Strengthening Legal Framework for Effective Fire Safety and Rescue

On November 29, 2024, during the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly, the Law on Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue was enacted and took effect on July 1, 2025 (Law No. 55/2024/QH15).

The new Law on Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue was enacted to address the shortcomings and legal gaps remaining in the 2001 Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting (amended and supplemented in 2013), while enhancing the effectiveness of Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue work in the current context.

The new law includes many notable innovations, such as: fully supplementing regulations on rescue activities in association with human rights; clarifying the responsibilities of each individual and organization in fire prevention and firefighting; improving safety conditions for houses and constructions associated with business; strengthening decentralization and reforming administrative procedures; and, at the same time, strongly encouraging the participation of people, businesses, and the whole society in fire safety and rescue work.

Immediately after the law was passed, the Ministry of Public Security advised the Government to issue two decrees and directly issued three circulars detailing and guiding its implementation, all of which became effective on July 1, 2025. As a result, the current legal system on fire safety and rescue incorporates important innovations to promptly meet the practical requirements of the country's socio-economic development, address the shortcomings and limitations of previous Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue work, ensure synchronization and unity within the legal system, and establish a solid legal framework to enhance the effectiveness of Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue activities.

Notably, after the Law on Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue took effect, many administrative procedures related to fire safety and rescue were streamlined to simplify processes and reduce compliance costs, providing greater convenience for people and businesses. Accordingly, 37 administrative procedures have been reduced to 9 (28 procedures reduced, equivalent to 75.6%). Of these, the Public Security agency manages seven procedures, while the People's Committee at the commune level handles three procedures. The time for receiving and processing administrative procedures has also been cut by over 30% (for example, in design appraisal and inspection of fire prevention and firefighting acceptance work, the Public Security agency reduced processing time from 10-15 days to 6-10 days). In addition, many unnecessary document components have been eliminated or are now searchable online via the databases of other ministries and agencies.

According to Lieutenant General Nguyen Tuan Anh of the Department of Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue under the Ministry of Public Security, some provisions are directly related to and have significant positive impacts on enterprise operations, such as: strengthening the responsibility of heads of establishments and enterprises in ensuring fire safety; thoroughly reforming administrative procedures in fire prevention, firefighting, and search and rescue, while enhancing the application of science and technology to improve transparency and create favorable conditions for enterprises participating in these activities; identifying establishments under fire prevention and firefighting management, particularly those with fire and explosion risks, in the direction of increasing scale to better match practical needs; assigning, decentralizing, and specifying regulations on fire prevention and firefighting inspection regimes to minimize inconvenience and impacts on business operations; and providing more comprehensive regulations on fire prevention and firefighting safety conditions for establishments, enabling enterprises to apply them more flexibly, appropriately, and effectively.

At the same time, to "promote the socialization of fire prevention and firefighting work" in line with the Party's policy, the law aims to create favorable conditions for establishments and enterprises, strengthen autonomy and self-responsibility under the inspection, supervision, and management of state agencies, and encourage individuals and organizations to participate in fire prevention, fighting, and rescue activities. The Law on Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue has also abolished the regulation that classified fire safety and rescue service as a conditional business line. In addition, the inspection of fire and rescue work equipment is replaced by licensing for the circulation of fire and rescue equipment, as well as fire-prevention and fire-resistant materials and components; the law also supplements regulations to encourage enterprises to invest, research, and apply science and technology in the field of fire safety and rescue work.

To effectively implement and comply with the provisions of the law, Lieutenant General Nguyen Tuan Anh said that enterprises need to proactively study the new regulations of the legal system in the field of fire and rescue work, regularly update guidance documents and information from competent authorities, and diligently follow the instructions, requirements, and recommendations of state management agencies on fire safety and rescue work. Enterprises must also focus on investing funds, providing necessary equipment, and organizing fire safety and rescue forces in accordance with regulations; strictly comply with training and professional development in fire prevention, firefighting, and search and rescue for heads of establishments, personnel assigned to conduct fire prevention and firefighting inspections, as well as the Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue teams within the establishments, in order to enhance awareness, knowledge, and skills in fire safety and rescue.

Quynh Anh (Vietnam Business Forum)