Lang Son: Review and overcome limitations of warehouses and locations for goods inspection and gathering

Many limitations

According to preliminary statistics, Lang Son Customs Department currently manages nearly 20 points for gathering, inspecting and supervising import and export goods at 4 border gates. In particular, there are 3 bonded warehouses operating at Coc Nam border gate and Chi Ma border gate, 2 postal warehouses, 2 duty-free shops at Huu Nghi international border gate. In addition, there are 2 goods inspection locations which are at Bao Long Company Limited and Dong Banh Cement Factory...

According to Lang Son Customs Department, after reviewing and inspecting the business activities of enterprises in the field of warehouses, goods inspection locations and duty-free shops in the area, these enterprises basically comply with the provisions of Decree 68/2016/ND-CP amended and supplemented by Decree 67/2020/ND-CP.

Bus station, cargo loading and storage location of Huu Nghi Xuan Cuong Joint Stock Company. Photo: H.Nụ

However, due to the increasing demand for transporting and importing and exporting goods, some warehouses have expanded their areas to meet the demand. During this expansion process, some enterprises have not yet fully entered data into the management software. At the same time, the connection from the camera at the warehouse to the Customs office is also not synchronized. In addition, the lack of synchronization in the construction of fences at warehouses and investment locations has caused many difficulties in customs management.

Accordingly, for the fence system surrounding the warehouse, the location of Huu Nghi Xuan Cuong Joint Stock Company has an area after expansion is 115,842 m2 recognized by the General Department of Vietnam Customs under Decision No. 1468/QD-TCHQ dated June 1, 2020. Currently, the total area that Huu Nghi Xuan Cuong Joint Stock Company is exploiting is 142,000 m2, of which 26,158 m2 has not been recognized by the General Department of Vietnam Customs. Although the total area of ​​142,000 m2 has been separated from the surrounding area by a fence system, however, Huu Nghi Xuan Cuong Joint Stock Company did not arrange a fence to separate the area recognized by the General Department of Vietnam Customs and the unrecognized area.

Regarding the warehouse and surveillance camera system location, Chi Ma Border Gate Customs Branch is currently managing 5 locations where the surveillance camera system does not retain the full 6 months, including: Thang Long Lang Son Investment and Development Joint Stock Company, image data is retained from January 11, 2024; Quang Phat Import-Export Trading Company Limited, image data is retained from March 12, 2024; Kim Phuc Ha Company Limited, image data is retained from March 12, 2024; Bonded warehouse of Hoa Binh Trading Company Limited, image data is retained from January 12, 2024; Bonded warehouse of Vinh Long Construction Company Limited, image data is stored from March 5, 2024... Or Tan Thanh Customs Branch is managing the warehouse and location of Viet Trung International Transport Service Joint Stock Company at Na Hinh border gate and image data is stored in the system for less than 6 months.

Quickly overcome

To overcome shortcomings and limitations, and ensure proper implementation of regulations, Lang Son Customs Department requests customs branches at border gates to directly inspect the operating conditions of warehouses and assessment locations that have not been met; and not maintain the conditions as prescribed in Decree 67/2020/ND-CP amending and supplementing Decree 68/2016/ND-CP of the Government.

At the same time, the branches continue to request enterprises to fully remedy, correct, and supplement the conditions within 3 months from May 27, 2024 (the date of Official Dispatch 2325/TQHQ-GSQL issued by the General Department of Vietnam Customs), assigning civil servants to regularly monitor and urge the implementation process of enterprises.

After the enterprise has completed the correction, the branches will conduct an inspection and evaluation of the results (comparing the provisions of Decree 67/2020/ND-CP amending and supplementing Decree 68/2016/ND-CP on operating conditions, with inspection records, attached image data, and related documents).

Regarding the conditions for online connection software for management according to the Automatic Goods Management and Monitoring System, Lang Son Customs Department requests units to request warehouse and yard businesses to install software that meets the requirements at Point 3b, Clause 18, Article 1 of Decree 67/2020/ND-CP of the Government: "There is software that meets the requirements for online management, storage, and rendering of data to the Customs authority on the name of goods, quantity, status of goods, time of goods being brought in, taken out, and stored in the detailed location according to the bill of lading and/or customs declaration for management according to the Automatic Goods Management and Monitoring System".

Dong Dang International Railway Station Customs Branch worked with Dong Dang Station Branch on the current status of warehouses and locations at the border gate area to recommend that Vietnam Railways Corporation continue to invest in meeting the requirements for customs inspection and supervision at Dong Dang International Railway Station in accordance with the provisions of Decree 68/2016/ND-CP and Decree 67/2020/ND-CP of the Government. Lang Son Customs Department requested that customs branches assigned to manage warehouses and locations properly perform their assigned duties and tasks in warehouse and location management; strengthen the work of reviewing and comparing data and data of goods brought in, taken out, and stored at warehouses and locations with the Automatic Goods Management and Monitoring System to closely monitor and control goods.