Goods quality inspection model reformed: multidimensional benefits

	Quality inspection model of imports and exports amended
	Urgently complete scheme on unifying the focal point for goods quality inspection
	Many commodities overlap in specialised inspection

Import and export activities at North Thang Long Customs Branch. Photo: N. Linh

List to be narrowed, inspection unit changed

According to Vice Head of Control and Supervision Division 1 under the Customs Control and Supervision (General Department of Customs) Le Nguyen Viet Ha, which was assigned to chair the development of the project, the new goods quality inspection model of imported and exported will change remarkably.

Import and export goods subject to specialised inspection managed by specialised management ministries have been reduced. Specifically, goods must belong to one of the following possibilities: high risk of being unsafe, spreading epidemics, harming human health, life, environmental pollution, economics and national security. There must be the corresponding technical regulations required to apply in the form of legal documents for businesses to comply with and serve as a basis for the goods quality inspection agency.

Another important change is about the quality inspection agency. According to the Government's Resolution 99 / NQ-CP at a meeting in October 2019, the Customs office is the focal point for quality inspection of imported and exported goods at the border gate (except goods related to security, defence and quarantine). The quality inspection of imported and exported goods at border gates will be conducted by customs offices, inspecting by simple machinery and equipment; sampling for test norms according to technical regulations.

In addition, the conformity assessment organization designated by the specialised management ministry will carry out quality inspection of goods requiring specialised, specialised and specific quality inspection, large machines and equipment with a team of technicians and specialised engineers.

In addition, the conformity assessment organisation is designated by the specialised management ministry to carry out the quality inspection of goods subject to specialised quality inspection that requires large machines and equipment with a team of professional technicians and engineers.

Regarding the quality inspection channel, according to Viet Ha, the quality inspection of imported and exported goods is decided by the Customs office through the quality inspection channel based on applying the principle of risk management.

Accordingly, each export and import shipment will be classified by the automated system for Customs data will go into one of two channels: import and export shipment is subject to quality inspection; or import and export shipment is exempt from quality inspection based on the following criteria:

State management of goods in each period; value of import and export shipment; assessment of the risk level of unsafe goods; application of traceability to ensure the quality control of goods from production source; origin of goods; the level of compliance and observance of regulations on the goods quality of enterprises; the rate of detecting violations of quality depending on the characteristics and risks of being unsafe of each item; warnings about goods from specialised management ministries, foreign competent agencies or manufacturers about each specific item.

Costs and human resources reduced

The new model of quality inspection of imported and exported goods is assessed to make a big impact on the Government, businesses and agencies.

For the Government, it will save funds from the reduction of human resources and costs for the bulky quality inspection apparatus

For businesses, it helps raise the sense of responsibility of businesses in complying with the law on the quality of goods. Businesses are responsible under the law for the quality of imported and exported goods in accordance with technical regulations announced by specialised management ministries.

For ministries and agencies, this will be a condition to reduce human resources for quality inspection of imported and exported goods to focus on making and perfecting mechanisms and policies; issuing technical regulations and promoting quality control of goods after import, during circulation and production.

As for Customs, to meet the new requirements under the Government’s direction, Customs authority needs to improve capacity of human resources, facilities and technical equipment to perform the task of State management on customs and be the focal point for quality inspection of imported and exported goods at the border gate, as well as contributing to protecting people's lives and health, the environment, economic and national security while facilitating import and export activities.

Standardizing the quality inspection process of import and export goods

According to the Customs Control and Supervision Department, to submit to the Government in the first quarter of 2020 on the project according to the tasks assigned in Resolution No. 99 / NQ-CP for endorsement, the General Department of Customs (the Ministry of Finance) will continue to coordinate with its units to complete the project; then consult ministries and sectors; and organise meetings and seminars on the draft contents.