Chairman of the Law Committee Hoang Thanh Tung chairs the explanation session. Photo: Quochoi.vn

Speaking at the explanation session on "Implementation of administrative procedures in the customs sector" organized by the Law Committee of the National Assembly on January 14, 2025, Chairman Hoang Thanh Tung said that after 10 years of implementation, the Customs Law has come into effect.

Thereby, the Law has made positive contributions to the implementation of the policy of administrative reform and administrative procedure reform in general, and administrative procedure reform in the customs sector in particular.

At the same time, it has increased the effectiveness of the work of preventing and combating smuggling, trade fraud and illegal transportation of goods across the border.

As well as contributing to protecting social security and safety and protecting national interests and sovereignty, improving the investment and business environment, enhancing national competitiveness and promoting economic growth.

In addition to the achieved results, through monitoring, supervision and reflection of public opinion, voters showed that the implementation of the 2014 Customs Law and detailed regulations also revealed shortcomings.

In particular, the implementation of administrative procedures in the customs sector also raised difficulties and shortcomings.

The Chairman of the Law Committee also said that the Party and the State are currently implementing a "revolution in streamlining the organizational apparatus of the political system", the organizational structure of many agencies, including the Customs sector, will change in the coming time.

Along with that, the Politburo has just issued Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation.

One of the tasks and solutions set out is "Comprehensive reform in handling administrative procedures, providing public services regardless of administrative boundaries; improving the quality of online public services, digital services for people and businesses, towards providing comprehensive, personalized and data-based online public services".

Therefore, Chairman of the Law Committee Hoang Thanh Tung emphasized the need to research and propose to improve the law in the customs sector in general and administrative procedures in the customs sector in particular.

Thereby, promptly recommending competent authorities to remove difficulties and obstacles in the implementation of administrative procedures in the customs sector.

As well as clarifying the requirements and necessary conditions to continue to comprehensively reform administrative procedures, promote digital transformation in the customs sector.

Deputy Director General of the General Department of Customs Tran Duc Hung speaks at the session. Photo: Quochoi.vn

At the explanation session, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Customs Tran Duc Hung presented a report on the implementation of administrative procedures in the customs sector.

He emphasized that the 2014 Customs Law has political significance and special importance for the reform and modernization of Vietnam Customs, creating a legal foundation to continue implementing the Customs development strategy and the Finance development strategy approved by the Government and the Prime Minister, meeting the requirements of deep and wide integration in the new period.

The Customs Law is an important legal document, covering all professional activities of the Customs sector, and is the basis for building a system of legal documents in the customs sector.

Clearly stating the positive results achieved, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Customs Tran Duc Hung also pointed out the problems, shortcomings and causes.

Thereby, giving specific recommendations on improving policies and laws; recommendations on implementation in the coming time...

Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi speaks at the session. Photo: Quochoi.vn

At the explanation session, deputies also said that, in addition to the achieved results, the implementation of administrative procedures in the customs sector still has shortcomings, especially, specialized inspection work, ensuring resources to implement continuous and smooth import-export activities and circulation of goods.

Along with that, the implementation of the Party and State's policy on restructuring, streamlining the apparatus, and national digital transformation also requires research to propose amendments and supplements to the provisions of the Customs Law.

Therefore, many delegates suggested clarifying the coordination among agencies in specialized inspection activities, the VNACSS/VCIS and 20 satellite information technology systems, the National Single Window Portal, the ASEAN Single Window Mechanism, etc.

Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi and Deputy General Director Tran Duc Hung explained the issues raised by National Assembly deputies at the explanation session.

In particular, focusing on clarifying the solutions related to perfecting policies and laws; reorganizing the model of quality inspection and food safety inspection for imported goods in a simple and effective manner, assigning responsibilities in a reasonable, clear and transparent manner among the participating parties.

Specialized inspection procedures are implemented uniformly on the National Single Window Portal; shared among specialized management ministries, customs agencies, etc.

At the same time, focusing on connecting the national single window system with the systems of the ministries and the electronic data processing system of the customs agency.

Besides, focusing on implementing digital transformation, building e-government, digital customs, smart customs and smart border gates.

As well as upgrading infrastructure and information technology systems to serve the implementation of the National Single Window Mechanism, ASEAN Single Window Mechanism on a new technology platform, meeting the requirements of information connection and sharing and procedure processing in the digital environment...

Representatives of the Customs agency also attends the explanation session. Photo: Quochoi.vn

In his concluding remarks, Chairman of the Law Committee Hoang Thanh Tung stated that to overcome shortcomings, and improve the effectiveness of administrative procedures in the customs sector, the Law Committee will fully synthesize opinions to complete the Committee's conclusion on the explanation content, report to the National Assembly Standing Committee, and send it to the Government and ministries and agencies.

Chairman of the Law Committee Hoang Thanh Tung also suggested that the Government and the Prime Minister continue to direct the Ministry of Finance and relevant ministries and agencies to study and propose amendments to the 2014 Customs Law to serve the work of streamlining the apparatus, and overcome shortcomings.

Regarding immediate solutions, the Chairman of the Law Committee noted that it is necessary to study and amend Decree No. 85/2019/ND-CP of the Government regulating the implementation of administrative procedures under the national single window mechanism, the ASEAN single window mechanism and specialized inspection of imported and exported goods.

In particular, focusing on contents related to the synchronous coordination mechanism among ministries and agencies; building a common database to share information, specialized inspection, licensing, goods control, connecting and exchanging data through the national single window system; publicly sharing information, introducing a mechanism to quickly respond to suggestions from businesses.