CUSTOMS CLEARANCE FOR HCMC IMPORTERS ALLOWED AT ICDS

Importers of goods subject to customs procedures at the port of entry have been given the green light to complete their customs clearance at inland container depots (ICD) of Phuoc Long Port Co Ltd, according to the latest dispatch of the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

The department said local enterprises that have goods under Article 1 of Decision No.15/2017/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister on the list of imported goods required to follow customs procedures at the port of entry is now allowed to transport their products from border gates to destination ports stated on bills of lading in order to go through customs if the port is a seaport or airport.

Importers are also allowed to do the same if their goods have destination ports to be inland waterway ports, and inland container depots of Phuoc Long.

The dispatch’s detailed instruction is expected to help reduce the amount of goods which has been congested at ports since early this month.

This problem occurred when customs officers at Cai Mep, Cat Lai and Hiep Phuoc ports cited Decision No.15 and the department’s Official Letter No.4284 as a reason to disallow importers to transfer their goods to ICDs.

The situation has had adverse effects on local firms. Notably, this regulation is not in line with other legal regulations and international practices.

Therefore, the HCMC Department of Customs sent two official letters to the General Department of Customs asking for a way out.

Phuoc Long’s ICDs such as Phuoc Long I, Phuoc Long III, Transimex, Tanamexco, Phuc Long and Sotrans which are under the supervision of the Saigon Port Border Customs Sub-department Region IV have been permitted to carry out customs procedures so far.

Source: The Saigon Times