Duty-free store management system officially launched nationwide

	New regulations on trading duty-free goods
	Expose act of using duty-free materials for domestic consumption
	Many duty-free shops suspend operations due to Covid -19 pandemic

Training conference on duty-free store management system for more than 90 businesses (May 18, 2023). Photo: Quang Hung.

Specifically, the General Department of Customs deploys the duty-free store management system nationwide. Businesses are allowed to connect with the system from November 15, 2023.

According to the Customs IT and Customs Statistics Department (General Department of Customs), duty-free store operators must officially connect to the duty-free shop management system of the General Department of Customs according to regulations described in Decision No. 591/QD-TCHQ dated March 28, 2023 (by February 29, 2024 at the latest). After this time, if an operator has not made an official connection, the local customs departments will work with the operator to understand the reason for not making an official connection and report to the General Department of Customs.

At the same time, the Customs agency conducted procedures to revoke the decision to certify eligibility for duty-free business as prescribed in Point c, Clause 1, Article 8 of Decree No. 68/2016/ND-CP.

Before officially connecting with the system, duty-free store operators must upgrade their systems and test connection with the duty-free shop management system of the General Department of Customs.

Enterprises conduct data lookups on the duty-free store management system at https://chmt.customs.gov.vn. Login account is the account registered on the user registration system.

To connect to the duty-free store management system, businesses send a written request for test connection to the General Department of Customs (according to the form issued in Appendix I, Decision No. 591/QD- TCHQ dated March 28, 2023 of the General Department of Customs).

Based on the request, the General Department of Customs will carry out connection, testing, and sign a Minute of confirmation of test connection with the enterprise.

After completing the test connection, the local customs department managing the duty-free store operators shall check the quantity of goods in their stock at the beginning of the period (information according to form N1 - issued attached with Decision No. 591/QD-TCHQ dated March 28, 2023 of the General Department of Customs) before allowing businesses to transmit official data to the Customs agency.

The launching of the duty-free store management system will contribute to facilitating duty free store business activities and Vietnam's import and export activities. At the same time, it contributes to improving the management efficiency of Customs agencies, promoting trade facilitation, improving the business environment and enhancing national competitiveness.

To officially deploy the duty-free store management system in May 2023. The General Department of Customs organized two training conferences on the system.

The first conference took place on May 16-17, 2023 for Customs officers and civil servants; the second conference took place on May 18-19, 2023 for representatives of more than 90 duty-free store operators across the country.

Participating in the training, businesses are introduced to the duty-free store management system, and an overview of the changes in the new system; Instructions for looking up business information; Answer questions during the process of connecting to the system of the General Department of Customs.

In addition, the General Department of Customs also appointed a focal point from the IT and Customs Statistics Department to support customs units in answering technical-related questions; and a focal point under the Customs Control and Supervision Department to support in answering questions related to operations.

Solutions to support trading in duty-free goods

The General Department of Customs also requires local customs departments that manage duty-free goods businesses to appoint an officer in charge of implementing the official connection to the duty-free store management system.