To facilitate customs declarants in customs clearance process and achieve the dual goals of effective pandemic prevention while ensuring smooth import and export operations, the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) issued instructions to support customs clearance.

The GDVC provides solutions for quick customs clearance.Photo: Thu Hoa.

Late submission of paper documents allowed

For the submission of e-customs declarations, the customs declaration will declare and apply for customs dossiers to the customs authorities via e-Customs data processing system as per Circular 39/2018 dated April 20, 2018 of the Ministry of Finance.

If the declarant is required to submit paper/notarised/certified documents in customs process as per regulations, and the declaration applies for the late submission of these documents, the director of customs branch will instruct the declarant to fill in information in the “note section” in the e-declaration to send to customs via the e-customs data processing system, and submit the converted paper documents into electronic documents (scanned copies with digital signature) to Customs.

The manager of customs branch will extend the time limit for submission of paper documents within 30 days from the date of customs declaration registration.

The Customs branch where the declaration is registered will base on e-documents sent by the declarant to decide on customs clearance for import and export goods. If the declarant does not submit sufficient dossier, a request for additional submission must be approved by the branch’s leader.

When receiving the copy of permit enclosed with the customs declaration sent by the declarant, customs officials must update information on deduction on the E-Customs5 under instructions in Official Letter 8175 dated December 31 issued by the GDVC

When checking dossiers, the customs official must check information in the copy of the permit with information in the system to ensure the sufficient quantity stated in the declaration. If detecting suspicious signs in the quantity of imported goods, the customs official will handle according to the provisions of law.

The customs declarant must submit additional paper documents to customs within 30 days from the date of registration of the customs declaration.

In case of force majeure, if firms or customs branches are in quarantine or lockdown areas under requirements of the central Government or local government, and the declarant cannot submit the documents in line with the deadline, the declarant must submit paper documents within five working days of the end of the quarantine or lockdown period to the customs authority.

If the time limit is overdue but the customs declarant does not submit paper documents, customs will handle them according to regulations.

If there are signs of violations, the customs branch will transfer the information to the post-clearance audit unit for audit and transfer the information to the risk management unit to apply criteria for red channel classification and assess the law compliance of the declarant.

Expediting information collection and risk assessment

The GDVC assigned local customs departments to request anti-smuggling, risk management forces and customs branches to expedite information collection and risk assessment for enterprises that submit late paper documents to inspect and handle violations.

The GDVC also requests to set up support teams to handle problems in customs process for import and export goods, especially shipments for Covid-19 prevention and control.

Local customs departments must direct local customs branches to strengthen the supervision and inspection of the performance customs officers to comply with provisions in Points a and b, Clause 2, Article 23 of the Law on Customs.

The GDVC also asks local customs departments to regularly or randomly check the performance of the customs officers at customs branches. If detecting officers commit to violations or cause harassment to the declarant or prolong customs clearance time, the officer will face a temporary suspension of work within 15 days to consider responsibility and handle according to regulations.

According to the GDVC, the declarant is not required to print and submit the customs declaration and other documents in the customs dossier, which have already been submitted by the declarant to the e-customs data processing system as prescribed at Clause 7 Article 1 of Circular 39/2018, and is not required to provide information and documents not in accordance with the law.