Customs proposes solutions to remove difficulties in late submission of C/O due to the Covid-19 pandemic

Customs officials of Hanoi Customs Department instructed enterprises to implement procedures. Photo: N.Linh

Previously, the General Department of Vietnam Customs received many petitions from authorities granting C/O and enterprises reflecting difficulties in submitting C/O due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Specifically, enterprises importing goods said that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, some countries applied social distancing leading to customs declarants not having C/O to submit on time as prescribed. To remove difficulties for businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic, businesses requested Customs extend the deadline for additional submission of C/O to to apply special preferential tariff rates.

Based on the enterprise's opinion, the notification of authorities granting C/O, together with the situation, the Customs authorities has studied current legal provisions to have a solution to facilitate enterprises affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, under the directive of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Finance on urgent solutions and tasks to remove difficulties for production and business.

To ensure the solutions are appropriate with relevant legal provisions, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has drafted the circular amending and supplementing Circular 62/2019/TT-BTC, including amending regulations on the case of submission, form and time of submission of C/O. The draft is being commented upon by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and business associations.

In the draft circular supplementing time of submission of C/O and the form of C/O in some special cases, including cases of force majeure, out of control of importers like the Covid-19 pandemic.