The Ministry of Finance chairs to develop list of goods banned from bonded warehouses

The bonded warehouse in Hanoi city area. Photo: N.Linh

This is a recent directive content of Deputy Prime Ministry Vuong Dinh Hue and was conveyed in the document No. 10263/VPCP-KHTH by the Government’s Office relating to the suspension of the operation of bonded warehouse for some goods.

Regarding the management of bonded warehouse operations, previously, the Ministry of Finance has reported to the Prime Minister about suspending the deposit of goods at bonded warehouse for alcohol and cigarettes in northern border provinces.

Besides that, according to the report of the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province, competent authorities in the province have seized a large number of cigarettes (555, ESSE which were not originated from Vietnam) and foreign alcohol.

Cigarettes and alcohol are smuggled in both road and sea routes. However, through investigation, verification and handling of violations, there were not enough grounds to prove that the origin of the above goods was from activities of temporary import and re-export and bonded warehouses through smuggling activities to the domestic market. The number of the above foreign cigarettes and alcohol products accounted for a very small amount compared to the total volume of goods trading under the form of temporary import and re-export and bonded warehouses in general in the province.

The People's Committee of Quang Ninh province also proposed the Ministry of Industry and Trade to consider and decide to announce the temporary suspension of the operation of temporary import and re-export and deposit of goods at bonded warehouses for cigarettes (555, ESSE which are not originating from Vietnam) and whiskey in Quang Ninh province in order to strengthen the state management, prevention of smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods.

From that, the Ministry of Finance has proposed the Prime Minister to assign the Ministry of Finance to submit to the Prime Minister for promulgation a list of imported goods which are not allowed to be deposited at bonded warehouses as prescribed in Clause 4, Article 85 of Decree No. 08/2015/ND -CP stipulating specific measures to implement the Customs Law on customs procedures, inspection, supervision and control of customs including whiskey and cigarettes branded 555, ESSE which are not originating from Vietnam.

In October, the Ministry of Finance also sent a document to Northern People's Committee to ask the provinces to reviewing and evaluating the operation of goods deposited in bonded warehouses for other items which have high risk of taking advantage of the form of depositing to bonded warehouse for trade fraud, smuggling or illegally transport to inland areas under management area. At the same time, clearly stated the situation, difficulties and advantages in the management of goods deposited in bonded warehouses of competent forces at the border gates. On that basis, the Ministry would report to the Prime Minister to supplement items that were not allowed to be deposited at bonded warehouses.