Eurocham Advocacy Action

Meetings With Government and Stakeholders 

On 24-26 October 2016, on behalf of EuroCham, Mr. George Berczely, Chairman of EuroCham Transportation and Logistics Sector Committee and Government Affair Officer, Ms. Nguyen Lan Nhi attended  a workshop organised by the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (GATF) in Hanoi. Participants were engaged in a roundtable discussion on practical implementation of the new WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) ratified by Vietnam on 15th December, 2015. Representatives of EuroCham expressed its willingness to support General Department of Customs to organise trainings workshop to share European experiences on risk managements and enhancing custom expertise of local custom officials, and to support GDC and Ministry of Finance in the customs revolution and modernization to facilitate trade across border. 

On 28 October, EuroCham Board members met Hanoi People’s Committee: EuroCham Board members met Ha Noi People’s Committee and provided comments on how to increase Ha Noi competitiveness, touching the topics of FDI, PPT and other EU projects.

Legal and Regulatory Updates

Circular 23/2016/TT-BCT on abolishing the regulation on content limits and testing procedure for formaldehyde and banned cleavage aromatic amines from azo dyes in textile products:

On 12th, October, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Tran Tuan Anh has issued Circular 23/2016/TT-BCT on abolishing the regulation on content limits and testing procedure for formaldehyde and banned cleavage aromatic amines from azo dyes in textile products which requires a Formaldehyde Certificate (as regulated under Circular 37/2015/TT-BTC issued 30th October 2015).  The MOIT, in its position sent to the Government, confirmed that only a negligible proportion of total shipments failed to meet permitted levels. Besides, no case of health damage caused by high formaldehyde levels has been established to justify the regulation. The requirement under Circular 37 has cost firms hundreds of billions of dong, due to the troublesome checks and long customs clearance time. Circular 37 is also seen as lacking a legal basis and does not comply with the product quality law.

EuroCham is very content to hear positive steps and support from MOIT. The Transport & Logistics Sector Committee has also drafted a letter to MOIT and other authorities to follow up on other issues related to simplification of import/export procedures.