Naming the businesses denying scraps at ports

Low quality imported scrap was detected at Cat Lai port. Photo: T.H.

Decline when license is forbidden

A number of enterprises having business lines related to scrap purchasing and recycling refused to receive hundreds of imported scrap containers. By refusing to receive the goods, or leaving them at the border gate, there have been thousands of containers left at the port recently.

According to the information we learnt about the companies rejecting the scrap, these businesses have business licenses which are involved in the procurement of scrap materials. H.Q.C.H, One member Limited Company (Cam Giang district, Hung Yen province) refused to receive 437 scrap containers imported into Cat Lai port is an example. This company was established in 2011, with 19 categories of business lines, including the purchase and treatment of hazardous waste, non-hazardous waste; manufacture of plastic products; scrap recycling... According to the licensing information on the website of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment published last weekend, it is shown that this company was not issued a certificate of eligibility for environmental protection in import scrap as raw materials for production.

Similarly, V.N Export Import Trading Manufacturing Service One Member Company Limited (Duc Hoa District, Long An Province) was also licensed to establish in 2013, with many trades related to waste collection, treatment and recycling. It is known that this company imported 255 containers of scrap, but refused to receive them because they did not belong to the company. In the list of nearly 20 business lines and services of P.M. Industrial Environment Company (Bac Ninh Province) there are 15-16 items related to scrap. In early 2018, this company imported nearly 70 scrap containers to Cat Lai Port, but also refused to receive the goods because their partner sent them wrongly (!?). The information from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment showed that neither of these two companies was also granted a certificate of eligibility for environmental protection in scrap imports as raw materials for production.

Not only the above cases, the remarkable thing that created many doubts for the public is that many businesses have registered business in the Northern provinces, but imported hundreds of scrap containers to Ho Chi Minh Port. Many enterprises imported hundreds of containers; a few enterprises also imported dozens of containers. Faced with this situation, some comments at meetings about scrap organized by the authorities recently showed that there are signs of businesses taking advantage of the import of scrap permits to conduct their commercial business.

More than 3,000 containers of discarded waste

The above cases are ones that the customs office traced the address of the business and asked them to work and they refused to receive their goods. In fact, thousands of imported scrap containers have been in ports for many months now, but businesses still "have no trace”, deny the goods.

According to information from Saigon Newport Corporation and the 1st Zone Saigon Sea Port Custom Branch, after announcing to find the owners of more than 3,000 scrap containers at the port, only 1-2 companies contacted said that they were waiting for the import license. This situation shows that most of these scrap containers are derelict.

According to the Customs Office, there are three reasons for the existence of many scrap containers at the port. Firstly, the imported goods do not meet the conditions of environment, not eligible for import under the license granted. Secondly, enterprises have imported many goods but they have not yet obtained the import permit (Certificates of environmental protection qualification for scrap imports as raw materials for production). Thirdly, enterprises forging permits for importing scrap are detected by the Customs offices and the Custom Office prevented them from completing the procedures. As a result, dozens of enterprises imported scrap to ports but they cannot carry out the import procedures leading to thousands of containers existing at ports.

Scrap is a conditional import goods. According to the authorities, scrap importers know very well the law on importing scrap to Vietnam, but still deliberately find ways to bring scrap to Vietnam without full conditions to import. The HCM City Customs Department said that they will not firmly admit that the owners have given up their goods or that owners have done acts proving the abandonment of goods showing signs of law violation. Particularly for goods which cause environmental pollution, goods owners, transport means owners, transport means operators or persons authorized by means owners are responsible for moving such goods out of Vietnam.

According to the Customs Department of Ho Chi Minh City, most of the goods left in stock, especially imported scraps, have not yet gone through customs procedures, may not have identified the goods owners. Therefore, the transportation and delivery of goods into the port... are the rights and obligations of import-export enterprises, shipping companies. And the management and licensing are the rights and obligations of the specialized ministries. At this point, the Customs office has not enough clues to handle the importing enterprises that denied their goods as mentioned above.