The General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) has instructed transportation of imported and exported goods among container ports in Cai Mep-Thi Vai port complex to remove difficulties for enterprises and avoid congestion of goods and means of transport.

Import and export at Cai Mep Port, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. Photo: Thu Hoa

Resolving obstacles

Earlier, Hai An Transport and Stevedoring JSC and Gemadept Terminal Link Cai Mep Terminal JSC proposed to guide customs procedures for imported and exported goods that are transported among container ports in Cai Mep-Thi Vai port complex managed by Cai Mep Seaport Customs Branch when the number of containers at ports has led to congestion at the port and changes of the loading and unloading ports.

The GDVC has based on existing regulations of law to instruct the two companies.

For the imported goods, Cai Mep Seaport Customs Branch will base on proposals certified by port operators on the congestion from shipping lines and shipping lines’ agents or forwarding companies to allow them to transport goods in Cai Mep-Thi Vai port complex area and ship goods to the port of destination.

After the branch checks information on the imported goods consignments, if the goods are not subject to supervision and control by authorities or do not have suspicious signs, it will allow shipping lines and shipping lines’ agents or forwarding companies to carry out procedures for these consignments and transport goods to the port of destination according to Article 51b of Circular 38/2015 (revised in Clause 30, Article 1 of Circular 39/2018) of the Ministry of Finance.

For exported goods, if the goods are cleared and transported to the customs control area at border gates and the customs declarant applies for changing the port of loading, the branch will instruct the declarant to comply with provisions in Clause 2, Article 20 of Circular 38/2015 (revised in Clause 9 of Article 1 of Circular 39/2018).

For supervision for imported and exported goods, the GDVC requests Ba Ria-Vung Tau Customs Department to develop a specific coordination mechanism between Cai Mep Seaport Customs Branch and container port operators in Cai Mep-Thi Vai port complex to identify congestion and coordinate to resolve problems. The control for the goods must comply with the provisions of Article 50,51b, and 52 or 52b of Circular 38/2015 (revised in Clause 28, 29, 30 and 32 of Circular 39/2018).

Providing solutions to support businesses

The GDVC has provided solutions to remove obstacles and facilitate imports and exports, ensure and prevent disruption of goods supply chains amid the turbulence of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The GDVC has directed HCM City Customs Department to work with Saigon Newport Corporation to apply temporary customs procedures amid the Covid-19 pandemic to relieve the congestion.

Encourage businesses to go through customs clearance at Cai Mep-Thi Vai Port and establish a customs branch at the port to quickly clear goods and reduce congestion at Cat Lai Port. The GDVC has agreed with specialized agencies to allow enterprises to submit electronically scanned certificates during the application of Directive 16/CT-TTg and add the original certificate later.

On August 19, the GDVC submitted to the Ministry of Finance a draft Circular stipulating customs procedures for imported goods that are transferred from the border gate and congested at seaports where social distancing is implemented according to Directive 16 CT-TTg on the implementation of urgent measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 pandemic.

It also issued Official Dispatch 3695 dated July 22 on inspection and preservation of goods amid the Covid-19 outbreak; Official Dispatch 3980 dated August 11 on supporting customs clearance of goods for disease prevention.

Accordingly, the GDVC has requested departments to set up working teams to support and handle problems related to customs procedures for import and export goods at three levels; established rapid response teams to perform customs clearance within a day for shipments of medical supplies, equipment, modern medicine, vaccines, biological products, and working teams to avoid congestion at seaports in HCM City.

In addition, Customs News - the mouthpiece of the GDVC also held a virtual seminar "Customs accompanies businesses amid the Covid-19 pandemic" to answer problems related to customs procedures for businesses.