Customs control the import of scrap materials with modern inspection equipment

VCN- In order to prevent illegal acts in the import of scrap materials, the customs sector has implemented many solutions, including the introduction of modern testing equipment for sampling and inspection at the border gate. This is an urgent solution and is believed to have worked effectively
customs control the import of scrap materials with modern inspection equipment
Mobile inspection station is carrying out its mission at Hai Phong port on August 3rd. Picture: Ngoc Linh.

Initial Effectiveness

According to statistics, there are about 20% of containers containing paper scraps and 80% of containers that are plastic scraps and other scraps left at seaports. The amount of rubbish left in these ports poses a threat to Vietnam’s environment, causing costs to departmental budgets when they are forced to destroy garbage containers with no owner.

Prior to that problem, the Customs has deployed many solutions such as operating new functions on the IT system to track and analyze the goods before ship entry by reviewing and analyzing key points on the online monitoring system. For goods at ports, the application of modern machines for sample analysis and verification at the border gate ...

One of the solutions is the introduction of inspection equipment to sample the goods at the port to assist the local customs departments to effectively implement the direction of the General Department of Customs in Official Letter 4202 / TCHQ-PC. July 17, 2018, on the management of scrap imports from abroad into Vietnam.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Do Van Quang, Director General of Customs Inspection Department (General Department of Customs), said that the unit has granted 4 mobile inspection stations (vehicles), in which they are equipped with modern service analysis technology for customs inspections. Immediately after the direction of the General Department of Customs, the unit has put the mobile inspection stations directly sampling, inspecting on the spot steel batches, imported scraps and resins in Hai Phong and Ha Tinh. Mobile inspection stations consist of fixed laboratory equipment. However, these devices are equipped in a van and can maneuver for helping to facilitate access to the field, allowing faster inspection times. In addition, there are some analytical equipment that only needs to direct a hand-held probe into a shipment that is to be inspected without destroying it by sawing or cutting.

During the extraordinary inspection of 2 batches of iron and steel scrap, and 1 batch of plastic resins imported by businessman as materials for production in Hai Phong on August 3, the Customs Inspection Department put the mobile inspection station close to containers for sampling, and on-the-spot results have been highly appreciated by businesses and stakeholders for their efficiency and practicality for sampling.

In order to test the types of iron and steel scrap in the cargo container, the Customs Inspection Department used a specimen surface radioactivity meter for chemical composition meter of iron, etc. If the specimen does not meet the permitted standards, this machine sends a warning signal.

According to Do Van Quang, only three groups with national technical standards on the environment will be inspected on 31: 2010 / BTNMT for plastics, and for paper group in accordance with standard 33: 2010 / BTNMT. “To test these three categories, the Customs Department has tried to equip a number of hand-helds and quick gauges to serve the relative technical requirements for standards’ compliance. Specifically, the iron composition meter will check surface radiation, and thanks to the device’s accuracy, it can precisely determine the type of imported iron, whether it is iron or an alloy ..., so that the comparison to the standard meets the import regulations or not.

For plastics, tests will also classify and give many other indicators, Similarly, paper will be also checked for type and relative humidity, ... to match the standard.

However, for hazardous wastes, mobile testers only provide initial analysis results, which will then be verified by in-depth analysis. In fact, there are a number of toxic analyzers on the mobile inspection station. However, power supply is only supported for a certain period of time, whereas for analyzing hazardous wastes it takes longer. Therefore, to ensure a proper detailed analysis it will have to be done in the laboratory,” said Do Van Quang.

Since July 17, 2018, after the General Department of Customs issued Official Letter 4202 / TCHQ-PC, the Customs Department has directly inspected 1,914 lots and produced 1,901 lots. There are still 13 consignments being processed by the customs inspection department to produce the earliest results.

customs control the import of scrap materials with modern inspection equipment
Officials of the Customs Inspection Department use surface radiation measuring machines to check for iron and steel scrap. Picture: Ngoc Linh.

Must strongly tighten to protect the environment

Official letter 4202 / TCHQ-PC of the General Department of Customs sent to the customs department in provinces and cities is an urgent solution to strengthen and tighten scrap importation in the context of thousands of waste containers in stock at sea ports. The customs office confirms that the actual inspection of the goods is carried out at the customs office at the import border gate as stipulated in Clause 4, Article 10 of the Circular No. 41/2015 / TT-BTNMT of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Accordingly, the actual inspection time of goods with the naked eye and the equipment at the site shall not exceed 8 working hours from the time when the customs declarers fully present the goods; in cases where goods are in large quantity, with many types or requiring complicated inspections, the actual inspection time shall not exceed 2 working days.

