Ministry of Agriculture cuts more than 80 commodity streams subject to specialized inspection

Accordingly, from March 20, 2024, more than 80 streams subject to specialized inspection before customs clearance will be cut from Appendix II of Circular No. 11/2021/TT-BNNPTNT. The streams subject to the reduction are: 4 aquatic animal quarantine commodity stream under Heading 15.04 (Fats and oils and their fractions, of fish or marine mammals, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified), including HS codes: 1504.10.20, 1504.10.90, 1504.20.10, 1504.20.90 and nearly 80 streams subject to plant quarantine.

The reduction is to comply with the requirements of the Government's Resolutions on improving the business environment and enhancing national competitiveness. Accordingly, Resolution No. 02/NQ-CP dated January 10, 2024 of the Government requires: "Continue to review and reduce the list of import and export goods subject to specialized management and inspection. The review and amendment of the list of goods subject to specialized management and inspection in the direction of cutting low-risk or none-risk items, and adding the list of items exempted or reduced from specialized inspection.

In addition, some new items are also added and transferred to the List of imported goods subject to specialized inspection after customs clearance. Specifically, Appendix III of Circular No. 01/2024/TT-BNNPTNT regulates the HS Code Table for the list of imported goods subject to specialized inspection after customs clearance under the state management of the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development has increased many commodity streams compared to Appendix III of Circular No. 11/2021/TT-BNNPTNT, including machinery and equipment used in agriculture (HS 8424: Spraying equipment used in agriculture) and aquatic food, aquaculture environmental treatment products, and animal feed products are on the List of imported goods subject to specialized inspection after customs clearance.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the goods are aquatic food and aquaculture environmental treatment products; imported animal feed products (including: traditional food complete mixed food) according to the provisions of Decree 46/2022/ND-CP and Vietnamese standards all apply the method of declaration of conformity regulations "Certification results of a registered or recognized certification organization in accordance with the provisions of law". This inspection measure does not have a "Notification of satisfactory inspection results from a specialized inspection agency". Thus, these items will no longer be on the list of imported goods subject to specialized inspection before customs clearance (Appendix II) but will be transferred to the List of imported goods subject to specialized inspection after customs clearance (Appendix III).

The reform of specialized inspection also helps make the business environment more open, contributing to improving competitiveness. Illustrative photo: Vietnam news agency

Other types of animal feed including "Concentrated feed" and "Supplemental feed" are still on the list of goods subject to import inspection before customs clearance. At the same time, adding 1 HS code table to the list of forestry plant varieties, bringing the total list of goods managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to 27 HS code tables.

In recent years, the continuous reform of specialized inspection activities has always been identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as a key task. Thanks to that, the reforms of “one ministry inspects one item” estimated to save VND 21.6 million /year for people and businesses. The cutting of business conditions helps save VND46.42 billion.

In addition, the reform of specialized inspection also helps make the business environment more open, contributing to improving national competitiveness in accordance with the requirements and directions of the Government in Resolution 19/ NQ-CP, now Resolution 01/NQ-CP such as: transparency of specialized inspection procedures and orders, inspection bases by specifying legal documents, standards, technical regulations. This is of great help to businesses, organizations and individuals in the process of import-export and circulation of goods, contributing to strongly promoting import-export activities.