QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN is the national technical regulation on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) for household and similar electrical and electronic equipment, issued under Circular No. 11/2012/TT-BKHCN dated 12 April 2012 by the Ministry of Science and Technology, in force since 1 June 2012. The regulation sets the limits for electromagnetic disturbance emission from household electrical and electronic equipment — and does not lay down immunity requirements.
The 2012 original lists 07 equipment groups. In 2018, Amendment 1:2018 to QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN (issued under Circular No. 07/2018/TT-BKHCN dated 6 June 2018, in force since 1 September 2018) added 04 groups of common household appliances (hair dryers; blenders, meat grinders, fruit juicers, egg beaters; microwave ovens; electric cookers including induction cookers), excluded equipment using a three-phase supply, updated the management rules and cut the record-keeping period from 10 years to 06 years.
This is also the underlying document that QCVN 19:2025/BKHCN cites when it excludes double certification: an integrated LED lamp operating above 50 V that is already EMC-certified under QCVN 19:2025 does not need certification under QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN and Amendment 1:2018.
This article analyses: the scope and subjects of application, the 07 original equipment groups and the 04 added groups, the applicable standards, the mandatory roadmap 2013–2021, the market-management requirements (conformity declaration/certification, CR mark, record-keeping), and the link with the LED lighting regulation QCVN 19:2025/BKHCN.
Scope note: the analysis below is how we read and structure the document; it is not the legal text itself. For official citation or for applying to a specific case, readers should check the version published in the Official Gazette or the national legal database.
Quick summary
- Original document: Circular 11/2012/TT-BKHCN dated 12 April 2012, issuing QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN on EMC for household electrical and electronic equipment; in force since 1 June 2012.
- Amending document: Circular 07/2018/TT-BKHCN dated 6 June 2018, issuing Amendment 1:2018 to QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN; in force since 1 September 2018.
- Scope: only electromagnetic emission limits; no immunity requirements; not applicable to equipment with a three-phase supply.
- List: 07 original equipment groups + 04 groups added by Amendment 1:2018.
- Roadmap: 1 June 2013 and 1 June 2014 (original); 1 Sep 2019, 1 Jul 2020 and 1 Jul 2021 (Amendment 1:2018).
- Market control: conformity certification/declaration, CR mark, certificate ≤ 3 years, records ≥ 6 years.
1. What is QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN?
QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN is a national technical regulation setting the technical and management requirements for the limits of electromagnetic disturbance emission from household and similar electrical and electronic equipment. It was drafted by the drafting committee, appraised and submitted by the National Commission for Standards, Metrology and Quality, and issued under Circular 11/2012/TT-BKHCN.
Two features to remember: (1) the regulation covers emission only, not the immunity of equipment; (2) the list of equipment in scope is set out in the Annex and may be amended, supplemented or repealed by decision of the Minister of Science and Technology — which is the basis on which Amendment 1:2018 added further equipment groups.
2. Scope and subjects of application
The regulation applies to household and similar electrical and electronic equipment — equipment connected directly, via a socket outlet, or via a switching device to a low-voltage supply (AC 50 Hz not exceeding 1 000 V, or DC not exceeding 1 500 V), used in the home, in commerce and in places with similar purposes.
Subjects: organisations and individuals that manufacture, import, distribute and retail equipment in scope; state management agencies and other relevant organisations and individuals.
Exclusion (added by Amendment 1:2018): the regulation does not apply to electrical and electronic equipment using a three-phase supply.
