March is said to be the month of acceleration of customs automation, with many local customs departments deploying practical activities aiming to simplify procedures and create an open environment for import-export operations.
Ho Chi Minh City actively applying e-customs procedures
Recently, the Customs Department of Ho Chi Minh City has widely announced the implementation of e-customs procedures (ECP) in accordance with Decree 87/2012/ND-CP. Accordingly, the Department has been implementing ECP since 14th March 2013. Up to 20th March 2013, the Department successfully implemented ECP in 9 out of 12 customs branches with positive results: Enterprises can declare and receive customs information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The electronic data processing system of the Customs automatically receives, examines and registers customs declaration forms; identifies electronic customs declaration forms and replies to enterprises. The electronic system estimates that there are about 5,000 forms processed a day, of which 60 percent of goods are categorized into the Green category (customs clearance free from examination and time of customs clearance estimated only 3 minutes); 26.7 percent into the Yellow and 13 percent the Red.
Most enterprises said that the best advantage of the programme is the quick reply to declaration forms; thus reducing time for customs clearance procedures. A representative from Asiafood Ltd. said that communication between enterprises and the customs department has clearly improved. Enterprises fill in customs declaration forms and send them to the customs department, after several minutes they receive a reply about goods classification and can come to the port (because they usually have to conduct procedures at Cat Lai Port) to complete remaining activities, therefore time required for customs declaration is very short.
A representative from Sao Viet Ltd, a customs agency, said that it is conducting customs procedures for 7 enterprises, dealing with 40 declaration forms a month on average; however, with the automatic support of the electronic system, the company has not met any obstacles; implementing time is short.
The Customs has reported several technical mistakes in implementing procedures; however, these mistakes will be improved in the future.
Hai Phong putting mobile scanners into operation
On 19th March, the Customs Department of Hai Phong officially began to use the container scanner at Green Port. This is the second container scanner that Hai Phong Customs Department has used and the fifth that the General Customs Department has installed – in Hai Phong, Binh Duong, Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai. This mobile X-ray machine is placed in a truck with two functions of scanning moving cargoes and those going through the gate. The mobile scanner truck is equipped with computing, controlling, operating and analysing systems.
Mr Doan Van Tao, Vice Director of the Ha Phong Customs Department, announced that the automobile scanner machine can handle up to 25 containers per hour and will save time for enterprises. Furthermore, it also saves human resources for the customs sector. Besides, using the automobile scanner machine helps diminish direct contact between enterprises and customs in doing general tasks. Currently, the automobile scanner machine is supported and installed by the Vietnam Container Shipping Corporation (Viconship) right after the Green Port entrance.
Together with the implementation of e-customs procedures and technology equipment application to support customs work, customs is stepping forward to reform customs procedure and develop a preferential environment for enterprises, like its slogan.
D.L
Vietnamese
