Hasten progress of handling backlogged goods as scrap at seaports

Imported scrap at Hai Phong port. Photo: N.Linh

This is the latest directive of the General Department of Vietnam Customs as it requested some provincial Customs Departments hasten process of handling backlogged goods as scrap at seaport.

For backlogged goods that have been classified and correctly defined, the General Department of Vietnam Customs directed the case that goods were wastes, hazardous waste, scraps that were ineligible to national technical regulation and backlogged goods that were contaminated exceeding limits, based on the Maritime Code of 2015, Article 58 of the Customs Law 2014 and documents of the Government Office, the Ministry of Finance, and the General Department of Vietnam Customs, customs department of provinces and cities should have documents to announce to shipping lines immediately after classifying and identifying backlogged goods as wastes, hazardous waste and scrap ineligible for national technical regulation on environment and backlogged goods that were contaminated exceeding the limits, requiring shipping lines to be responsible for transporting the whole shipment out of Vietnamese territory.

If the shipping line did not transport goods causing environmental pollution out of Vietnamese territory, the provincial Customs Departments should list goods and shipping lines and report to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

For shipments of scrap under the list in accordance with Decision 73/2014/QD-TTg and eligible with national technical regulation on the environment, the General Department of Vietnam Customs said that they have talked with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on business selection criteria and the list of businesses that are eligible to enter the auction. After consulting the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the General Department of Vietnam Customs would provide instructions to customs departments of provinces and cities.

For backlogged goods which have not been classified, the General Department of Vietnam Customs requested customs departments of provinces and cities to accelerate classification of goods to determine the category of goods and handle in accordance with regulations and instructions of the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Customs Departments of provinces and cities should work with enterprises operating warehouses, yards and ports to develop plans and deadlines for completing classification of backlogged goods and report to the department.

For goods of cases being seized by competent forces, the General Department of Vietnam Customs requested the customs departments of provinces and cities to continue to monitor and coordinate with competent authorities for verification and investigation.