Vietnam's Environmental Tax Law came into effect on January 1, 2012. It regulates eight categories of goods subject to the tax, including fuels (gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, kerosene, heavy oil, lubricating oil, lubricants), coal, HCFC solutions, plastic bags, restricted pesticides, forestry chemicals, warehouse disinfectants, and termite control agents. According to the General Department of Taxation of Vietnam, the use of these eight items causes widespread environmental pollution; therefore, those using these goods should be taxed. To save the tax authorities the expense of collecting the environmental tax, it applies to households, individuals, and organizations engaged in the production of these goods. Vietnam's Environmental Tax Law also stipulates that the Standing Committee of the National Assembly will specifically regulate the following tax rates for the first eight categories of goods, and these rates may be adjusted as necessary: 1. Gasoline and aviation gasoline: 1,000 VND per liter; 2. Other fuels: 300 VND per liter; 3. Antraxit coal: 20 VND per metric ton; 4. Other coal: 10,000 VND per metric ton; 5. HCFC solution: 4,000 VND per kilogram; 6. Plastic bags: 40,000 VND per kilogram; 7. Pesticides: 500 VND per kilogram; 8. Other residual pesticides: 1,000 VND per kilogram. (Note: The current official exchange rate is 1 USD = 20,803 VND plus or minus 1%). Data recently released by the General Statistics Office of Vietnam shows that the country's GDP in 2011 increased compared to 2010.