In addition, if a field inspection fails to identify the imported scrap waste in compliance with the provisions of the customs legislation and the environmental protection law, the border-gate customs sub-department and the coordinating customs inspection sub-department are to perform a representative sampling of shipments for analytical evaluations.

The actual inspection and sampling will also be closely supervised by a customs officer, recording the whole inspection process, sampling from the beginning when the container is opened (for containers), by checking the bulk cargo first, and then inspection and sampling at the end.

In parallel with modern control solutions at border gates, the Customs Department is proposing to related ministries to urgently review scrap importers. At the same time, the General Department of Customs has instructed the units to complete the report to the Ministry of Finance to propose to the Prime Minister solutions to overcome the limitations and loopholes in the regime and policies for management of goods as soon as possible. Scrap imports; Import licenses shall not be granted to these commodities on the basis state management assessment of import scraps (including used plastic packages and plastics ...) and the import situation for current scrap items.

By Đảo Lê/Bui Diep

Related News

Customs sector strengthens anti-smuggling for e-commerce products

Customs sector strengthens anti-smuggling for e-commerce products

VCN – In 2025 and in the near future, the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) will strengthen inspection and control for imports and transportation of products traded via online applications, goods traded on e-commerce platforms and sent via express delivery service, Director of the Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department Vu Quang Toan said.
An Giang Customs issues many notes to help businesses improve compliance

An Giang Customs issues many notes to help businesses improve compliance

VCN - On December 17, An Giang Customs Department held a dialogue conference with over 50 import-export enterprises in the area. This is the second dialogue conference organized by An Giang Customs Department this year.
Preliminary assessment of Vietnam international merchandise trade performance in the second half of November, 2024

Preliminary assessment of Vietnam international merchandise trade performance in the second half of November, 2024

The Vietnam Customs Statistics announced that in the second half of November, 2024 the total Vietnam’s exports of US dollars 16.9 billion and imports of nearly US dollars 15.73 billion resulted in a trade surplus of US dollars 1.17 billion.

Latest News

Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang: Facilitating trade, ensuring national security, and preventing budget losses

Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang: Facilitating trade, ensuring national security, and preventing budget losses

VCN - Vietnam's total import-export turnover for 2024 is estimated to reach US$782.33 billion, a remarkable achievement driven by the proactive and dedicated efforts of officials and staff at the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
Official implementation of the program encouraging enterprises to voluntarily comply with Customs Laws

Official implementation of the program encouraging enterprises to voluntarily comply with Customs Laws

VCN - After a two-year pilot phase, the Customs sector has officially launched the program encouraging enterprises to voluntarily comply with customs laws as of December 4, 2024, with the goal of enhancing compliance levels and ensuring consistent adherence among enterprises.
Proactive plan to meet customs management requirements at Long Thanh International Airport

Proactive plan to meet customs management requirements at Long Thanh International Airport

VCN - Director of Dong Nai Customs Department Le Van Thung requested the Ministry of Finance and the General Department of Customs to pay attention to directing so that after arranging and streamlining the apparatus, human resources can be immediately prepared to serve Customs at Long Thanh International Airport.
Hai Phong Customs processes over 250,000 declarations in November

Hai Phong Customs processes over 250,000 declarations in November

VCN - In November 2024, the Hai Phong Customs Department processed 251,983 import-export declarations.

More News

Achievements in revenue collection are a premise for breakthroughs in 2025

Achievements in revenue collection are a premise for breakthroughs in 2025

VCN – Motivated by great efforts and effective implementation of solutions, as of December 10 the total State revenue from imports and exports saw a year-on-year increase of 13.8% to VND397,861 billion, meeting 106.1% of the estimate. The revenue us estimated to reach VND420,000 billion, meeting 112 % of the estimate, up 13.9% over the same period in 2023. The achievements in 2024 are a premise for a breakthrough in revenue collection in 2025.
Binh Duong Customs surpasses budget revenue target by over VND16.8 Trillion

