This was stated by Deputy Minister of Finance Vu Thi Mai at an online meeting on completing the draft decree on quality inspection and food safety inspection for import goods.

Deputy Minister of Finance Vu Thi Mai chaired the meeting. Photo: H.N

The meeting saw the participation of representatives of ministries, branches, Government Office, units under the Ministry of Finance, customs departments of Ha Noi, HCM City, Hai Phong, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Da Nang and Lang Son.

The quality inspection and food safety inspection for import goods has been radically reformed and recognized by the business community. However, the specialized inspection still hasmany shortcomings, causing difficulties for businesses.

For example,the scope of management and inspection is wide; the standards and regulations for inspection are insufficient; the performance between ministries and branches or between guiding documents and legal documents is inconsistent, Deputy Minister of Finance Vu Thi Mai said.

To remove these shortcomings, in Decision 38/QD-TTg dated January 12, 2021, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc assigned the Ministry of Finance to lead and work with relevant units in building a new model on quality inspection and food safety inspection for import goods, and to submit to the Government for promulgation adecree on specialized inspection to serve as a basis for implementing the new model.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Finance has assigned the General Department of Customs to lead in developing the draft decree on specialized inspection to facilitate and protect the legitimate rights and interests of business organizations,individuals and consumers. At the same time, completely reform regulations on quality inspection and food safety inspection for import goods towards promoting IT application, applying risk management, simplifying procedures for quality inspection and food safety inspection for import goods, reducing contact points between businesses and agencies.

In addition, the draft decree also aims to reduce costs and time of customs clearance for import goods, create the environment and conditions for socializing quality inspection and food safety inspection. Especially, it is aimed at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of quality inspection and food safety inspection for import goods to ensure strict management, compliance with regulations, and national security.

Almost all representatives of ministries and branches agreed with the policy of reforming specialized inspection towards promoting reform under the electronic method. However, during the development process, the drafting board should avoid overlapping with the current regulations, and the scope of governance.

Concluding the meeting, Deputy Minister Vu Thi Mai highly appreciated the comments of representatives in order for the drafting agency to complete the draft Decree.

To speed up the development and completion process before submitting it to the Government, Deputy Minister Vu Thi Mai suggested that the General Department of Vietnam Customs should work closely with the representatives at ministries and branches to review and update regulations; hold conferences and seminars to collect comments. The focal points of the ministries and branches participating in the drafting committee should regularly exchange, discuss and urgently complete the draft in a unifiedmanner before submitting it to the Government for consideration and approval