(9) Location of InspectionEntry-poi

(9) Location of Inspection
Entry-point inspections by STAs and Customs inspections may take place at a seaport, river port, airport or even at a public warehouse or importer’s warehouse—if it is certified and approved by STAs and Customs. If the importing company would like to have cargo inspected in its warehouse, the company must submit a request to the Customs authorities and STAs for approval.

For imports of meat and dairy products, locations of inspection must be at entry-point destinations (seaport, river port, and airport) or at STA/Customs-certified warehouses. Entry-point inspections at importer's warehouses are no longer accepted.

(10) Import Duties & Fees
The total cost of import duties and inspection fees levied is calculated by the General Customs Department and the STA. Vietnam is now working to implement GATT Article 7 and therefore generally uses transaction value for import duty calculations with only a few exceptions.

On January 21, 2015, Vietnam’s Government issued Decree 8/2015/ND-CP to supersede the Decree 40/2007/ND-CP issued on March 16, 2007, on “regulation on the calculation of customs value for imported/exported goods.” The new Decree took effect on March 15, 2015. As stated in Article 20 of the Decree, the customs value for the calculation of import taxes is the total cost that the importer has to actually pay for the shipment at the first entry point of destination, with reference to Common Trade and Customs Convention and/or any other International Commitment that Vietnam has signed. The first entry point of destination (FEPD) is defined as follows:
a) By ship or airplane, the FEPD is the unload port or the airport stated in the Invoice
b) By train, the FEPD is the international station at the border gate
c) By land and waterway transports, the FEPD is the border gate where the goods firstly come to Vietnam.

Inspection fees are calculated based on the total retail value of the cargo inspected. The fee for food quality inspection is 0.1% of the retail value of the goods, but the total amount cannot be less than Vietnamese Dong (VND) 300,000 which is approximately $14.50.

Customs has developed a specific procedure that it believes combats fraud. Each year it issues an import value database, based on a database of usual and historical import prices that it maintains. If enterprises declare prices lower than the reference price, Customs consults with the firm. After consultation, if an indication of trade fraud is found, the case file is forwarded for further investigation as per regulations. Within 15 days from the date of applying for customs clearance of the case, the Customs office must inform the importer of the determined customs value for import duty. There is an appeal process in place.

These procedures have drawn complaints from importers of U.S. agricultural products, particularly for meat cuts and high-value food products. Importers complain that the price database are often based on general category of previous imports (i.e. 4-digit HS code) without reference to product specification or differentiation and are significantly inaccurate. Customs officials are reluctant to stray from the reference-price valuations even when invoices have been clearly proven valid. After numerous complaints from trading partners, the process appears to be improving, particularly for long-established importers.

(11) Document Package
When importing, all necessary documents must be compiled into one dossier and presented with a Vietnamese-language translation of the sales and purchase contracts.

The necessary documents include:
1. Customs declaration application / Registration for inspection form
2. Copy of the trade contract or letter of credit (L/C)
3. Bill of Lading
4. Invoice
5. Packing List (see note below)
6. Certificate of Origin (See note below).
7. Documents certifying the safety and quality of the foods (Export Certificates)
8. Certificate of free sales (* NEW - see more details in the below note)

(*) Special note on the new requirement of Certificate of Free Sales (CFS) on selected agricultural products:
According to MARD’s Circular 63/2010/TT-BNN on Certificate of Free Sales dated November 1, 2010, 45 days from the date of signing this circular, a CFS is required for selected agricultural and food products including wood and GM-food products, irradiated food products, and food products manufactured under special (advanced or novel) technology. A CFS must be made in English and contain the following details:
• Name of the CFS issuing agency (the issuer)
• Its reference number
• Date of issuance
• Name of the certified product
• Type or group of the certified product
• Name and Address of the manufacturer of the product
• Statement that the product is manufactured and freely sold on the country of manufacture
• Full name, title and signature of the CFS issuing person and seal of the CFS issuer.
Note: Additional documents may be required, based on the nature of the shipment. If there is any doubt, please check with your local business partners, our FAS offices and also MOH before finalizing the sales terms.
(12) Labeling
On August 30, 2006, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung signed Decree 89/2006/ND-CP on goods labeling. This replaces Prime Minister Decision 178/1999/QDTTg of August 30, 1999 that promulgated the Regulation on labeling of domestically circulated and exported and imported goods, and Decision 95/2000/QD-TTg of August 15, 2000 that provided adjustments and supplements to it. The new decree would normally have been effective in March 2007, six months after publication in the Official Gazette, but due to a delay in issuing the implementing guidelines, it came into effect in September 2007. (See VM7037 for details). This ordinance applies to all types of circulated goods including imports and exports. Labeling is exempted for raw and fresh foodstuffs, unpacked processed foodstuffs which are for sale directly to consumers.

