What benefits do enterprises gain when applying the new model of quality inspection of imported goods?

Customs officials of Thanh Hóa Customs Department inspected import – export goods. Photo: N.Linh

Applying three methods of descending inspection

According to the newly issued Decision, the quality and food safety inspection for imported goods under the new model shall be carried out at the line ministry, field or the Customs authority as selected by the organisation or business. In the case of implementation at the customs authority, the customs authority shall concurrently process procedures for quality and food safety inspection.

The new model of quality inspection of imported goods is implemented by three methods: strict inspection; standard inspection; reduced inspection.

In particular, the strict inspection method applies to goods in one of the following cases: goods not certified for conformity; goods not meeting the import requirements in the previous inspection; goods not meeting requirements in the inspection or examination (if any); there are warnings from the line ministry, the provincial People's Committee or the competent authority of the country or the manufacturer.

Standard inspection method applies to goods in one of the following cases: goods certified for conformity; goods that have for three consecutive times within 12 months met the import requirements under the strict inspection method.

Reduced inspection applies to goods that have had three consecutive times within 12 months and have met the import requirements under standard inspection.

The application of the inspection method and the change of inspection method (from strict to standard, as well as from standard to reduced) apply to identical goods and no difference of the importer. The change of inspection is applicable for a certain period of time.

Regarding the inspection authority, Decision 38 stipulates that imported goods subject to quality inspection will undergo quality inspection by line ministries and the customs authority.

Accordingly, the line ministries conduct quality inspection for imported goods subject to standard and strict inspection methods. For imported goods subject to strict inspection, line ministries shall carry out quality inspection in accordance with the order and procedures, including: receipt of registration dossiers for quality inspection; request certification/inspection organisations or units and organizations of the customs authorities designated by line ministries to conduct inspection (this authority/organisation is chosen by the enterprise and notified to the management sector); checking conformity announcement/inspection results; issuing quality inspection results notice; transfering the quality inspection results to the customs authority for cargo clearance.

For imported goods subject to standard inspection, line ministries shall conduct quality inspection in accordance with the following order and procedures: receive registration dossiers for quality inspection; conformity certification inspection results; issuing quality inspection results notice; transfer the quality inspection results to the customs authority for cargo clearance.

If the customs authority conducts the inspection, for imported goods that apply the strict inspection method, the customs authority shall carry out quality inspection in the following order and procedures: receiving registration dossiers for quality inspection, together with customs dossiers; request certification/inspection organisations or units and organisations of the Customs authorities designated by line ministries to conduct certification/inspection (this agency/organisation is chosen by the enterprise and notified to the Customs authority); checking conformity certification/inspection results; notifying the quality inspection results and cargo clearance.

For imported goods subject to standard inspection, customs authorities shall carry out quality inspection in accordance with the following order and procedures, including: receipt of registration dossiers for quality inspection, together with customs dossiers; checking conformity certification/inspection results; announcing quality inspection results and cargo clearance.

For imported goods subject to reduced inspection, customs authorities shall carry out quality inspection in accordance with the following order and procedures: receive registration dossiers for quality inspection together with customs dossiers; randomly check documents up to 5% of total imported consignments subject to reduced inspection within 12 months and issue a notice of quality inspection results and cargo clearance.

Reduced procedures when implementing at the customs authority

Regarding the order and procedures for quality inspection for imported goods that have obtained the certificate of conformity (standard inspection method), the customs authority cuts two steps compared to the line ministry including: procedures for enterprises to receive quality inspection results from ministries managing sectors and fields and procedures for enterprises to submit quality inspection results to the Customs authority for implementing import procedures.

According to new model, enterprises only have to register for quality inspection with the customs authority. Their goods will be cleared if the goods conform to the quality.

Enterprises do not have to go back and forth between the state inspection agency and the customs authority, thereby reducing costs and time for enterprises.

Regarding the order and procedures for quality inspection for imported goods without regulation certification (tight inspection method), the customs authority cuts three steps of procedures compared to ministries managing sectors, including: procedures for enterprises to submit results of regulation certification/inspection to quality inspection agencies for re-examination; procedures for enterprises to receive notification of quality inspection result from line ministries and procedures for enterprises submitting quality inspection results issued by line ministries to the customs authority for implementing import procedures.

According to the new model, the enterprise only has to register for quality inspection with the customs authority, select an inspection organisation, and announce to the customs authority to clear the goods if the goods conform to the quality. Enterprises do not have to go back and forth between the state inspection agency and the customs authority, thereby reducing costs and time for enterprises.