Seafood enterprises are angry with limitation of raw materials in certificate

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Processing seafood for export. Photo: T.H

According to seafood enterprises, in the past two weeks, a matter of performance related to administrative provisions in issuing material certificates (S/C) and collecting certification fees between fishing ports and enterprises is occurring, causing anger for the seafood business community.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), the Ministry of Finance’s Circular 118/2018/TT-BTC regulating the rates, regime of collection, remittance, management and use of fees for certification of origin of aquatic raw materials; fees for licensing of aquatic exploitation and activities, specifies the rate of fees for certification of origin of aquatic raw materials is VND150,000 plus tons of aquatic products and multiply VND15,000/ton. The maximum rate is VND700, 000/certificate.

However, recently, the fishing port management boards in some provinces such as Quang Ngai, Phu Yen, Binh Dinh and Vung Tau have requested businesses to split the quantity of raw material to apply for S/C not inexceess of 36 tons of raw materials/certificate (equivalent to the rate as prescribed in Article 4 of Circular 118/2018 / TT-BTC).

In many cases, the quantity of seafood purchased by businesses at one time in a place is 40 tons but they are not permitted to registeras prescribed in Circular 118/2018 and must be split into two S/C certificates, one certificate with quantity of 36 tons and the other of 4 tons.

According to VASEP, with the above request from a number of fishing ports, businesses must make more dossiers for S/C application, which means they have to suffer more cost for S/C issuance, increasing costs for enterprises.

The implementation of the law in a private interpretation that brings benefit for one side, will create a negative pshychology for the business community and people, and make the law invalid. This is also inconsistent with the efforts of the Government and ministries in reviewing and amending legal documents to reduce costs for businesses, improve the business environment, as well as increase competitiveness for Vietnam’s businesses.

To remove difficulties for businesses, VASEP has reported obstacles and problems to the leader of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for handling.