The Customs continues to strictly control the scrap import

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	Being reviewed the measure of suspending transit scraps

The Customs force promptly detected and prevented a container of plastic scrap that was ineligible for import at Hai Phong port. Photo: N.L

8 additional scrap groups are banned from import by China

According to the Customs Control and Supervision Department (under the General Department of Vietnam Customs), from 1st January 2019, China continues to add 8 scrap types into the list of goods banned from import. (Increasing from 24 types to 32 types in 2018).

In addition, Malaysia topped the list of importing country of plastic scrap in the world, but in 2019, it will reduce almost all in the scrap list permitted for import to this country.

Due to the import prohibition policy of the countries in the region, the Customs Control and Supervision Department predicts that in 2019 there will be significant scrap inflows to Vietnam, increasing the amount of imported scrap, and the risk of incurring smuggling by land.

The assessment is completely reasonable. Because, in the last months of 2017 and the first half of 2018 when China banned the import of 24 scrap types, in which many plastic scrap types with a high risk of environmental pollution, the volume of imported plastic scrap to Vietnam dramatically increased.

Separately, in the first half of 2018, Vietnam imported 2,747,000 tons of plastic scrap, a year -on -year increase of over 200% and equivalent to over 70% of the total import volume of 2017.

Since July 2018, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has directed its subordinate units to strengthen the inspection and supervision and implement physical inspection for imported scraps, thus the volume of plastic scrap imported to Vietnam has significantly decreased.

Specifically, in the second half of 2018, total volume of plastic scrap imported to Vietnam was 107.1 thousand tons, down over 250% compared to the first half 2018.

Actively taking control measures

Facing the new situation in order to continue to control scrap imports effectively, prevent smuggling, trade fraud, and prevent Vietnam from being the world’s landfill site, the General Department of Vietnam Customs continues to request its subordinate units to strengthen the inspection and supervision; strictly control the imported scraps. Focusing on effectively implementing Directive 27/CT-TTg dated 17th September 2018 of the Prime Minister, on a number of urgent solutions to intensify the control of scrap imports for use as raw materials for production. In which, to complete and submit to the Prime Minister the Decision on coordinating regulations among ministries and sectors in controlling scrap imports.

Accelerating the management of the scraps imported to Vietnam to ensure that only those that meet provisions of the law are permitted to import to Vietnam as raw materials for production.

Developing inter-sectoral regulations on management of the imported scrap among ministries, including Finance, Natural Resources and Environment, Industry and Trade, Transport, Public Security, National Defense, Foreign Affairs, Science and Technology, and People's Committees of provinces and cities.

Another important solution set by the General Department of Vietnam Customs is to coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Transport and relevant ministries and branches to completely handle containers of backlogged scraps at ports and drastically request the re-export of scrap and waste shipments causing environmental pollution out of the Vietnamese territory. At the same time, continuously coordinating with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to remove difficulties and problems for enterprises when implementing Circular 08/2018/TT-BTNMT and Circular 09/2018 / TT-BTNMT.

At the same time, the General Department of Vietnam Customs continuously directs local Customs departments to collect information and apply risk management measures to actively prevent smuggling and trade fraud, such as illegal transport of goods across border gates and false declaration on quantity, the use of fake documents and false declaration of goods’ name.