2025 leaves a strong imprint on competition and consumer protection

On the afternoon of January 5, the National Competition Commission (Ministry of Industry and Trade) held a conference to review its 2025 performance and roll out tasks for 2026.

Addressing the conference, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan acknowledged and highly appreciated the strong sense of responsibility and efforts of the leadership and officials of the National Competition Commission in 2025 a year that recorded many important milestones in the fields of competition and consumer protection, with numerous significant and outstanding achievements.

Accordingly, in 2025, the National Competition Commission closely followed the directions of the Government, the Prime Minister and the Ministry’s leadership, proactively advising and implementing a large volume of complex tasks, with notable highlights as follows:

First, on advising policy and legal development: Effectively implementing Politburo Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW dated May 4, 2025 on private economic development, aiming to safeguard market mechanisms and establish a healthy competitive environment. In particular, proactively advising Party committees at all levels to submit to the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee the issuance of Conclusion No. 207-KL/TW on continuing the implementation of Directive No. 30-CT/TW of the Secretariat on strengthening Party leadership and state management responsibility in consumer protection.

At the same time, developing and submitting for issuance a number of important decrees and circulars guiding competition and consumer protection. These serve as crucial policy and legal foundations, creating a legal corridor to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of state management.

Second, in the field of competition: Completing negotiations and signing the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Competition (AFAC) the highest-level cooperation framework on competition within ASEAN. Strengthening competition supervision and management through the receipt and handling of economic concentration transactions, ensuring they do not cause anti-competitive effects in various sectors of the economy. Verifying and assessing 63 cases showing signs of competition law violations; focusing on investigating 15 competition cases involving full categories of violations as prescribed by law; and issuing sanctioning decisions totaling VND 2.2 billion.

Third, in the field of consumer protection: Enhancing decentralization and delegation of authority, while strengthening close coordination with local authorities to improve the effectiveness of consumer protection; improving the quality and efficiency of handling consumer complaints and petitions, particularly through the consumer advisory and support hotline system; conducting inspections and handling administrative violations in consumer protection involving 14 enterprises and six individuals, with total fines amounting to VND 3.5 billion.

Fourth, in the management of multi-level marketing activities: Closely coordinating with local management authorities to monitor, promptly prevent and handle illicit multi-level marketing activities. Working closely with local police forces in combating crimes related to multi-level marketing, verifying 30 cases for transfer to local police for criminal prosecution under Article 217a of the Penal Code for illegal multi-level marketing. Inspecting and sanctioning five multi-level marketing enterprises with total fines of VND 1.3 billion.

Fifth, on organizational structure and staff capacity: The National Competition Commission demonstrated solidarity, discipline and proactive learning, continuously improving professional capacity to meet increasingly demanding requirements in the new context.

Focusing on six key tasks

Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan emphasized that in 2026, state management in competition, competition proceedings and consumer protection will face numerous difficulties and challenges. He requested the National Competition Commission to continue focusing on the following key tasks:

First, concentrating resources and coordinating with relevant units to ensure the quality completion of the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Competition and the Law on Protection of Consumer Rights; proactively reviewing and proposing improvements to legal regulations on competition management, consumer protection and multi-level marketing management.

Second, accelerating the implementation of tasks under Directive No. 30, Conclusion No. 207 and documents issued by the Government and the Prime Minister, ensuring synchronized and effective consumer protection nationwide across sectors and industries.

Third, focusing on reviewing, researching and collecting information to serve competition supervision in key markets, ensuring a healthy and sustainable business environment; intensifying the verification of signs of competition law violations and organizing investigations and handling in accordance with the law, especially in several representative sectors.

Fourth, concentrating resources on implementing specialized inspections across all managed fields to ensure a fair competitive environment, promptly detect and handle violations, protect legitimate consumer interests, strengthen legal discipline, enhance social trust and promote sustainable market development in the digital era.

Fifth, strengthening international cooperation in competition and consumer protection, contributing to improved law enforcement effectiveness and affirming Viet Nam’s role in regional and international cooperation.

Sixth, building a contingent of civil servants, particularly competition case investigators, into a professional force with high expertise and strong integrity to effectively conduct investigations and inspections and handle violations of law.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan stressed that the responsibilities of the National Competition Commission in the coming period are heavy but also highly honorable, contributing to ensuring a fair and healthy competitive environment and protecting the legitimate rights of consumers. He expressed confidence that the Commission will continue to successfully fulfill its assigned tasks, making worthy contributions to the sustainable development of the Industry and Trade sector and the country.