Requirements for surveillance cameras of export processing enterprises

Hanoi Customs officers check import-export goods. Photo: N.Linh

Technical requirements

The regulations have just been issued by the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Specifically, the surveillance camera system at EPEs includes a camera system to monitor the positions at the entrance/exit and the storage locations. In particular, the goods storage locations include areas at EPEs used to store goods such as warehouses, storage yards for raw materials, supplies, semi-finished products, finished products, warehouses for scrap and discarded products (if any) and other non-taxable goods.

For other areas in the EPE that are arranged to produce and use goods, machinery and equipment such as factories, offices, canteens, etc., CCTV cameras are not required.

The camera angle at positions at the entrance/exit gate of the EPE must record the license plate information, the number of the container (if any) of the vehicle entering or leaving the EPE. Vehicles passing through the gate must ensure the speed and correct lanes so that the camera can record vehicle information.

For storage yards for raw materials, supplies, semi-finished products, finished products, warehouses for scrap, discarded products (if any) and other non-taxable goods, surveillance cameras must have panoramic views of the yards storing goods of export processing enterprises.

For warehouses storing raw materials, supplies, semi-finished products, finished products, warehouses of scrap, discarded products (if any) and other non-taxable goods with gates/doors, surveillance cameras at the entrance or exit gates/doors of the goods storage area must record the image of the operation of bringing goods in/out of the storage warehouse; the camera in the warehouse (if any) must have a panoramic view of the warehouse where the EPE's goods are stored.

According to Decision 247/QD-TCHQ, the EPE is responsible for drawing up a map of the goods storage location, the location of surveillance cameras with serial numbers and notes for monitoring, management and sending a copy to the Customs Branch when carrying out the inspection of customs supervision and inspection conditions.

Furthermore, EPEs must open a logbook to monitor operation status and fully update the situation in case of power cuts, inactivity, repair and maintenance by time, location, sequence number or surveillance camera system.

At the same time, notify the focal point and contact phone number to the Customs Branch to manage and promptly report any incidents of the surveillance camera system; in case there is a plan for repair, maintenance, or power failure, the report shall be made in writing and concurrently updated in the logbook for inspection by Customs.

Locations must connect online

Camera image data at the following locations must be connected online with the Customs authority, including the gate/door of the EPE; gates/doors to warehouses of raw materials, supplies, semi-finished products and finished products; warehouse for scrap and discarded products (if any); storage yards for raw materials, supplies, semi-finished products, finished products, warehouses for scrap, discarded products (if any) and other non-taxable goods; inside the warehouse to store raw materials, supplies, semi-finished products, finished products, warehouses for scrap, discarded products (if any) and other non-taxable goods (if equipped with surveillance cameras).

Other locations require the installation of a surveillance camera system, and the EPE will store it at the enterprise as prescribed, and provide it to the Customs authorities upon request.

Regarding the minimum technical standards of the surveillance camera system, for EPEs that have been granted an Investment Registration Certificate, an Adjusted Investment Registration Certificate (if any) or a document from the investment registration authority in cases where it is not required to issue an investment registration certificate before the effective date of Decree No. 18/2021/ND-CP of the Government (April 25, 2021); EPEs established after April 25, 2021 and before the effective date of this Decision, are in the process of operation and have been equipped with surveillance camera systems that do not require minimum technical standards.

For EPEs established after the effective date of this Decision, the surveillance camera system of EPEs must meet the minimum technical standards according to the Appendix attached to this Decision.

The Customs authority shall check and confirm the minimum technical standards of the surveillance camera system of the EPE on the basis of the technical documents provided by the EPE and the EPE's commitment to meet the standards in the test report.