Information shared on National Single Window should be covered by focal point

The Customs works with nine ministries and government agencies on the draft list of information connected and exchanged via National Single Window. Illustrative photo: H.D

VCCI said that the Ministry of Finance continues to consult ministries and government agencies about the draft decree on information connection and exchange in import and export and transit of goods and means of transport under the National Single Window. Therefore, VCCI has written comments in April, and was specifically explained by the Drafting Board. VCCI said that this shows transparency and the inquiring spirit of the Drafting Board.

In order to further improve the Draft, VCCI continues give some comments.

Regarding information shared by VCCI via the National Single Window, the draft regulates that VCCI is one of the units that provide and exchange information via the National Single Window. The draft appendix states that the VCCI must provide information related to the list of businesses, and goods applying for C/O in Vietnam for export to other countries and list of enterprises whose C/O has been revoked.

However, VCCI proposes to remove the regulation due to the overlap in the information exchange. According to VCCI, VCCI is in charge of providing and exchanging information to the Ministry of Industry and Trade under provisions of the Draft Appendix, and must transfer data to the ministry, the management agency on the issuance of C/O. The draft also stipulates that the Ministry of Industry and Trade is also in charge of providing and exchanging information managed by the ministry via the National Single Window, including information similar to the information provided and shared by VCCI.

On the other hand, the Draft and the appendix do not clearly stipulate that the Ministry of Industry and Trade will provide information related to C/O issued by the ministry or all information related to the issuance of C/O, including information issued by authorized organizations.

Therefore, VCCI thinks that these problems will lead to the same information provided by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and VCCI via the National Single Window, causing a waste of resources.

VCCI said that the provision of information by the governing body will ensure the completeness of the information. Because according to the provisions of Decree 31/2018/ND-CP of the Government detailing the Law on Foreign Trade Management on the origin of goods, the Ministry of Industry and Trade can directly issue C/O or authorize other organizations for the issuance.

Currently, besides VCCI, some other units and organizations are authorized to issue C/O. The authorized organizations must also be responsible for connecting and sharing data on the issuance of C/O to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is the agency that has full data on information related to the issuance of C/O. The main purpose of the regulation on connection and sharing of information about the issuance of C/O is to provide all information related to this activity. Therefore, the dissemination of information by the management agency will meet the consistency and completeness of the information.

VCCI said that the Ministry of Industry and Trade is responsible for managing information about the issuance of C/O, and VCCI will be responsible for transferring data and information to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for management. The sharing of information via the National Single Window Portal should be covered by the governing body, which will remove these obstacles.

VCCI also proposed and supplemented the content in the appendix on the list of information of the Ministry of Industry and Trade in a more specific direction, including information on shipments/enterprises granted C/O in Vietnam for exports to other countries (including C/O issued by authorized agencies), information of the shipment/enterprise whose C/O has been revoked.

Regarding the information provided by the organization via the National Single Window Portal, VCCI said that there is a lot of information that can be provided by state management agencies. For example, information from insurers and branches of foreign non-life insurers, associations or customs brokers, etc, can be given from the data system of the licensing agencies; and the formation of import-export enterprises can be provided by the Customs.

Moreover, VCCI also suggested that there needs a careful impact assessment on the requirement of many organizations and businesses on sharing and connecting information data on the National Single Window Portal, to ensure feasibility and avoid increasing costs for businesses.