Binh Duong Customs surpasses budget revenue target by over VND16.8 Trillion

VCN - As of November 30, 2024, the total budget revenue collected by the Binh Duong Customs Department reached VND16.872 trillion, achieving 100.43% of the assigned target and 98.67% of the aspirational target, representing a 14.45% increase compared to the same period last year.
Director General Nguyen Van Tho: Customs sector strives to excellently complete 2025 tasks

Director General Nguyen Van Tho: Customs sector strives to excellently complete 2025 tasks

VCN - Concluding the conference, Director General of Vietnam Customs Nguyen Van Tho suggested many goals and solutions for the entire sector in 2025. Customs Magazine respectfully introduces the important contents in the Director General's concluding remarks.
Customs sector deploys work in 2025

Customs sector deploys work in 2025

VCN - On December 16, the General Department of Customs held an online conference to review the results of work in 2024 and deploy tasks for 2025. Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang attended and directed the conference. Director General Nguyen Van Tho chaired the conference. Attending the conference were former Director General of Customs General Department Nguyen Van Can, former Deputy Director General of Customs General Department of Customs Hoang Viet Cuong and Deputy Directors General: Luu Manh Tuong, Dinh Ngoc Thang, Au Anh Tuan, Tran Duc Hung and representatives of a number of departments, bureaus and general departments under the Ministry of Finance.
Mong Cai Border Gate Customs Branch makes great effort in performing work

Mong Cai Border Gate Customs Branch makes great effort in performing work

VCN – When the night falls in a cold winter in Mong Cai city, many people have dinner with their families, officials of Mong Cai Border Gate Customs Branch (Quang Ninh Customs Department) still process customs clearance procedures at check points.
Declarations and turnover of imported and exported goods processed by Lao Bao Customs surge

Declarations and turnover of imported and exported goods processed by Lao Bao Customs surge

VCN- By the end of November 30, Lao Bao Border Gate Customs Branch (Quang Tri Customs Department) had processed procedures for 9,337 import-export declarations, up 26.6%, with the import-export turnover of US$553.48 million, up 45.9% year-on-year.
General Department of Vietnam Customs prepares for organizational restructuring

General Department of Vietnam Customs prepares for organizational restructuring

VCN - On December 10, 2024, the General Department of Vietnam Customs convened a conference to discuss the organizational restructuring of the Customs apparatus.
Revenue faces short-term difficulties but will be more sustainable when implementing FTA

Revenue faces short-term difficulties but will be more sustainable when implementing FTA

VCN – The National Scientific Conference under the theme “Tax management for imports and exports in the context of FTA implementation: Current situation and solutions” was jointly held by the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) and the Academy of Finance, on December 11.
Customs sector collects over VND384 trillion in revenue

Customs sector collects over VND384 trillion in revenue

VCN - By the end of November, the Customs revenue exceeded the estimate by 2.6% and increased by 14.8% compared to the same period in 2023, the General Department of Vietnam Customs released on December 11.
Read More

Your care

Latest Most read
Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang: Facilitating trade, ensuring national security, and preventing budget losses

Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang: Facilitating trade, ensuring national security, and preventing budget losses

Vietnam's total import-export turnover for 2024 is estimated to reach US$782.33 billion, a remarkable achievement driven by the proactive and dedicated efforts of Customs officials and staffs
Official implementation of the program encouraging enterprises to voluntarily comply with Customs Laws

Official implementation of the program encouraging enterprises to voluntarily comply with Customs Laws

After a two-year pilot phase, the Customs sector has officially launched the program encouraging enterprises to voluntarily comply with customs laws as of December 4, 2024
Proactive plan to meet customs management requirements at Long Thanh International Airport

Proactive plan to meet customs management requirements at Long Thanh International Airport

VCN - Regarding the task in 2025, Director Le Van Thung said that the unit was assigned a budget collection target of 21,100 billion VND the following year. Of which, Dong Nai is 20,000 billion VND and Binh Thuan is 1,100 billion VND.
An Giang Customs issues many notes to help businesses improve compliance

An Giang Customs issues many notes to help businesses improve compliance

VCN - On December 17, An Giang Customs Department held a dialogue conference with over 50 import-export enterprises in the area. This is the second dialogue conference organized by An Giang Customs Department this year.
Hai Phong Customs processes over 250,000 declarations in November

Hai Phong Customs processes over 250,000 declarations in November

In November 2024, the Hai Phong Customs Department processed 251,983 import-export declarations.
Mobile Version