3. The 07 original equipment groups (2012)
The Annex to QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN lists 07 equipment groups that must meet the electromagnetic disturbance limits, with a mandatory roadmap under Article 3 of Circular 11/2012/TT-BKHCN:
| No. | Electrical / electronic equipment | Applicable standard | Mandatory from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Instantaneous water heaters (electric) | TCVN 7492-1 (CISPR 14-1) | 1 Jun 2013 |
| 2 | Hand-held motor-operated electric drills | TCVN 7492-1 (CISPR 14-1) | 1 Jun 2013 |
| 3 | Self-ballasted lamps | TCVN 7186 (CISPR 15) | 1 Jun 2014 |
| 4 | Vacuum cleaners | TCVN 7492-1 (CISPR 14-1) | 1 Jun 2014 |
| 5 | Washing machines | TCVN 7492-1 (CISPR 14-1) | 1 Jun 2014 |
| 6 | Refrigerators, freezers | TCVN 7492-1 (CISPR 14-1) | 1 Jun 2014 |
| 7 | Air conditioners | TCVN 7492-1 (CISPR 14-1) | 1 Jun 2014 |
Only the self-ballasted lamp group applies TCVN 7186 (CISPR 15) — limits and methods of measurement of radio disturbance characteristics of lighting equipment; the other groups apply TCVN 7492-1 (CISPR 14-1) — requirements for household appliances, electric tools and similar apparatus, Part 1: Emission.
4. What does Amendment 1:2018 (Circular 07/2018/TT-BKHCN) change?
Amendment 1:2018 amends and supplements several provisions of QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN; the most notable changes are the expansion of the equipment list and the updated roadmap.
4.1. Four added household appliance groups
It adds Clauses 2.1.3, 2.1.4 and 2.1.5 with 04 equipment groups and their corresponding standards:
| No. | Electrical / electronic equipment | Technical requirement | Mandatory from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hair dryers | TCVN 7492-1:2010 (CISPR 14-1:2009) | 1 Sep 2019 |
| 2 | Blenders, meat grinders, fruit juicers, egg beaters | TCVN 7492-1:2010 (CISPR 14-1:2009) | 1 Jul 2020 |
| 3 | Microwave ovens (including combination types) | TCVN 6988:2006 (CISPR 11:2004) | 1 Jul 2021 |
| 4 | Electric cookers (including induction cookers) | CISPR 14-1:2016 | 1 Jul 2021 |
4.2. Other amendments
- Three-phase exclusion: a new Clause 1.1a — the regulation does not apply to electrical and electronic equipment using a three-phase supply.
- Updated management requirements: Clauses 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 amended to follow Decree 107/2016/ND-CP and Circular 28/2012/TT-BKHCN (as amended by Circular 02/2017/TT-BKHCN); certification under Method 1 (type testing); conformity certificates valid for no more than 3 years.
- Updated responsibilities: enterprises must keep records for no less than 06 years (down from 10 years in the original) from the date the last product of the declared type/kind is shipped (for domestic production) or imported.
- Transitional provision: equipment manufactured, traded or imported before the relevant date may continue to circulate on the market, but for no more than 06 months from that date.
5. Mandatory roadmap 2013 – 2021
Combining the roadmaps of both documents:
| Date | Equipment that must apply QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN |
|---|---|
| 1 Jun 2013 | Instantaneous electric water heaters; hand-held electric drills |
| 1 Jun 2014 | Self-ballasted lamps; vacuum cleaners; washing machines; refrigerators, freezers; air conditioners |
| 1 Sep 2019 | Hair dryers |
| 1 Jul 2020 | Blenders, meat grinders, fruit juicers, egg beaters |
| 1 Jul 2021 | Microwave ovens (including combination types); electric cookers (including induction cookers) |
6. Market-management requirements
Under the rules (as updated by Amendment 1:2018), equipment in the list must, when placed on the market:
- Bear goods labelling as required by the law on goods labelling;
- Be subject to conformity declaration, carry the CR conformity mark and be subject to market inspection;
- Be conformity-certified based on the result of a registered certification body (under Decree 107/2016/ND-CP) or recognised under Circular 27/2007/TT-BKHCN;
- Be certified under Method 1 (type testing); testing must be performed by a registered testing organisation;
- Certificate of conformity valid for no more than 03 years;
- Enterprises must keep records for no less than 06 years and promptly notify the certification body in writing of any changes to parts related to EMC.
