HCM City Customs Department has announced customs procedures for goods containers transported from Cat Lai Port to other ports to reduce the backlog.

Backlog of goods at Cat Lai Port . Photo: Thu Hoa

Opening independent shipping declarations

HCM City Customs Department held an online conference with local customs departments of Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Saigon Newport Corporation to facilitate the goods transportation from Cat Lai Port to other ports and ICD under Official Letter 3847 issued by the General Department of Vietnam Customs, Deputy Manager of HCM City Customs Department Nguyen Huu Nghiep said.

Accordingly, Saigon Newport Corporation will notify the transportation plan to 1st Sai Gon Seaport Customs Branch before 3pm the previous day. The plan must provide specific information on the list of containers, bill of lading, mean of transport and destination port.

Regarding customs procedures, businesses will open independent shipping declarations; the destination stated in the shipping declarations will be the destination port; customs declarant and customs branch at the departure site and at the destination will comply with Article 51b of Circular 38/2015 revised in Circular 39/2016 of the Ministry of Finance.

Goods must be sealed by customs; high-risk goods container are required to implement e-customs seals. The 1st Sai Gon Seaport Customs Branch is required to apply the customs seal.

The approval of goods in and out will be processed via the Vietnam Automated System for Seaport Customs Management (VASSCM system). If the system fails to handle the transport, this work will be done manually. The branch must report to the Customs IT and Statistics Department for instructions and update additional information on the system.

Requirements for transported goods

1st Sai Gon Seaport Customs Branch will use the plan notified by the Saigon Newport Corporation to inspect and review goods eligible for transportation.

For suspicious containers, the branch will coordinate with the Customs Enforcement Team.

If the goods have been transported but then listed in goods subject to carry out customs procedures at the entry border gate under Prime Minister's Decision 23/2019, they must be shipped back Cat Lai Port for import procedures.

For specialized inspection for imported goods, customs branches where the import procedures are carried out, and importers will coordinate with specialized inspection agencies to conduct inspections.

The customs valuation at the first entry border gate will comply with provisions of the Government Decree 59/2018. Accordingly, the first border gate entry is the port of discharge stated on the bill of lading.

All cost related to the goods transportation to ports will be agreed by Saigon Newport Corporation, shipping lines and importers for payment.

For goods that are backlogged for more than 90 days, the GDVC only allows to ship goods to Tan Cang Hiep Phuoc Port. HCM City Customs Department will propose the GDVC to transport in advance and the customs valuation will be implemented later.

1st Sai Gon Seaport Customs Branch is requested to urgently make plans to handle goods under the provisions of Circular 203/2014/ and Circular 57/2016 of the Ministry of Finance.