CONDITIONS FOR OBTAINING THE CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY TO OPERATE AS A PETROLEUM WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTOR (GENERAL AGENT)

Pursuant to Decree No. 83/2014/ND-CP, as amended by Decree No. 95/2021/ND-CP, any trader wishing to operate in the capacity of a petroleum wholesale distributor (general agent) must simultaneously satisfy stringent legal, infrastructure, transportation, and distribution system requirements. Once these conditions are fully met, the enterprise will be granted a Certificate of Eligibility to act as a petroleum wholesale distributor by the competent state authority.

1. Lawful establishment and business registration for petroleum trading

A wholesale distributor must be an enterprise that is lawfully established in accordance with Vietnamese law and has petroleum trading registered as a business line in its Enterprise Registration Certificate.

2. Having a petroleum depot with a minimum capacity of 2,000 m³

The depot/storage tanks must have a minimum capacity of 2,000 m³ and be under the trader’s ownership, co-ownership, or leased from a petroleum service trader for a minimum term of 05 years. The depot is a mandatory condition to ensure adequate storage and supply capability for the distribution network.

Conditions for obtaining the certificate of eligiblity to operate as a petroleum wholesale distributor (general agent)

3. Having petroleum transportation means

A wholesale distributor must have petroleum transportation means under its ownership or co-ownership, or leased from a petroleum service trader for a minimum term of 05 years. Transportation means ensure the distributor’s practical capacity to aggregate and distribute petroleum products.

4. Having a compliant petroleum distribution system

The distribution system of a wholesale distributor must include at least 05 retail petroleum outlets under its ownership or co-ownership and 10 outlets operated by retail petroleum agents, all of which must hold Certificates of Eligibility for Retail Petroleum Trading in accordance with Article 25 of Decree 83.

Special requirements: the wholesale distributor’s distribution system must be part of the distribution system of a petroleum key trader (importer/producer) and must be under the direct control of that key trader. This ensures uniformity, quality management, and accountability throughout the supply chain.

5. Fire prevention and firefighting (FPF) and environmental training

All managerial staff and employees directly involved in petroleum trading must receive training and instruction and hold valid FPF professional certificates and environmental protection certificates in compliance with current laws. This is a mandatory condition due to the highly flammable and explosive nature of petroleum products.

To obtain the Certificate of Eligibility to operate as a petroleum wholesale distributor, an enterprise must fully satisfy all five groups of conditions concerning legal status, storage depot, transportation means, distribution system, and personnel training.

Wholesale distributors constitute a crucial link in the petroleum distribution network. Therefore, legal requirements are imposed strictly to ensure safety, product quality, and market stability.

Becoming a petroleum wholesale distributor requires an enterprise to meet a highly rigorous legal framework—from legal status, storage facilities, and transport capacity to distribution network standards and personnel training. These are not merely procedural requirements, but fundamental safeguards for fire and explosion safety, product quality, and the stability of the entire petroleum supply chain on the market.

In the context of intensified regulatory supervision and an increasingly demanding petroleum market, enterprises should carefully prepare their dossiers, assess their actual operational capacity, and establish a robust compliance system to minimize risks when applying for the wholesale distributor certificate.

With a team of experienced lawyers and legal experts in Industry and Trade regulations, Vietlink is ready to accompany enterprises throughout reviewing eligibility conditions, standardizing legal infrastructure, establishing compliance systems, preparing licensing applications, and providing ongoing legal support.

Vietlink is committed to delivering comprehensive, accurate, and in-depth legal solutions, enabling enterprises to confidently operate petroleum trading activities lawfully and sustainably.

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