Data analysis and risk identification as key tasks in anti-origin fraud work in 2021

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Customs officers at Na Meo International Border Gate Customs Branch (Thanh Hoa Customs Department) inspect import and export goods. Photo: N.L

Accurately identify targeted objects

The General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) will apply customs measures to prevent origin fraud and illegal labelling of goods and infringement of intellectual property rights and illicit transshipment; promptly detect and handle all violations in accordance with the law, promoting the development of domestic production, protecting Vietnamese manufacturers from the risk of applying trade remedies and protecting the reputation of Vietnamese goods in the international arena.

Operational departments will participate in the plan under each specific task. The Customs Control and Supervision Department will lead and work with the Customs IT and Statistics Department, Risk Management Department, Post Clearance Audit Department, Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department, and Inspectorate Department to summariseand analyse data, make a list of targeted commodities and firmsto take operational measures; provide information, data and the list of enterprises with sudden increase in export turnover for other units to know and coordinate.

The Customs Control and Supervision Department will also work with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Science and Technology and otherministries and agencies in reviewing the legal basis, and propose supplementing and amending legal documents related to the origin and labelling of goods to close loopholes of the legal system, serving as a legal basis for uniform implementation.

The department will work with Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to review cases that are issued illegal C/O and ask the VCCI to terminate the issuance of C/O form X to prevent the use of this certificate for origin fraud. The department will closely workwith the associations and industries to identify enterprises with signs of high risk and fraud to send this list to Customs. At the same time, the department will recommend firms make substantial and long-term investment implement technology transfer and deep processing; encourage the development of supporting industries; recommend enterprises to improve the mechanism of monitoring and supervising the production process in enterprises; and raise awareness about origin fraud and trade remedies evasion.

Customs IT and Statistics is in charge of collecting and reviewing data to identify targeted objects to take measures for the investigation and verification of violations. The department will quarterly provide alist of commodities and enterprises with a surge in export turnover (>10%) to the US, EU and Indian markets and a sudden increase in import turnover (>10%) from targeted markets to the Customs Control and Supervision Department to synthesise and report to the leaders of the GDVC.

The Risk Management Department analyses data, identifies the list of commodities and enterprises with a surge in import and export turnover and high risks, and workswith other units for prevention. The identification criteria include: name, nationality, code, year of establishment, type, address of enterprise; the regime of import and export; import and export goods, signs of fraud andrisk rating. Conduct physical inspection for all import and export goods identified with signs of high risks of origin fraud, illegal labeling of goods, infringement of intellectual property rights andillicit transshipment.

Make thematic inspection plans for categories

To implement the plan for combating origin fraud and illicit transshipment in 2021, the Post Clearance Audit Department, the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department and Inspectorate Department are assigned specific tasks to detect violations. The Post Clearance Audit Department will conduct post clearance audits at the Customs declarant’s premises to clarify and handle violations, focusing on thematic inspection plans for categories, including steel products; electronic products; machines and equipment; footwear and handbags. At the same time, the Post Clearance Audit Department will inspect 30-50 enterprises. In addition, the department will work with the Customs Control and Supervision Department to analysedata, identify subjects with high risks of fraud, counterfeiting of origin, illegal labelling of goods and infringement of intellectual property rights and illicit transshipment.

The fight against smuggling isalso carried out synchronously. Accordingly, the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department is assigned to take customs control measures to detect and identify violations, focusing on thematic inspection plans for categories likewood and wooden products, especially for plywood from hardwood materials, wooden cabinets, wood frame sofa; mattresses; artificial stones; ceramic tiles; truck and passenger car tires; machines and equipment: machines, equipment, tools and spare parts; vacuum cleaner; and lawnmowers.

The Inspectorate Department will investigate and identify objects with a high risk oforigin fraud and illegal labeling of goods and infringement of intellectual property rights and illicit transshipment, focusing on categories such as electronic products; data processing machine; electronic products and components; bicycles, electric bicycles and accessories; solar batteries; plastic bags and bags; packing pins; and gas tank covers.