Given the fact that thousands of containers of scrap imported as raw materials for production are still kept at some seaports, causing huge loss for enterprises, the Prime Minister’s Working Group on January 29 conducted an inspection at the Hai Phong Port to learn the reasons behind and specify the responsibilities of the agencies concerned.

Mai Tien Dung, Minister-Chairman of the Government Office and Head of the Prime Minister's Working Group leads the inspection tour at Hai Phong port on January 29, 2019.

Addressing the working session joined by leaders of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), the Viet Nam Environment Administration, the Finance Ministry (MOF) and the General Department of Viet Nam Customs this morning, Minister and Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung, head of the PM’s Working Group, stated that the inspection was carried out according to the PM’s direction after receiving requests for help from businesses.

There are currently many containers of scrap as raw materials in stock at ports despite their meeting the environmental standards, seriously affecting production activities of enterprises, he said.

Dung touched on the two issues raised by enterprises in their complaints sent to the PM.

The first problem is that before October 29, 2018, many batches of imported scrap had not been cleared because the customs units said they could not check and clear the scrap when there were not national technical standards on the environment yet. However, after the MONRE’s Circulars 08 and 09 promulgating technical standards for scrap took effect on October 29, 2018, many customs agencies still do not conduct the clearance of the scrap batches which have satisfied the technical standards, for the reason of no uniform guidance from the General Department of Viet Nam Customs.

The second problem is the specialized inspection sequence and procedures toward scrap batches. Dung said that businesses have complained a lot about the regulations of the MONRE.

After listening to opinions from agencies, experts and businesses, the head of the PM’s working group stated that the agencies concerned showed a serious attitude in explaining the aforementioned problems.

He asked the MOF to direct the General Department of Customs to perform clearance procedures over scrap batches in the direction of applying the policies at the same moment when businesses submit their customs declarations. The scrap batches will be cleared if they meet the technical standards, regardless of the moments they arrive at ports, even before the time Circulars 08 and 09 took effect.

In addition, there will no longer the involvement of officials of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment in the process of inspecting the quality of scrap batches as at present. Instead, an independent unit, appointed by the MONRE, will join customs agencies to perform the inspection process.

Dung added that in the time ahead, the Government Office and the PM’s Working Group will report to the Government and the PM on the adjustment of four relevant decrees so that the MONRE make needed amendments within its jurisdiction.

VGP