National Technical Regulation QCVN 43:2025/BNNMT for Sediment quality

QCVN 43:2025/BNNMT

NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON SEDIMENT QUALITY

Foreword

QCVN 43:2025/BNNMT is compiled by the Department of Environment, proposed by the Department of Science and Technology, appraised by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam, and promulgated by the Minister of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam under Circular No. 01/2025/TT-BNNMT dated May 15, 2025.

QCVN 43:2025/BNNMT replaces QCVN 43:2017/BTNMT.

NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON SEDIMENT QUALITY

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1. Scope

1.1.1. This Regulation provides for the limit values for the quality parameters of surface water sediment and marine sediment.

1.1.2. This Regulation shall be applied to assess and control sediment quality to protect aquatic life

1.2. Regulated entities

This Regulation applies to environmental authorities, organizations, and individuals engaging in environmental monitoring and assessment of sediment quality onshore and in the waters of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

1.3. Interpretation of terms

For the purpose of this Regulation, the following terms shall be construed as follows:

1.3.1. Sediment refers to particles of various sizes, shapes, and minerals originating from different sources located at the bottom of the surface water and marine areas. Sediment includes clay, mud, sand, gravel, decomposed organic matter, shells of organisms, and others. Sediment sampling methods shall comply with the regulations on sediment monitoring techniques and determination methods prescribed in this Regulation.

1.3.2. The limit values of parameters in the sediment prescribed in this regulation are the values used as the sediment quality control objectives in surface water and marine areas. When the pollution parameter values exceed the prescribed limits, state authorities, organizations, and individuals shall conduct in-depth research and assessment of ecological impacts; adopt measures to prevent the introduction of pollutants into specific water areas while considering (if necessary) adopting measures to eliminate pollutants from the sediment in water areas under their management.

2. TECHNICAL PROVISIONS

The permissible maximum value of sediment quality parameters is prescribed in Table 1.

Table 1: Permissible maximum value of parameters in sediment

Note:

⁽¹⁾ DDD: total of p,p’ and o,p’ isomers;

⁽²⁾ DDE: total of p,p’ and o,p’ isomers;

⁽³⁾ DDT: total of p,p’ and o,p’ isomers;

⁽⁴⁾ PCBs: total concentration of PCB 28; PCB 52; PCB 101; PCB 138; PCB 153; PCB 180.

3. DETERMINATION METHODS

3.1. Monitoring methods for determining the concentration values of parameters in sediment shall comply with Table 2 or technical regulations on environmental monitoring as prescribed by the law.

Table 2. Methods of sampling and determining values of sediment quality parameters

4. MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS

4.1. The periodic sediment quality monitoring and use of monitoring results for direct provision and announcement of environmental quality information to the community shall be carried out by organizations meeting the requirements and conditions for environmental monitoring capacity according to the law.

4.2. Periodic sediment quality monitoring must be based on monitoring objectives to select appropriate parameters.

5. RESPONSIBILITIES OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS

5.1. Organizations and individuals engaging in sediment quality assessment and monitoring under this Regulation shall comply with the prescribed monitoring methods.

5.2. Environmental authorities shall assess sediment quality and adopt management measures according to the law.

6. IMPLEMENTATION

6.1. Environmental authorities shall instruct, inspect, and supervise the implementation of this Regulation.

6.2. Where any document cited in this Regulation is amended or replaced, comply with its new edition./.