Innovative specialized inspection of import-export goods: Looking forward to many ministries like the Ministry of Science and Technology

Officers of the Huu Nghi Customs inspect the goods of the import-export industry. Photos by Hong Nu.

Many breakthrough documents

At the recent meeting of the working group of the Prime Minister, the performance of duties by the Government and the Prime Minister was entrusted by the Ministry of Science and Technology, with many compliments on the implementation of the new solutions, breakthroughs in management and inspection specialized for import and export goods that the Ministry is implementing such as amending and supplementing legal documents in the direction of promoting to post-control, enhancing mutual recognition of results of conformity assessment and evaluation at foreign manufacturing establishments for products and goods. Minister and Head of the Government Office, Mai Tien Dung affirmed the results of the reduction of 50% of group 2, moving from 91% of product groups and goods managed by Ministry of Science and Technology from money post-inspection; It is a breakthrough in the direction of the Prime Minister, demonstrating the responsibility of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

To achieve this result, the Ministry of Science and Technology issues two important direct impact documents: Circular 07/2017/TT-BKHCN amending and supplementing Circular 27/2012/TT-BKHCN regulates the state inspection of imported goods under the Ministry of Science and Technology (effective on October 1st, 2017), and 91% of products and goods transferred by the Ministry of Science and Technology to post-inspection (reduced from 24 groups of products, goods must be checked for customs clearance to 2 groups of products, petrol and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) must be checked.

Circular 07/2017/TT-BKHCN also added provisions on inspection exemptions for imported goods. Specifically, the circular regulates the import of steel, helmets, children's toys, electrical and electronic equipment if it has the same name, utility, brand, type and technical characteristics of the same manufacturer, originating from the same importer, after 3 consecutive import in 06 months, the results of conformity assessment according to national technical standards will be verified by the inspection agency exemption certificate State quality inspection within 1 year.

According to Mr. Ngo Minh Hai, Deputy Director General of Customs Supervision and Management Department (General Department of Customs), Circular 07/2017/TT-BKHCN basically resolved the contents stated in Resolution 19/NQ-CP. This Circular paves the way for the application of risk management in import-export management, the mutual recognition, the application of standards and the use of HS codes in the management of export goods. However, the amendment of the new text only at the top without correcting the original. For example, the Law on Product and Goods Quality stipulates that group two goods must be inspected at the import stage. Thus, to synchronously document, need to review simultaneously relevant legal documents at higher levels", Mr. Hai said.

Another important document to clarify the post-inspection mechanism and create a legal framework guiding the ministries and branches to apply the post-inspection mechanism promulgated by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2017 is Circular 02/2017/TT-BKHCN on regulation conformity announcement, conformity announcement and conformity assessment method with standards and technical regulations. This circular clarifies how standard conformity proclamation (pre-clearance inspection), especially post-clearance inspection, is designed to create a common legal framework for the Ministries. branches and domains shall formulate specific management measures for each group of products and goods under their management. Particularly to clarify the method of post-inspection, change the management method from pre-inspection to post-inspection for some groups of products with low risk.

In addition, the socialization of conformity assessment activities for specialized inspection activities is carried out by the Ministry of Science and Technology in accordance with the spirit of the Law on Product and Goods Quality. To date, the Ministry of Science and Technology has appointed 69 conformity assessment organizations to serve the state management of products and goods under group 2 under its management.

Needs synchronization

Whatever the outcome innovative specialized inspection for export and import goods at the Ministry of Science and Technology is very positive, but at the meeting, many argued that the Ministry of Science and Technology also is the host institution for, coordination and urge the ministries to implement the solution in line with the orientations of the Government Resolution 19/NQ-CP, Resolution 35/NQ-CP and follow the instructions in writing above.

Mr. Dau Anh Tuan, the representative of VCCI, said that the Ministry of Science and Technology is the most important ministry in the implementation of the Law on Product and Goods Quality. This law is the basis of the ministries issuing decrees and circulars in this field. Therefore, the responsibility of the Ministry of Science and Technology in urging the ministries to change and adjust the policy is very great.

"The monopoly in accepting establishments causes great expense, creating harassment. Currently, the law assigns organizations to conduct conformity assessment audits for specialized ministries. But on the other hand, the organizations assigned to the rating agencies are very limited, so they have cargoes from South to North to carry out the inspection procedures. Very formal, expensive" - Mr. Tuan reflected.

"Regulations, current rigid behavior, are not suitable practice. There are test chips, the world has no technical standards, not yet in the market but back to Vietnam is checked. There are cases of engines imported enterprise from famous manufacturers with European standards but the results are not qualified in Vietnam. This is very funny" - said Mr. Tuan.

With that, Mr. Tuan also said that the ministries should strengthen the application of electronic data interchange, focused on applying risk management in professional management. Many companies have a good history but have not behaved differently. Mr. Tuan hope solutions of the Ministry of Science and Technology in the application of regulations on inspection exemption for export and import goods will be economic incentives to help businesses comply with the law.