500 containers of unqualified scrap removed from Vietnamese territory

Customs officials inspected scrap container that was imported at Hai Phong port. Photo: N.Linh

Specifically, the number of plastic scrap containers was 289; paper scrap was 106; iron scrap was 98; other scrap was 10 containers.

As of June 28, the number of scrap containers stored at seaports was 12,272, of which the quantity of scrap containers stored for over 90 days was 7,450; the number of scrap containers stored at seaports from 30 to 90 days was 14; the number of containers stored at seaports under 30 days was 4,808.

For shipments of scrap stored at seaports, the import enterprises are continuing to receive goods and carry out import procedures in accordance with the law.

According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, based on the provisions of Clause 6, Article 58 of the Customs Law stipulating the handling of backlogged goods and directives of the Prime Minister in Directive 27/CT-TTg dated September 17, 2018, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has continued directing provincial customs departments to force shipping lines to transport out of Vietnam's territory backlogged goods causing environmental pollution.

Since the beginning of the year, in order to control imported scrap effectively, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has issued Official Letter No. 406/TCHQ-GSQL requesting units to strictly implement Directive No.27/CT-TTg dated September 17, 2018 of the Prime Minister and guidance documents of the Ministry of Finance; Official Letter No. 2188/TCHQ-GSQL dated April 16, 2019 instructing provincial customs departments to implement directives of the Government and the Prime Minister, directing units to strengthen management solutions, preventing the import of unqualified scrap; instructions on amending and supplementing manifest in terms of consignee names for imported scrap.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs has submitted to the Ministry of Finance for approval the draft Decision of the Prime Minister on the “Regulation on the coordination of controlling imported scrap between the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Defense and People's Committees of provinces and cities that have sea ports, border gates and land borders.”