Shortcomings on specialized inspections are continuously reported to the Government

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Animal quarantine for import goods is implemented at border gate. Photo: Thu Hoa

Mr. Pham Thanh Binh, the expert of GIG project said that over the past time, the Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department has greatly contributed to reflecting obstacles and shortcoming related to specialized management and helped leaders at all levels to promptly direct and remove difficulties for the business community.

According to Mr. Binh, although State management agencies had many changes in administrative reform, what benefits businesses enjoyed were important. For example, The Ministry of Industry and Trade announced to cut over 600 administrative procedures, which procedures brought benefits to import and export businesses was a matter of concern. Because businesses were directly affected by these procedures.

Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department Nguyen Huu Nghiep said that form the actual situation of import and export goods clearance and reflection of businesses, the department continuously proposed on specialized inspections to competent levels. According to Mr. Nghiep, the specialized inspection was necessary to protect consumers and domestic products, but specific regulations on specialized inspections should be issued. In order to facilitate business, besides the reduction of specialized inspections, importers must have a responsibility with consumers in importing goods.

Mr. Nghiep said that in 2017 Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department implemented the plan 494 and assigned teams to directly work with businesses on their difficulties and obstacles. In the working sessions, the businesses reflected on shortcomings in implementing regulations on specialized inspections for commodities such as foods, medicine, machinery and etc.

From the actual situation of Customs clearance at border gates in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Hiep analyzed that there were many shortcomings in specialized inspection to be removed. For example, risk management for specialized inspections was not implemented, leading to many difficulties for the Customs and businesses. Although Circular regulating specialized inspections was issued, it did not have specific regulations and mechanisms for implementation, businesses subject to specialized inspections did not implement. Besides, the inspection results of exporting countries had been not recognized, causing the loss of cost and time for import enterprises. Products were made in advance technology in foreign countries, Vietnam was not able to inspect but still require the inspection.

Recently, the Ministry of Finance has held an online conference for comments on draft Decree on specialized inspections. There are many new contents on National Single Window and specialized inspection in the draft Decree, in which responsibility of each ministry and sector is specified. If the draft Decree is early approved, it will facilitate and create new improvement in specialized inspections.

At the working session, some businesses mentioned urgent matter and difficulties in implementing specialized inspections for import and export goods, which were the loss of time and cost and business opportunity for enterprises.

Prime Minister urged to reduce specialized inspections VCN- At the regular Government’s press conference in July 2017, the Minister of the Government Office, Mr. ...

Not only difficult for businesses, many regulations on specialized inspection also make it difficult for the Customs and specialized inspection agencies. Therefore, it is necessary to specify responsibilities for each agency.

For the Customs as agency enforce regulations on specialized inspections, representative of Customs Branches of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department said that over the past time, Customs branches actively coordinate with specialized inspection agencies to create the most favorable conditions for import-export enterprises. However, in fact, due to the overlap of regulations of management ministries and sectors, thereby the enforcement still faces difficulties. Recently, Decree 113 guiding the implementation of Law on Chemical has come into effect arising shortcomings and obstacles affecting the goods clearance of enterprises.

The representative of the Central Institute for Economic Management said that it would gather proposals of units to report to the Government.