The Circular 89 then was guided in detail by the Inter-Ministerial Circular 34/2014/TTLT-BYT- BNNPTNT-BCT which entered into force on December 19, 2014. According to the Circular 34, the Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Industry and Trade assign the following agencies: the Vietnam Food Administration (VFA), the National Agro-Forestry and Fishery Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD), and the Science and Technology Department (STD), respectively, to implement, as well as, to monitor the Circular’s implementation. Below is the contact information of these agencies:

Vietnam Food Administration (VFA)
Ministry of Health (MOH)
135 Nui Truc Street, Ba Dinh District Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: [phone]
Fax [phone]
Email: [e-mail] Website: www.vfa.gov.vn

National Agro-Forestry and Fishery Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD)
Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development (MARD) 10 Nguyen Cong Hoan Street, Ba Dinh District
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail] Website: www.nafiqad.gov.vn

Science and Technology Department (STD)
Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) 54 Hai Ba Trung Street,
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail] Website: www.moit.gov.vn
For further information about the Circular 34, please refer the GAIN report VM5005. Exporters of fresh and frozen meat and poultry should also access the FSIS website:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/international-affairs/exporting-products/export-library-requirements-by-country/Vietnam , where more specific requirements for labeling of meat and poultry products can be obtained.

Results (Vietnamese) 1:

