Decree on specialised inspection expected follows PM’s instructions
Officers of Nghi Son Seaport Customs Branch (Thanh Hoa Customs department) inspect import and export goods. Photo: N.L |
Nguyen Hai Minh, Vice chairman, European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), said the business community and European businesses in Vietnam have agreed with the provision that the Customs shall be the focal point for specialised inspection as in the draft decree on quality inspection and food safety inspection for import goods.
“The decree or provisions on specialised inspection that will be issued in the near future, will change all structure of specialised inspection in Vietnam and have impact on the business community, so the policy formulation is very difficult and consumes a lot of time,” Minh said.
EuroCham’s Vice chairman also praised the great efforts of the drafting board and the Customs in receiving comments from the business community and perfecting the draft decree.
According to Minh, the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) has amended the risk management mechanism and reduced overlapping procedures. For example, firms have voiced their concern about consequences the application of one registration number to many importers. If a business make a mistake or commit fraud, whether it will affect other businesses or not? The GDVC has removed shortcomings in the latest draft while still cutting overlapping procedures.
However, the decree should specify the risk management is not only applied to that item, but also to the status of the importer. For example, when detecting suspicious signs of the item after being issued registration number, how will this item be handled? The withdrawal or destruction of these items will be applied to those importers. This must be considered carefully.
In addition, some food importers expressed their view on identical goods. Currently, the item is whether to be included in the food item or not, because the criteria for distinguishing identical goods from food items are completely different for those of other goods.
“The difference in colour and taste is a basic difference in food products, so this provision must be clarified in making the draft," Minh said.
Tran Quang Trung, Chairman of the Viet Nam Dairy Association, raised the current shortcomings. Some food products are inspected by many agencies when they are imported into Vietnam. Some products are the same criteria for inspection but are inspected by the two agencies, increasing the time for businesses in customs inspection and clearance.
Recently, the GDVC and the drafting board have made great efforts in making the decree on quality inspection and food safety inspection for import goods.
The decree is a key document, related to many sectors managed by ministries and branches, and has a great impact on import and export activities while the Customs is assigned as the focal point. The coordination between the Customs and specialised agencies of the Government and localities plays an important role.
“If the decree is issued, it will be a breakthrough, creating favourable conditions for importers while controlling risks and avoiding that one item are inspected by many agencies,” the chairman said.
However, the drafting board should perfect a number of technical contents. For example, regulations on identical goods must be specific. If an error occurs, how should it be assessed? Who is responsible for that shipment?
Nguyen Dang Kien, representative of the Food and Beverage Subcommittee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham), said the chamber appreciates the reformed contents in the draft decree. It has integrated all the information on inspection registration and announcement for imported goods, and connected all specialised state management agencies to the National Single Window. Strong IT application will facilitate firms during importing and clearing goods.
In addition, the draft also applies a risk management-based inspection method (tight inspection, normal inspection and reduced inspection) which has been effectively implemented in Decree 15/2018/ND-CP. These reforms in the draft decree have been highly appreciated and anticipated by businesses.
Related News
Reform of specialized inspection is an inevitable trend
10:22 | 18/03/2024 Customs
Ministry of Agriculture cuts more than 80 commodity streams subject to specialized inspection
14:42 | 04/03/2024 Customs
Urgently complete Decree on application of Global Minimum Tax inline with roadmap
09:26 | 27/02/2024 Finance
Widely applying risk management in specialized inspection of goods
09:48 | 19/01/2024 Customs
Latest News
Ho Chi Minh City Customs: Creating strong changes from modern management methods
09:43 | 25/04/2024 Customs
Notice for businesses exporting watermelons to China
09:40 | 25/04/2024 Customs
Import-export turnover across Lao Cai International Border Gate surges
15:35 | 24/04/2024 Customs
Ta Lung Customs' revenue flourishes
10:31 | 24/04/2024 Customs
More News
Vietnam Customs actively promotes cooperation activities
09:33 | 23/04/2024 Customs
Five key northern local customs departments signed an emulation agreement
15:13 | 22/04/2024 Customs
PM requests to continue improving efficiency of digital transformation in customs
10:39 | 22/04/2024 Customs
The General Department of Vietnam Customs strives to promote import and export growth
10:37 | 22/04/2024 Customs
Ho Chi Minh City Customs proactively applies IT in customs supervision
18:09 | 21/04/2024 Customs
A company must not pay tens of billions of VND in tax arrears thanks to support by the Customs
13:25 | 20/04/2024 Customs
Noi Bai Customs: dealing with to drug crimes using high technology
14:16 | 19/04/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Vietnam Customs with outstanding results in ASEAN cooperation
14:16 | 19/04/2024 Customs
Ha Nam Ninh Customs Department holds Customs-Businessdialogues to remove problems for businesses
13:48 | 19/04/2024 Customs
Your care
Ho Chi Minh City Customs: Creating strong changes from modern management methods
09:43 | 25/04/2024 Customs
Notice for businesses exporting watermelons to China
09:40 | 25/04/2024 Customs
Import-export turnover across Lao Cai International Border Gate surges
15:35 | 24/04/2024 Customs
Ta Lung Customs' revenue flourishes
10:31 | 24/04/2024 Customs
Vietnam Customs actively promotes cooperation activities
09:33 | 23/04/2024 Customs