Pouchen Vietnam is a Taiwanese foreign direct invested enterprise, specialising in producing and exporting footwear and sports shoes, with its main markets in Europe and North America. The company first applied for customs priority in March 2018 for a duration of three years, with the group being granted an extension in 2021.

However, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the group has not complied with all the requirements during that time

To be eligible for customs priority, companies have to meet several conditions such as; complying with legal requirements relating to customs and tax; e-customs and e-tax declaration and payment procedures; and meeting a minimum of $100 million in annual import and export turnover. Companies must also comply with requirements relating to audits and accounts.

Since Pouchen Vietnam's removal from the priority list, it will not be eligible to enjoy the following benefits of the programme:

• Exemption from examination of supplementary customs documentation
• Exemption from physical inspection of goods
• Ability to submit incomplete customs declarations. It should be noted that within 30 days from the date of the registration of incomplete customs declarations or the submission of documentary evidence in substitution of customs declarations, customs declarants will be required to submit complete customs declarations.
• Prioritised access when carrying out tax procedures for goods in accordance with the Law on Taxation.

At present, 74 enterprises enjoy customs priority treatment. Their import-export turnover accounts for approximately 30 per cent of the import-export value of the whole country.