The Protection of Public Health and Environment in the 2025 Amendments to Vietnam’s Criminal Code 2015

Abstract

The 2015 Criminal Code, as amended in 2017 and 2025, marks an important development in the process of improving Vietnam’s criminal law, particularly with regard to environmental protection, food safety, pharmaceuticals, and public health. This article analyses the 2025 amendments to the Criminal Code, focusing on three main aspects: strengthening sanctions and expanding the grounds for criminal liability for environmental crimes; enhancing criminal responses to violations concerning food safety and pharmaceuticals; and improving the mechanism for imposing criminal liability on commercial legal entities. Employing a qualitative approach and comparative legal analysis, the study demonstrates that these amendments reflect a shift in criminal policy towards enhancing criminal accountability for conduct that poses significant risks to the environment and public health. These changes contribute not only to the protection of human rights but also to the pursuit of sustainable development in the context of international integration. The article concludes by proposing several recommendations aimed at enhancing the interpretation and effective enforcement of the amended provisions.