In August, the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) needs to finalise the draft scheme  on reforming the model of quality and food safety inspections for imported goodsand report to the Ministry of Finance  for submission to the Prime Minister.

A  view of the meeting. Photo: N.L

Deputy Minister of Finance Vu Thi Mai asked the GDVC to work with ministries to receive comments to perfect the draft report to the Prime Minister, the draft scheme on reforming the model of quality and food safety inspections for imported goods. In addition, the Deputy Ministerrequired the drafting board to supplement an impact assessment report when implementing the new model,at the same time, specifying the responsibilities of the Customs authorities andministries when implementing the new model, as well as the responsibilities of ministries and agencies when coordinatingwith the customs authority.

It wasdirected by Deputy Minister of Finance Vu Thi Mai at the meeting to discuss the contents of the scheme. The meeting was attended by representatives of ministries and sectors; theGoverment office; US - ASEAN Business Council; Office of Private Economic Development Research Board; the Prime Minister's Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform; and the leaders of some units under the Ministry of Finance and the GDVC.

At the meeting, Mai suggested issues that need to be discussed. According to Mai, the scheme on reforming the model of quality and food safety inspections for imported goods has been implemented by the Ministry of Finance since 2019, amid the impactof Covid-19 but members of the drafting board have worked with relevant parties to deploy it.

According to Mai, this is a difficult scheme, the current achievements are thanks to the great efforts of parties involved. To continue to perfect the scheme, delegates need to continue to make comments to ensure contents in the scheme are strict and feasible in practice. 

Mai suggested the parties should comment on contents related to legal basis. “Does the new model have any problem and what is the problem? If the law is not amended, can the problem be handled? The drafting board said it is necessary to issue the Government decree to ensure the legal basis to deploy the new model. However, current regulations need to be reviewed and contents in the draft need to be specified, ensuring legal basis to deploy new model,” Mai said.    

At the meeting, all participants agreed on the policy of deeply reforming the model of quality and food safety inspections for imported goods to maximize facilitation cross-border trade, improve effectiveness of the State’s quality management for imported goods and enhance national competitiveness.

Participants also commented on contents such legal basis; the model for deployment, coordination and the responsibility of relevant parties, and the application of information technology in implementing new models.

After the discussion, Deputy Minister Vu Thi Mai said via Resolution No. 99/NQ-CP in 2019 and Resolution No. 02/NQ-CP in 2020, the Government assigns the Ministry of Finance to develop the scheme on reforming specialised inspection in the direction thatCustoms is the focal point for specialised inspection at border gates (except for items related to security, defense, quarantine), and specialised management ministry is in charge of post-clearance audit”. The Ministry of Finance (the GDVC) must properly perform itsassigned tasks.

The new model of quality and food safety inspections for import goods aims to reduce costs, goods clearance time and facilitate enterprises, enhance competitiveness of the economy based on effectively reforming specialised inspection in the direction that the Customs authority is the focal point for quality and food safety inspections for imported goods at border gates, ensuring State management effectiveness, protecting the legitimate rights and interests of production and business organisations and individuals and consumers.

The building of the new model mustcomply with provisions of the law: Customs Law, Law on Product and goods quality, Law on Foods Safety, Law on Technical Standards and Regulations, Livestock Law, Law on Crop Production, Fisheries Law, and Foreign Trade Management Law.

Follow the directions of the Government and the Prime Minister for many years on comprehensive reform of specialised management and inspection for imported goods; effectively reform specialised inspection for imported goods, creating favorable conditions for enterprises while ensure the efficiency of state management of ministries and sectors on quality of imported goods and protect people's lives, health, environment, economic security andnational security.

Inherit regulations that have been well implemented in Decrees: 15/2018/ND-CP, 132/2015/ND-CP, 74/2018/ND-CP, 85/2019/ND-CP, 17/2020/ND-CP and uniformly applied to goods subject to quality and food safety inspections.

Improve the effectiveness of State management of ministries through strengthening connection and sharing information among State management agencies.

Apply current information technology systems to simplify and modernise inspection procedures and ensure information transparency.

Ensure full and effective application of advanced inspection methods such as traceability and risk management, in accordance with international practices, international conventions and agreements signed by Vietnam.