Inspecting goods using modern equipment

Focus on meeting requirements for verification, classification and analysis

Customs operation at Customs Department of Goods Verification No.6 in Lang Son. Photo: H.N

Priority to build 4 laboratories

Customs operation at Customs Department of Goods Verification as a technical department, in addition to performing the main task ofanalysing and verifying goods for the State management on customs area, the department will inspect high-risk goods and goods samples subject to specialized tests. Therefore, the improvement of capacity building with high professionalism is a key task for the department to coordinate with technical units of specialised management ministries and sectors, inspection organisations, conformity certification organisation in the quality control, inspection of food hygiene and safety for goods imported and exported across border gates. On the other hand, ensuring the interests of local consumers, managing goods imported and exported across the border gate, while ensuring facilitation for trade activities and shortening the customs clearance time.

Currently, the Customs Department of Goods Verification has six laboratories located in areas Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Hai Phong, Da Nang andHCM City. These laboratories have been accreditedformeeting requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017(VILAS) by the Bureau of Accreditation (BoA) of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam, and are equipped with modern machinery and equipment to meet requirements of analysis and testing at the test site and in the laboratory. Laboratories are testing for agricultural products, supplemental foods, fertilisers in accordance with the standards and regulations issued by ministries and sectors.

Following the direction of the GDVC’s leaders, the department is giving priority to building four large laboratories in Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang and HCM City equivalent to the testing laboratories of Quatest.

Coding sample requested for verification

In 2020, Customs Department of Goods Verification will develop a plan to conduct targeted inspections for items according to directions by the GDVC’s leaders to enhance the efficiency of customs inspection for import and export goods at border gates. The department will focus on deploying five solution groups such as developing standard laboratories; improving organisational structure; perfecting legal framework; developing verification process associated with other operational processes; building acustoms verification force.

The department focuses on improving the quality of laboratories, ensuring the testing laboratories meet requirements of ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 (Vilas) on management, additional construction and expansion of analytical criteria; perfecting facilities, premises and appropriate analytical methods. Perfecting organisational apparatus, amending and supplementing specific functions and tasks of the department and units to implement the tasks of analysing, verifying, controlling quality, inspecting food hygiene and safety, establishing close relationships with relevant operational units and organisations; ensuring effective operation of laboratory network in key regions in the country.

At the same time, the department develops averification process in association with other operational processes, the department implements transparency and optimises the process, ensuring inspection time in accordance with regulations, and facilitating trade, strengthening application of risk management and information technology in assessing and selecting test subjects, modernising the connection of the National Single Window.

The department is building and completing the overall process of receiving and implementing verification; the overall process of sampling, analysis and verification for the purpose of enhancing State management of customs and trade facilitation. In particular, focusing on coding of samples required for verification and analysis, the verification unit receives coded samples and hasno information on the number of customs declaration, customs declarant, ensuring transparent analysis and verification.