The General Department of Customs has drafted a circular on customs supervision for border-gate transfers of imported goods stuck at seaports where social distancing is being implemented.

Illustrative Photo: Internet.

Facing the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic in HCM City and southern provinces, the People’s Committees of the cities and provinces have requested social distancing under Directive 16 of the Prime Minister. This has restricted travel among cities and provinces, affecting goods flow in some seaports, especially big seaports such as Cat Lai, because after imported goods have unloaded at the ports, they have not been released from the port and have been stuck there.

To deal with the congestion at seaports, the General Department of Customs has drafted a circular on customs supervision for border gate transfer for imported goods stuck at seaports under social distancing.

To ensure the circular is practical, the General Department of Customs is consulting relevant local customs units, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vietnam Shipowners' Association and Vietnam Seaports Association.

The draft circular focuses on the following issues: conditions for identifying goods stuck at seaports; imported goods stored at seaports will be transported to other ports, inland port or inland container deports (ICDs); responsibility of ports, inland port or ICD operators; responsibility of shipping lines, shipping agents and responsibility of customs agency and the validity of the circular.