Vietnam: Customs authorities are assigned to play leading roles in quality and food safety inspection of imported goods

According to the Decision No. 38/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister of Vietnam, one of the 07 reform contents of the Project on reform of quality and food safety inspection model for imported goods is that customs authorities are assigned to play leading roles in quality and food safety inspection of imported goods, specifically as follows:

- Receive applications for quality and food safety inspection of imported goods;

- Decide inspection methods (tightened inspection, normal inspection or reduced inspection);

- Check received applications;

- If samples are required to serve conformity certification/inspection, carry out conformity certification/inspection at certification/inspection bodies or units of customs authorities designated by supervisory ministries at the request of customs declarants. Units of customs authorities may carry out conformity certification/inspection when they have organizational structure and capacity meeting national/international standards for conformity certification bodies, are accredited according to the Law on technical regulations and standards, and designated by supervisory ministries.

- When goods fail to meet quality and food safety requirements, customs authorities cease to grant clearance and notify relevant agencies and organizations to cooperate in taking actions against such goods in accordance with regulations of law.

Quality and food safety inspection results given by customs authorities are used as the basis for declarants to follow customs procedures. If disagreeing with quality and food safety inspection results given by customs authorities, declarants may make complaints or file lawsuits in accordance with regulations of law.

More details at the Decision No. 38/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister of Vietnam, effective from January 12, 2021.

Le Thanh

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