To eliminate many documents in customs sets to cut administrative procedures, reduce time and costs for businesses, under the direction of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, customs authorities admitted that reducing customs papers is a heavy workload. However, apart from the most common papers for import, specified papers should be categorised: Certified by competent authorities. This is also the issue that local and central customs units discussed at a meeting that reviewed a draft circular on customs procedures, customs inspection, export duty, import duty, and tax management.
Most attendants stressed that the introduction of criteria of papers to be submitted aimed to standardise: What case will need enterprises to show documents and what case will not need. Besides, some local authorities suggested adding papers of recommendation to customs document set for easier management. An official from the Hai Phong Customs Department said representatives of company must have letters of recommendation when they go to settle customs formalities. This will help prevent identity mistakes.
Representatives from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City Customs Departments agreed that the letter of recommendation is used to determine the legality of persons in charge of working with customs offices. Without this paper, it is very difficult to identify the legality of such persons. Moreover, this document also helps settle any disputes. An official from Dong Nai Customs Department the letter of recommendation is necessary because customs officers must know who they are working with.
However, according to a representative from Binh Duong Customs Department, the letter of recommendation is not a proof of commodity but a proof of administration. Hence, it should not be inserted into the customs dossier. Furthermore, a letter of recommendation may be used many times; thus, it should not be a required document in the customs document set. An official from the General Department of Vietnam Customs said the requirement for the letter of recommendation of persons representing enterprises at customs offices is reasonable because it is the proof to the roles and functions of the persons in charge of companies to work with customs agencies. Nevertheless, if the letter of recommendation is not included into the customs document set, it will lack legal basis in case of dispute. Perhaps, enterprises should register persons in charge of them to work with customs agencies. Au Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of Customs Management Supervision Division, suggested that when companies register declaration papers, they should also register the names of persons in charge of them to do customs procedures. But, this will become more complicated when companies replace their representatives.
In fact, the letter of recommendation helps settle disputes. But, if companies register their persons in charge of their customs procedures, they should file for national scale registration because they will not have to issue many letter of recommendations or insert the letter to the customs document set.
Source: VCCI