Exporting 3,970,000 gauze masks to China

According to Lang Son Customs Department, in Appendix I, Appendix III of Decree 69/2018/ND-CP of the Government dated May 15, 2018 stipulating articles of the Law on Foreign Trade, gauze masks of Vietnam are not in the list of goods prohibited from import and export under licenses and conditions.

Meanwhile, the corona virus outbreak has spread amidst a shortage of this product in the Chinese market, so enterprises have implemented export procedures for exporting this item to China.

Professional activities at Huu Nghi Customs Branch. Photo: Nga Thu

From January 1st to February 3rd, the customs units under Lang Son Customs Department completed customs procedures for 15 sets of declarations with a total 3,970,000 masks, worth $92,137 which were registered by enterprises to export to China.

However, according to Lang Son Customs Department, facing the situation of corona virus disease, medical equipment items, especially masks, are showing signs of a scarcity in the domestic market, therefore, Lang Son Customs Department also reported and asked for guidance from the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Regarding this issue, on February 4, the General Department of Vietnam Customs sent a response document to the Chinese Embassy about exporting masks.

Accordingly, the General Department of Vietnam Customs said according to current provisions of Vietnamese law, gauze masks were not required to apply for licence from authorities when exporting. Therefore, the General Department of Vietnam Customs suggested the embassy notify export units implementing export procedures at border gates to comply with Vietnamese customs regulation.

Regarding the import and export situation of goods at Huu Nghi border gate, a representative of the Huu Nghi Border Gate Customs Branch (Lang Son Customs Department) said according to a notice from China, since February 3rd, the clearance of goods at this border gate would operate normally.

However, according to the representative of Huu Nghi Border Gate Customs Branch, on 2 and 3 February, no business registered to export goods. Only one enterprise implemented procedures to import two cargo trucks from China but the Chinese side had not cleared the goods to Vietnam yet. On February 5, one enterprise came to implement export procedures for two cargo trucks of agricultural products (fresh jackfruit) and is carrying out procedures to export to the Chinese market.