Implementing regulations of timber legality assurance system

VCN – To ensure the regulation of the Vietnamese timber legality assurance system, Decree 102/2020/NĐ-CP of the Government dated September 1, 2020 would be implemented synchronously, comprehensively and effectively. The General Department of Vietnam Customs requested provincial Customs Department and units under the General Department to disseminate and communicate to customs officials, customs declarants and taxpayers.

The Government promulgated Decree 102/2020/NĐ-CP stipulating the Vietnamese timber legality assurance system, including six chapters and 30 articles, regulating the Vietnamese timber legality assurance system for importing and exporting, indicators, competencies, orders and procedures to classify enterprises processing and exporting timber, granting FLEGT license (by competent authority managing Vietnam CITES for exporting, temporarily imported and re-exported timber shipment to European Union).

According to the Decree, legal timber is timber and timber products which are exploited, imported, confiscated, transported, traded, processed, and exported in accordance with the provisions of Vietnamese laws and the international treaties that Vietnam is a signatory and the relevant laws of the country where timber is harvested for export to Vietnam.

The Decree stipulated that importation and exportation of timber must be legal, implementing import and export procedures and subject to the inspection and supervision of the customs authority in accordance with the Customs law.

3455-2646-m5bklk5iunsflqbsg4rndwzcbop61cqhtvlyxao9wby
Nghe An Customs officials inspected imported timber via Thanh Thuy border gate. Photo: H.N

Notably, in the Decree, it stipulated that the local Forestry agency is responsible for verifying the origin of timber before exporting, except for the case where the timber is exported by an enterprise in Group I and the timber is originated from domestically planted forests for exporting to non-EU markets; provincial Forestry agency or Agriculture and Rural Development Department should classify enterprises under the enterprise classification criteria as specified in Articles 12 and 13 of this Decree.

The enterprises importing and exporting timber are responsible for reporting to the local Forestry agency every three months and keeping records of forest products for five years from the date of export for sale.

Decree 102/2020/ND-CP would take effect from October 30, 2020, repealing Article 17 on imported timber dossiers and Article 26 on exported timber dossiers specified in Circular 27/2018/TT- MARD regulating the management and traceability of forestry products by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Accordingly, in order to effectively implement Decree 102/2020/ND-CP, the General Department of Vietnam Customs requested units to orginise sessions for customs officials in the unit to study and implement the provisions of the Decree. At the same time, communicating and disseminating the provisions of the decree to customs declarants and taxpayers.

The promulgation of Decree 102/2020/ND-CP is one of the important steps in incorporating the commitments of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between Vietnam and the European Union on forest law enforcement and forest governance and trade in forest products (VPA/FLEGT) into national law; combined with the EVFTA, it would be a driving force to help accelerate wood exports to the EU.

By Nụ Bùi/Thanh Thuy

Related News

Sustainability factors will help businesses conquer the EU market

Sustainability factors will help businesses conquer the EU market

VCN - The European Green Deal poses challenges for Vietnamese businesses, while also creating new development opportunities.
Timber enterprises are struggling because they are slow to get a license from CITES Vietnam

Timber enterprises are struggling because they are slow to get a license from CITES Vietnam

VCN - According to wood importers, many timber shipments that have arrived at Vietnamese ports cannot be cleared due to a lack of import permits issued by CITES Vietnam. In the context of a sharp decline in domestic consumption, and a sharp drop in wood prices, businesses face many difficulties, now they have to face more fees for storing containers, yards and many other fees.
Timber enterprises are struggling because they get slowly permits from CITES Vietnam

Timber enterprises are struggling because they get slowly permits from CITES Vietnam

VCN - According to timber importers, many wood shipments that have arrived at Vietnamese ports cannot be cleared due to a lack of import CITES permits issued by CITES Vietnam. Moreover, in the context of a sharp decline in domestic consumption and a sharp drop in wood prices, enterprises face many difficulties. For example, now they have to "carry" more fees for storing containers, yards, etc.
Vietnam Customs attends briefing of Operation Mekong Dragon Campaign V

Vietnam Customs attends briefing of Operation Mekong Dragon Campaign V

VCN - The briefing of Operation Mekong Dragon V took place from April 11 to 13, 2023, in Shanghai (China) with the participation of more than 60 delegates from Customs and police agencies of member countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region, RILO AP Office, UNODC, Environmental Control Board of the World Customs Organization (WCO) and international organizations TRAFFIC, and IFAW.

Latest News

Volume of goods cleared across Cau Treo International Border Gate plunges

Volume of goods cleared across Cau Treo International Border Gate plunges

VCN – According to Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs Branch (Ha Tinh Customs Department), over the past one month, the volume of goods cleared across Cau Treo International Border Gate has plunged because the road from Cau Treo International Border Gate has been eroded since early August and has not been completely repaired.
Five solutions to improve quality of imported goods classification

Five solutions to improve quality of imported goods classification

VCN – The General Department of Vietnam Customs has issued many warnings to rectify the false declaration of goods descriptions, leading to difficulties in goods classification. Responding to this situation, the Import and Export Duty Department has provided five solutions to improve this work.
Embracing the Digital Age: Leveraging Technology, Fostering Innovation, and Nurturing the Next Generation of Customs Professionals

Embracing the Digital Age: Leveraging Technology, Fostering Innovation, and Nurturing the Next Generation of Customs Professionals

VCN – Under the theme “Embracing the Digital Age: Leveraging Technology, Fostering Innovation, and Nurturing the Next Generation of Customs Professionals”, the 2023 WCO Technology Conference and Exhibition will take place from October 10-12, in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Binh Duong Customs helps businesses restore and develop

Binh Duong Customs helps businesses restore and develop

VCN – Currently, accompanying businesses are resolving difficulties and supporting them in seeking new business opportunities.

