Import and export businesses would be classified into four categories based on the level of law observance and on that basis, subject to different customs inspection and clearance regime.
It is highlighted in a draft circular on criteria for assessment of businesses’ law observance in the management of import, export and transit of goods, which has been recently released by the Ministry of Finance (MOF).
Accordingly, there would be four levels of law observance, including level 1 (high), level 2 (average) , level 3 (low) and level 4 (failure to observe).
Level-1 and -2 enterprises would be entitled to several priorities. For example, they would be entitled to reduction of customs inspection and supervision of import and export activities. Enterprises and their partners would be allowed to carry out on-spot import and export procedures and deliver and receive goods before making customs declaration. Particularly, level-1 business would be exempted from customs supervision of destruction of scraps and discarded materials imported for export processing or production. Additionally, they would be subject to at most one post-customs clearance inspection in three consecutive years.
On the contrary, level-4 businesses would be subject to a strict inspection, supervision and post-customs clearance inspection of import and export activities.
The MOF assigns the Department of Risk Management to coordinate with the General Department of Customs in collecting and processing information and applying criteria for assessment of law observance.
Minister, Chairman of the Government Office agreed with the draft, saying that management agencies should drastically change to risk management and post-inspection to reduce official, unofficial and time expenses for enterprises.
However, economic expert Ngo Tri Long said the collection of information on criteria for assessment must be truthful to accurately assess businesses’ law observance, and unjustifiable favors should be removed.- (VLLF)
