Vietnam Planning Reform of Customs Inspections

Vietnam is planning to reform its inspection procedures for certain imports and exports in what will be a “key project” in the first months of 2020, according to a Jan. 14 report from Customs News, the mouthpiece for Vietnam Customs. The effort aims to “strongly reform customs procedures in digitization … in accordance with international standards,” the report said. The agency hopes to “substantively” improve the quality of its inspections while reducing costs assessed to traders. Vietnam’s current customs inspection process “faces shortcomings that raise administrative procedures, costs and time for traders,” the report said, and Vietnam hopes the effort helps “clarify” the responsibilities of “state agencies and organizations” in charge of customs inspections.