More News

Lang Son Customs - confident on a new journey

Lang Son Customs - confident on a new journey

VCN – Through 70 years of construction and growth, Lang Son Customs Department has continuously grown in all aspects and continuously reaped encouraging achievements, notably breakthroughs in administrative procedure reform, customs modernization and trade facilitation, contributing to improving the business investment environment of Lang Son province, making an important contribution to the overall achievements of Vietnam Customs.
Quang Binh Customs Department

Quang Binh Customs Department's revenue rises 22 per cent

VCN - As of September 10, Quang Binh Customs Department's revenue increased 122% year-on-year to US$ 351.8 billion, meeting 133% of the target assigned by the Ministry of Finance and 70% of the target assigned by the Provincial People's Council.
Cao Bang Customs earns over VND546 billion in revenue

Cao Bang Customs earns over VND546 billion in revenue

VCN - The revenue of the Cao Bang Customs Department in August tended to increase. However, the revenue in the first eight months of the year plunged in the same period in the previous year.
Revenue from post-clearance audit increases by 136%

Revenue from post-clearance audit increases by 136%

VCN – Although the number of post-clearance audits has decreased compared with the same period in the previous year, the revenue from this work has increased by three digits.
Cam Pha Customs

Cam Pha Customs' revenue increases by VND370 billion

VCN – As of September 12, Cam Pha Border Gate Customs Branch (Quang Ninh Customs Department) collected VND4,982.91 billion, reaching 96.64% year-on-year, meeting 89.54 of the target.
GDVC handles offences of officers involved in the Polyester fibre smuggling case

GDVC handles offences of officers involved in the Polyester fibre smuggling case

VCN- Regarding the case of HCM City Police busting a Polyester fibre smuggling ring, prosecuting 8 suspects, including four customs officers of Binh Phuoc Customs Department, on the after of September 13, the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) issued a press release about the GDVC reviewing and considering handling responsibilities of these officers.
Four Vietnam Customs departments have a meeting with Kunming Customs

Four Vietnam Customs departments have a meeting with Kunming Customs

VCN – A meeting between representatives of four Vietnam’s provincial and municipal customs departments of Lao Cai, Dien Bien, Ha Giang and Hai Phong and China’s Kunming Customs was held in Quang Ninh province from September 7 to 10.
Da Nang Customs ranks first in IT applications

Da Nang Customs ranks first in IT applications

VCN – Da Nang Customs Department ranks second in the group of central agencies located in the city with 94.94 points.
Two programs for a common goal of benefiting businesses

Two programs for a common goal of benefiting businesses

VCN - The Customs sector identifies reform, simplification of administrative procedures, customs modernization and trade facilitation as the key, cross-cutting tasks, thereby providing fresh impetus for businesses to recover and thrive. On the contrary, the joint support of businesses will be the driving force for Customs to make efforts to expand efficient reform plans. In particular, the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Program and the Program to support and encourage businesses to voluntarily comply with customs laws have greatly benefited businesses.
Read More

Your care

Latest Most read
Volume of goods cleared across Cau Treo International Border Gate plunges

Volume of goods cleared across Cau Treo International Border Gate plunges

VCN - Since early August, there was a serious landslide at Deo Dat area on National Highway 8 in Bolykhamchay province (Laos), causing the traffic jam.
Five solutions to improve quality of imported goods classification

Five solutions to improve quality of imported goods classification

VCN - Notably, one item has been declared different codes or insufficient information, false declaration of goods nature, tax rate, taxes for on-site import and export goods….
Embracing the Digital Age: Leveraging Technology, Fostering Innovation, and Nurturing the Next Generation of Customs Professionals

Embracing the Digital Age: Leveraging Technology, Fostering Innovation, and Nurturing the Next Generation of Customs Professionals

VCN – Under the theme “Embracing the Digital Age: Leveraging Technology, Fostering Innovation, and Nurturing the Next Generation of Customs Professionals”, the 2023 WCO Technology Conference and Exhibition will take place from October 10-12, in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Binh Duong Customs helps businesses restore and develop

Binh Duong Customs helps businesses restore and develop

VCN – Currently, accompanying businesses are resolving difficulties and supporting them in seeking new business opportunities.
Lang Son Customs - confident on a new journey

Lang Son Customs - confident on a new journey

VCN – Through 70 years of construction and growth, Lang Son Customs Department has continuously grown in all aspects and continuously reaped encouraging achievements, notably breakthroughs in administrative procedure reform, customs modernization and trad
Mobile Version