Rice exporters are no longer required to own at least one warehouse, with a minimum storage capacity of 5,000 tons, and a milling facility, with a minimum hourly processing capacity of 10 tons, to obtain a license to ship staple food abroad, according to a newly issued Government decree.

According to a newly issued Government decree, rice exporters are no longer required to own a warehouse, with a minimum storage capacity of 5,000 tons

Following the proposal of Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh, the Government recently issued Decree 107/2018 on rice export business, replacing the earlier Decree 109/2010. The new decree is expected to make doing business easier for rice traders.

Most rice-trading barriers, especially those affecting small traders, have been removed.

According to the previous decree, the warehouses and milling facilities were to be located in the provinces or cities from which the rice was exported.

The new decree does not stipulate the sizes of warehouses or rice-husking mills, provided they meet the technical standards and criteria issued by the competent agencies.

Traders can now rent these facilities, with a minimum lease period of five years per contract.

However, those traders who have obtained licenses to export rice are not allowed to put up their already-declared warehouses and rice-husking mills for rent. This will prevent other traders from using these facilities to obtain export licenses.

The local departments of industry and trade have been directed to work with their respective departments of agriculture and rural development and other relevant agencies to undertake post-inspections of the approved warehouses and mills.

SGT