Customs authorities assign officers and designated areas to assist businesses with customs procedures, document checks, and goods inspections

Over the two-year pilot phase (under Decision 1399/QD-TCHQ), 295 businesses have participated in the program. In the first phase (2022), provincial and municipal customs departments signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with 213 member businesses. In the second phase (2023 to present), MoUs were signed with an additional 82 businesses. As a result, over 80% of participating businesses successfully improved or sustained their compliance levels.

On December 4, 2024, the General Department of Vietnam Customs issued Decision 2790/QD-TCHQ to officially launch the program, replacing Decision 1399/QD-TCHQ. The new decision sets the goal of having over 80% of participating businesses increase or maintain their compliance levels at Level 2 or Level 3, and over 80% of participants being satisfied with the support measures provided by customs authorities.

To support and facilitate member businesses, customs authorities will allocate specific areas and assign customs officers and experts at various levels to directly assist, guide and address business concerns during customs procedures, document checks and physical inspections of import-export goods.

Customs authorities will also collaborate with port, warehouse and yard operators to facilitate the handling, loading, unloading and storage of goods. They will promptly address any issues arising during customs procedures and respond to member businesses' inquiries and operational questions.

Member businesses will receive risk warnings during customs procedures, including supply chain security risks, intellectual property infringement risks in import-export activities, and internal risks based on recommendations from competent authorities and responsible organizations domestically and internationally.

Customs authorities will consider facilitating inspections using scanning machines upon business requests, easing difficulties and reducing costs for import-export and transit procedures.

Specifically, they will change inspection locations for import-export goods to reduce transportation costs and resources. Member businesses can request customs authorities to scan their import-export goods. They will also provide information on compliance assessment results, reasons for compliance assessment outcomes and warnings about factors that may reduce compliance levels.

Member businesses will be prioritized for support and updates on procedural, policy and regulatory changes related to specialized management, administrative penalties, customs laws, tax laws and maintaining digital data of the customs sector. This aims to prevent risks in the import-export supply chain and ensure compliance levels are maintained or improved.

Customs authorities will coordinate with relevant agencies to support and guide member businesses in mitigating and addressing the consequences of errors and violations during customs procedures, ensuring compliance with legal regulations for specific cases as requested by member businesses.