Ha Noi Customs has followed the guidance of the Hanoi People's Committee on social distancing to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic, but also ensured customs clearance of goods for businesses.

Customs officers of Hanoi Customs Department ensure both customs operations
and pandemic prevention. Photo: N. Linh.

Hanoi Customs Department has asked its units to seriously follow the direction on anti-pandemic while ensuring customs clearance of goods for businesses. Heads of the units need to uphold their role of the leader, ask all customs officials and employees to follow the Directive No. 17 of Hanoi People’s Committee on social distancing in the principles of Directive 16 of the Prime Minister dated March 31, 2020 and take responsibility for public servants and employees who do not strictly observe anti-pandemic regulations.

Hanoi Customs Department has also told its units to implement Official Dispatch 3635 of the General Department of Customs dated July 19, 2021 on ensuring customs management. The dispatch requires customs units to pursue solutions to create maximum convenience for individuals and businesses in carrying out customs procedures; strengthen the use of information technology and modern customs management methods for handling administrative procedures; and ensure supervision and inspection of import and export goods, contributing to repelling and minimising the possibility of disease spread; and enhance online meetings, and work from home to prevent the interruption of customs operations caused by the pandemic.

In the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeits, the customs units must boost intelligence collection, proactively develop specific plans for each local government and work with competent forces from central to local levels to fight smuggling and trade fraud, contributing to maintaining national security, sovereignty and social safety.

Local customs departments in the provinces and cities that are implementing Directive 16, have been told to seriously comply with regulations of local governments on social distancing and medical isolation and arrange human resources to work at border gates to perform customs management, import-export activities and avoid breaking the supply chain.

In addition, Hanoi Customs Department has asked customs units to arrange staff to work from home and work on a rotating basis, ensuring that less than 50% of staff work at the headquarters. Other units must appoint one officer to be on duty at the headquarters to work.

Customs units attached to the Hanoi Customs Department, when meeting guests, must ask for permission from the Head or Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control and hold meetings in the lobby on the first floor, ensure the 5K principle, keep minimum distance of 2m, and use face shield and glass dividers.

Director of Vinh Phuc Customs Branch Dang Hoang Diep said the unit has drastically followed the direction of leaders in pandemic prevention and customs clearance. However, the travel of employees of Vinh Phuc Customs branch to the headquarters is difficult due to requirements on controlling movement between Hanoi and Vinh Phuc.

To ensure the timely settlement of customs procedures, Vinh Phuc Customs branch has consulted and approved by the leaders of Hanoi Customs Department to arrange a working room at the headquarters of the Department to handle customs clearance procedures. Vinh Phuc Customs branch has arranged enough customs officers to ensure customs clearance of import and export goods at the branch.

At the Northern Hanoi Customs Branch, the Director of the Customs Branch Tran Thi Lan Anh said the unit has pursued the direction of leaders at all levels in pandemic prevention and goods clearance. The branch has arranged customs officers to work from home and work on the rotating basis, ensuring no more than half of officers working at the agency. However, at present, the circulation of import and export goods between Hanoi and Hai Phong is also facing difficulties due to pandemic prevention rules of local governments.