Not allowed to unload scrap when confirmation is not updated timely from 29/10

Imported plastic scraps at Hai Phong. Photo: N.Linh

According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, at Point 3, Clause 1 of Directive 27/CT-TTg, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment: "To chair and coordinate with localities in regularly and promptly updating lists of organizations, individuals who have been granted certificates / confirmation of eligibility for environmental protection in the import of scraps for use as raw production materials, organizations that participate in the certification of environmental technology standards compatibility with imported scraps for use as raw production materials, notices on imported scraps shipment on the Portal of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the National Single Window Portal. "

At the same time, according to Clause 10, Article 1 of Circular No. 03/2018/TT-BTNMT, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment took the responsibilities: "To send to the General Department of Vietnam Customs and post on the Portal of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the National Single Window Portal, confirmation of eligibility for environmental protection in the import of scraps for use as raw production materials, the Decision on revoking confirmation of eligibility for environmental protection in the import of scraps for use as raw production materials, the document of approval on import of scraps that are not on the list of scraps allowed to be imported for testing as raw materials for production within 3 working days after the date of granting and promulgation."

However, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, there are still a number of cases where enterprises have been granted confirmation but there is no information available on the Portal of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the National Single Window Portal, especially the confirmations issued by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Besides that, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has not received all the certificates as stipulated in accordance with the above regulation.

Regarding this issue, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has sent a document to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to request for the implementation of granting electronic certificates via the National Single Window Portal, providing to customs authorities all the certifications, including certificates granted by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. However, up to now, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has not provided all the required certifications to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

On the other hand, according to the directive of the Prime Minister in Directive 27/CT-TTg, it is not allowed to discharge goods which are scraps from ship to port for an owner who is not on the list of organizations and individuals that have been granted the confirmation on environmental protection in import of scrap for use as raw production materials and the confirmation is valid, import quotas and have not made deposit for import scrap yet as prescribed by law.

Therefore, in order to seriously implement the directive of the Prime Minister and have a basis to serve the state management of import scrap, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is requested to publish and update on the Portal of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the National Single Window Portal. At the same time, send to General Department of Vietnam Customs fully the certificates/confirmations, including confirmation granted by Department of Natural Resources and Environment for taking basis to clear imported scrap shipments.

According to the General Department of Customs, from 29/10/2018, when Circular 08/2018/TT-BTNMT and Circular 09/2018/TT-BTNMT came into effect, customs authorities would not allow the discharge of goods to port for a shipment in which the name of consignees was not posted and updated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on the Portal of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the National Single Window Portal, and sent to General Department of Vietnam Customs timely.

Currently, on the portal, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has been updating 207 enterprises which have been granted confirmation on environmental protection in import of scrap.