(9) vị trí của thanh traĐiểm nhập cảnh kiểm tra bởi STAs và hải quan kiểm tra có thể diễn ra ở một cảng biển, cảng sông, Sân bay hoặc thậm chí một nhà kho công cộng hoặc kho hàng của nhà nhập khẩu — nếu nó được chứng nhận và được chấp thuận bởi STAs và hải quan. Nếu công ty nhập khẩu nào muốn có hàng hóa được kiểm tra trong nhà kho của nó, công ty phải gửi một yêu cầu chính quyền Hải quan và STAs phê duyệt.Cho hàng nhập khẩu của thịt và sản phẩm từ sữa, địa điểm kiểm tra phải tại điểm đến điểm nhập cảnh (cảng biển, cảng sông, và sân bay) hoặc tại STA/Hải quan-chứng nhận nhà kho. Kiểm tra điểm nhập cảnh tại kho hàng của nhà nhập khẩu không còn được chấp nhận.(10) nhập khẩu nhiệm vụ & học phíTổng chi phí của nhiệm vụ nhập khẩu và lệ phí kiểm tra thu được tính bằng Tổng cục Hải quan và STA. Việt Nam hiện đang làm việc để thực hiện GATT điều 7 và do đó thường sử dụng giá trị giao dịch cho nhập khẩu nhiệm vụ tính toán với chỉ một vài trường hợp ngoại lệ.On January 21, 2015, Vietnam’s Government issued Decree 8/2015/ND-CP to supersede the Decree 40/2007/ND-CP issued on March 16, 2007, on “regulation on the calculation of customs value for imported/exported goods.” The new Decree took effect on March 15, 2015. As stated in Article 20 of the Decree, the customs value for the calculation of import taxes is the total cost that the importer has to actually pay for the shipment at the first entry point of destination, with reference to Common Trade and Customs Convention and/or any other International Commitment that Vietnam has signed. The first entry point of destination (FEPD) is defined as follows:a) By ship or airplane, the FEPD is the unload port or the airport stated in the Invoiceb) By train, the FEPD is the international station at the border gatec) By land and waterway transports, the FEPD is the border gate where the goods firstly come to Vietnam.Inspection fees are calculated based on the total retail value of the cargo inspected. The fee for food quality inspection is 0.1% of the retail value of the goods, but the total amount cannot be less than Vietnamese Dong (VND) 300,000 which is approximately $14.50.Hải quan đã phát triển một thủ tục cụ thể mà họ tin rằng trận gian lận. Mỗi năm nó vấn đề cơ sở dữ liệu giá trị nhập khẩu, dựa trên một cơ sở dữ liệu của giá nhập khẩu thông thường và lịch sử nó duy trì. Nếu các doanh nghiệp khai báo giá thấp hơn giá tham chiếu, Hải quan tư vấn với các công ty. Sau khi tham khảo ý kiến, nếu một dấu hiệu của gian lận thương mại được tìm thấy, Hồ sơ vụ án được chuyển tiếp để tiếp tục điều tra theo quy định. Trong vòng 15 ngày kể từ ngày nộp đơn xin khai thuê hải quan của vụ án, văn phòng Hải quan phải thông báo cho các nhà nhập khẩu của giá trị được xác định hải quan cho thuế nhập khẩu. Đó là một quá trình kháng cáo tại chỗ.Các thủ tục này đã rút ra khiếu nại từ nhà nhập khẩu của sản phẩm nông nghiệp Hoa Kỳ, đặc biệt đối với cắt giảm thịt và sản phẩm thực phẩm giá trị cao. Nhà nhập khẩu phàn nàn rằng cơ sở dữ liệu giá thường dựa trên các thể loại nói chung trước nhập khẩu (tức là 4 chữ số mã số) mà không có tham chiếu đến các đặc điểm kỹ thuật sản phẩm hoặc sự khác biệt và đáng kể không chính xác. Các quan chức hải quan được miễn cưỡng đi lạc từ định giá giá tham chiếu ngay cả khi hoá đơn đã được chứng minh rõ ràng hợp lệ. Sau khi rất nhiều khiếu nại từ kinh doanh đối tác, quá trình dường như cải thiện, đặc biệt là cho lâu dài nhằm nhà nhập khẩu.(11) trọn gói tài liệuKhi nhập khẩu, tất cả tài liệu cần thiết phải được đưa vào trong một hồ sơ và trình bày một bản dịch tiếng Việt ngôn ngữ bán hàng và mua hợp đồng.The necessary documents include:1. Customs declaration application / Registration for inspection form2. Copy of the trade contract or letter of credit (L/C)3. Bill of Lading4. Invoice5. Packing List (see note below)6. Certificate of Origin (See note below).7. Documents certifying the safety and quality of the foods (Export Certificates)8. Certificate of free sales (* NEW - see more details in the below note)(*) Special note on the new requirement of Certificate of Free Sales (CFS) on selected agricultural products:According to MARD’s Circular 63/2010/TT-BNN on Certificate of Free Sales dated November 1, 2010, 45 days from the date of signing this circular, a CFS is required for selected agricultural and food products including wood and GM-food products, irradiated food products, and food products manufactured under special (advanced or novel) technology. A CFS must be made in English and contain the following details:• Name of the CFS issuing agency (the issuer)• Its reference number• Date of issuance• Name of the certified product• Type or group of the certified product• Name and Address of the manufacturer of the product• Statement that the product is manufactured and freely sold on the country of manufacture• Full name, title and signature of the CFS issuing person and seal of the CFS issuer.Note: Additional documents may be required, based on the nature of the shipment. If there is any doubt, please check with your local business partners, our FAS offices and also MOH before finalizing the sales terms.(12) LabelingOn August 30, 2006, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung signed Decree 89/2006/ND-CP on goods labeling. This replaces Prime Minister Decision 178/1999/QDTTg of August 30, 1999 that promulgated the Regulation on labeling of domestically circulated and exported and imported goods, and Decision 95/2000/QD-TTg of August 15, 2000 that provided adjustments and supplements to it. The new decree would normally have been effective in March 2007, six months after publication in the Official Gazette, but due to a delay in issuing the implementing guidelines, it came into effect in September 2007. (See VM7037 for details). This ordinance applies to all types of circulated goods including imports and exports. Labeling is exempted for raw and fresh foodstuffs, unpacked processed foodstuffs which are for sale directly to consumers.The Circular 89 then was guided in detail by the Inter-Ministerial Circular 34/2014/TTLT-BYT- BNNPTNT-BCT which entered into force on December 19, 2014. According to the Circular 34, the Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Industry and Trade assign the following agencies: the Vietnam Food Administration (VFA), the National Agro-Forestry and Fishery Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD), and the Science and Technology Department (STD), respectively, to implement, as well as, to monitor the Circular’s implementation. Below is the contact information of these agencies:Vietnam Food Administration (VFA)Ministry of Health (MOH)135 Nui Truc Street, Ba Dinh District Hanoi, VietnamTel: (84-4) 38464489/ 38463702Fax [phone]Email: [e-mail] Website: www.vfa.gov.vnNational Agro-Forestry and Fishery Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD)Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development (MARD) 10 Nguyen Cong Hoan Street, Ba Dinh DistrictHanoi, VietnamTel: (84-4) 38310983Fax: [phone]Email: [e-mail] Website: www.nafiqad.gov.vnScience and Technology Department (STD)Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) 54 Hai Ba Trung Street,Hanoi, VietnamTel: (84-4) 22 202 222Fax: [phone]Email: [e-mail] Website: www.moit.gov.vnFor further information about the Circular 34, please refer the GAIN report VM5005. Exporters of fresh and frozen meat and poultry should also access the FSIS website:http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/international-affairs/exporting-products/export-library-requirements-by-country/Vietnam , where more specific requirements for labeling of meat and poultry products can be obtained.