VietNamNet Bridge - The plan on controlling motorbike emissions was drawn up by the Vietnam Register for a long time ago, but it still remains on paper.

The plan remains on paper for a long time. Meanwhile, thousands of old motorbikes which cannot meet emission standards still roll on streets every day.

There are 2.5 million cars and 45 million motorbikes in circulation in Vietnam. The number is getting higher every day, which puts pressure on the environment, especially in big urban areas. 

While cars bear emission control in accordance with registration periods and have usage time limitations, motorbikes do not.

The government asked vehicles to meet Euro 2 standards in 2007. However, scientists say this is the lowest standard.

Chu Manh Hung, former director of the Ministry of Transport’s Environment Department, warned that if Vietnam does not set up technical barriers on emission standards, Vietnam will become the world’s technology dumping ground.

Under the plan on motorbike emission control approved in 2008, 20 percent of motorbikes in Hanoi and HCM City must be examined and meet the emission standards in 2010-2013. 

Meanwhile, in 2013-2015, about 80-90 percent of motorbikes in the  other cities must be examined. The examination network must be expanded so as to examine the emissions of 60 percent of motorbikes in circulation in first-class and second-class cities.

However, the plan remains on paper because of many reasons.

The Vietnam Register now is drafting the plan on controlling motorbike emissions, setting up a new roadmap with implementation delayed until 2017.

Colonel Dao Vinh Thang from the Hanoi Police Service noted that the number of motorbikes is very high throughout the country which affects people of all classes. Therefore, he believes it would be better to apply emission control on the motorbikes in circulation in central cities first before applying it throughout the country.

Under the draft of the new plan, the enterprises that make and assemble motorbikes and sales agents would be authorized to examine vehicle emissions and grant certificates.

An analyst has warned that the tentative regulation may raise problems as sales agents would force vehicle owners to change parts and accessories as they want, or they would refuse to grant certificates.

The Vietnam Register now sets the vehicle examination fee at VND100,000-150,000 valid for two years.

Thang has suggested removing the fee, saying that vehicle owners now have to pay the environmental protection fee when buying petrol – VND3,000 per liter of petrol and VND1,500 per liter of diesel. Therefore, it would be better to pay for the examination service with money from the collected environment protection fee.

Thien Nhien