Pre-screening to reduce social costs

	Concerns about the traffic at the area of container scanners in Hai Phong
	Deploy the underground scanning system in Tan Son Nhat airport in January 2017
	Hai Phong Customs: Use "magic eye" to detect ivory

The Customs implements the pre-screening for imported goods to reduce the time and costs for enterprises (In the photo: A Hai Phong Customs Officer is operating the container scanners) Photo: Quang Hung

Basing on the regulations on inspection during loading, unloading, transporting and storing goods in warehouses, yards, ports and border gates (at Article 28 of Government’s Decree No. 08/2015 / ND-CP dated January 21, 2015, and Article 9 of the Ministry of Finance's Circular No. 38/2015 / TT-BTC dated March 25, 2015), the Customs has conducted the inspection by container scanners for imported goods unloaded from means of transportation on entry to storage, yards, ports and border gates (referred to as "pre-screening" for imported goods) under the area equipped with container scanners.

Previously, enterprises implemented procedures to present their goods and transport containers (from warehouses, yards, ports and import border gates) to the screening places according to the instructions on inspection flow on the system or change on the scanner inspection flow while implementing the procedures at Customs Branch. Currently, by collecting, analyzing and evaluating information on goods before arrival, the Customs units (the Risk Management Unit at all levels – stated by Reporter) has identified and implemented the screening at the time when containerized cargoes are unloaded from means of transportation on entry to storage after screening.

The screening significantly reduces the time and costs for enterprises during the implementation of Customs procedures, costs of machinery operation, production organization of port operators, and helps Customs to actively inspect and supervise on the basis of the technical method of risk management for key objects and facilitate legal trade.

In order to improve and ensure efficiency and effectiveness of container scanners in Customs inspections under the directions of the leaders of Ministry of Finance and General Department of Customs, the Risk Management Department has further enhanced operational activities, gathered information, analyzed and assessed risk by assigning Risk Management Division for Imported-Exported Goods to appoint officers to work in shift or work over time to promptly handle 24 hours per 7 days received information.

The implementation of working overtime of central management agencies and pilot implementation of working 24/24 of a scanner management and operation unit at Cat Lai port, Ho Chi Minh city in the recent times have been a positive message of the Customs in administrative reform and business environment facilitation and improvement in accordance with the national target set by the Government in Resolutions 19 in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

During the implementation, the Risk Management Department guided Risk Management Units at Municipal and Provincial Customs Departments to carry out above contents and warned risks for the whole Customs and areas equipped with container scanners (Hai Phong, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh city, Dong Nai and Binh Duong), also directly gathered and handled goods information before arrival to analyze and assess risks, and identify key objects and transfer the information to the units to implement the pre-screening.

As a result, the customs forces at all levels have unmasked many consignments of goods banned from import or trade frauds. Typically, in the face of smuggling of wildlife products, complicated performance and increasing tension of the CITES International Convention, the Risk Management Division for Imported-Exported Goods (under the Risk Management Department) analyzed information and accurately identified some consignments imported to Vietnam hiding ivory through pre- screening and the coordination of physical inspection of the competent forces. At the end of October 2016, the competent forces inspected and discovered two containers of about 500kg of ivory hidden in 12 hollow wooden blocks in the Cat Lai port. Additionally, the Customs units and coordinated forces discovered a total of seven smuggling cases of ivory with a large volume of nearly six tons of imported wood containers with similar methods.

It can be said that the Customs inspection through the container scanner and the collection and analysis of information to identify risks in the recent times has brought above positive effects, however there have been some certain obstacles and shortcomings: the port operators in this activity mainly depended on relationship and connection of Customs units which are assigned to manage, operate the container scanners, so that the implementation of the managing authorities must be committed to ensuring the consistency in the implementation.

At the same time, the human resources to meet the increase of working time and operational activities out of the working time mentioned above are not sufficient (for example, the Risk Management Division for Imported – Exported Goods assigned 3 work shifts, while the Division has only 12 officers). Besides, the regime, allowance and other conditions for working overtime have not been specified and not promptly supported to maintain and promote this implementation at the areas equipped with container scanners in the coming time.

HCM City Customs: The volume of export-import goods under screening increases. VCN – From the beginning of the year, thenumber ofimport and export containersscreened through the seaport border ...

With the attention and guidance of the Ministry of Finance and the General Department of Customs on this work, the above obstacles will be soon overcome and handled in the coming time to contribute to the implementation of administrative reform target as well as efficient use of equipment and machinery specialized in the Customs professional activities. In order to accomplish the set political target, the close collaboration in this implementation of all relevant agencies, the business community, related organizations, and individuals is extremely necessary.