In an official dispatch dated February 3, the Prime Minister called for swift action to address difficulties arising from the Government’s Decree No. 46, which provides detailed guidance for implementing the Law on Food Safety.

The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade were instructed to promptly issue implementing guidelines within their respective mandates and ensure sufficient facilities, manpower and equipment are in place to avoid disruptions to import and export activities.

The designated ministries were also ordered to establish 24/7 hotlines and publicise the contact details to provide timely guidance and handle problems related to the new regulations.

The Ministry of Finance was tasked with directing the Department of Customs to deploy officers to work around the clock at border gates, coordinate closely with relevant agencies and ensure the smooth operation of the electronic customs clearance system.

Local administrations were told to immediately assign competent agencies to conduct state inspections of food safety and designate qualified testing laboratories in line with the decree.

Provincial and municipal authorities were authorised to apply necessary support measures to help enterprises complete inspection and testing procedures for stalled shipments, with the aim of ensuring the fastest possible clearance.

At border gates, competent forces must coordinate closely, operate around the clock and prioritise separate areas for fresh agricultural products and essential food items, says the dispatch.

The Prime Minister also directed that shipments with complete dossiers in line with commitments be cleared immediately, while sample testing can be carried out in parallel or through post-clearance inspection at enterprise warehouses.

China’s Youyi Guan border gate accelerates customs clearance ahead of Tet

In the run-up to the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, customs clearance at China’s Youyi Guan border gate in Guangxi province, adjacent to Vietnam’s Huu Nghi international border gate in Lang Son province, has sped up as cross-border traffic surges.