and testing activities helps improve the reliability of measurement results, thereby protecting the legitimate rights of consumers, especially in essential service sectors.

For society, the Circular contributes to strengthening discipline and order in measurement, limiting fraud, creating a transparent and healthy business environment, and enhancing people's trust in goods and services.

According to the Circular, designated inspection, calibration, and testing organizations are responsible for maintaining and retaining records, results, certificates, and inspection, calibration, and testing documents for measuring instruments and measurement standards as prescribed. They are also responsible for inspecting, calibrating, and testing Group 2 measuring instruments and measurement standards used directly for inspecting Group 2 measuring instruments within their designated scope and field of activity, and in compliance with the procedures stipulated in current Vietnamese metrology technical documents.

Calibration of Group 2 measuring instruments plays a crucial role in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of results during the measurement process.

The circular also clarifies that designated inspection, calibration, and testing organizations are responsible for issuing and implementing regulations on maintaining, preserving, and using measurement standards and measuring instruments for inspection, calibration, and testing to ensure standard interoperability. Along with this, measures must be taken to prevent and counteract any impact that alters the main technical measurement characteristics of measuring instruments and measurement standards during use…

The National Committee for Standards, Metrology, and Quality is responsible for designating inspection, calibration, and testing organizations as prescribed; issuing Vietnamese technical metrology documents; guiding and organizing professional training and workshops on inspection, calibration, and testing of measuring instruments and measurement standards for inspection, calibration, and testing personnel and metrology assessment experts. In addition, the National Committee for Standards, Metrology, and Quality conducts state inspections of metrology activities related to the inspection, calibration, and testing of measuring instruments and measurement standards as prescribed by law and updates metrology data on the National Database of Standards, Metrology, and Quality.

The issuance of Circular No. 54/2025/TT-BKHCN not only addresses technical difficulties in metrology management but also has broader significance in enhancing the competitiveness of businesses, promoting socio-economic development, and international integration.

The Circular takes effect from February 15, 2026. Inspection, calibration, and testing activities for measuring instruments and measurement standards will continue to be carried out in accordance with the regulations in this Circular. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities, and relevant organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

Circular No. 54/2025/TT-BKHCN is expected to bring about positive changes in metrology, making a practical contribution to the goal of rapid, sustainable development and modernization of the economy.

Center for Science and Technology Communication