7. Link with QCVN 19:2025/BKHCN (LED lighting)
QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN was the “base” document applying to self-ballasted lamps (group 3, under CISPR 15). As lighting products moved to LED technology, QCVN 19:2025/BKHCN took over this product group and set out a clear mechanism to avoid double certification:
- An integrated LED lamp operating above 50 V that is already EMC-certified under QCVN 19:2025/BKHCN does not need certification under QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN (and Amendment 1:2018).
- Conversely, household appliances still covered by QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN (washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners, microwave ovens, electric cookers, etc.) continue to apply this regulation.
See also our article QCVN 19:2025/BKHCN: safety & EMC for LED lighting products for the full scope, standards and roadmap of the LED lighting regulation.
8. What should businesses prepare?
- Review the list: check your products against the 11 equipment groups (07 original + 04 added) to identify the obligations and applicable dates.
- Pick the right standard: each group maps to a specific standard (TCVN 7492-1/CISPR 14-1, TCVN 7186/CISPR 15, TCVN 6988/CISPR 11) — note the edition/year of the standard.
- Certify with an accredited body: results are only valid when certification is done at a registered certification body and testing at a testing organisation with the right scope.
- Prepare the dossier: product description, photos, user instructions, a copy of the certificate of conformity, and notification of changes related to EMC.
- Note the three-phase exclusion: equipment with a three-phase supply is outside the scope of this regulation.
- Check for double certification: an integrated LED lamp >50 V already EMC-certified under QCVN 19:2025 need not repeat QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN.
9. Frequently asked questions
When did QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN take effect?
On 1 June 2012, issued under Circular 11/2012/TT-BKHCN dated 12 April 2012.
Which equipment does QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN apply to?
07 original equipment groups (instantaneous electric water heaters; hand-held electric drills; self-ballasted lamps; vacuum cleaners; washing machines; refrigerators, freezers; air conditioners) and 04 groups added by Amendment 1:2018 (hair dryers; blenders, meat grinders, fruit juicers, egg beaters; microwave ovens; electric cookers, including induction cookers).
Does the regulation cover electromagnetic immunity?
No. QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN sets electromagnetic disturbance emission limits only; it does not lay down immunity requirements.
Does it apply to equipment with a three-phase supply?
No. Amendment 1:2018 (Clause 1.1a) states that the regulation does not apply to electrical and electronic equipment using a three-phase supply.
What does Amendment 1:2018 add?
It adds 04 household appliance groups (hair dryers; blenders, meat grinders, fruit juicers, egg beaters; microwave ovens; electric cookers), excludes three-phase equipment, updates the management rules and cuts the record-keeping period from 10 years to 06 years.
What is the roadmap under Amendment 1:2018?
Hair dryers from 1 Sep 2019; blenders, meat grinders, fruit juicers, egg beaters from 1 Jul 2020; microwave ovens (including combination types) and electric cookers (including induction cookers) from 1 Jul 2021.
How long is a certificate of conformity valid?
No more than 03 years.
How long must businesses keep records?
No less than 06 years from the date the last product of the declared type/kind is shipped (for domestic production) or imported.
Does an integrated LED lamp above 50 V need QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN?
No, if it is already EMC-certified under QCVN 19:2025/BKHCN.
Related articles
- QCVN 19:2025/BKHCN: safety & EMC for LED lighting products
- CISPR 15: interference limits for lighting equipment
- QCVN 32:2026/BCT – EV charging posts and stations
- Decree 37/2026/ND-CP: overview of 8 chapters – 99 articles
- QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN: EMC for mobile terminals
- QCVN 18:2022/BTTTT: general EMC for radio equipment
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This article is our interpretation for the purpose of sharing knowledge on certification, testing and product quality management; it is not a legal document. The dates, referenced standards and conditions in the article correspond to the content of QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN, Amendment 1:2018 to QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN, Circular 11/2012/TT-BKHCN and Circular 07/2018/TT-BKHCN at the time of writing; the documents may be amended, supplemented, replaced or repealed afterwards. Before applying to a specific case, readers should check the current legal text and consult the competent authority. The content is for reference only and does not constitute legal advice.
