1. Vietnam Standard Industrial Classification applied from August 20, 2018
The Prime Minister promulgates the Circular No. 27/2018/QD-TTg on Vietnam Standard Industrial Classification (VSIC), which is structured into the following 05 levels:
- Level 1 sector is divided into 21 industries hierarchically designated by alphabetical letters from A to U;
- Level 2 sector is divided into 88 industries, each of which is assigned a two-digit code according to the corresponding level 1 industry sector;
- Level 3 sector is divided into 242 industries, each of which is assigned a three-digit code according to the corresponding level 2 industry sector;
- Level 4 sector is divided into 486 industries (increasing by 49 industries), each of which is assigned a four-digit code according to the corresponding level 3 industry sector;
- Level 5 sector is divided into 734 industries (increasing by 92 industries), each of which is assigned a five-digit code according to the corresponding level 4 industry sector.
The Decision No. 27/2018/QD-TTg comes into force from August 20, 2018.
2. Criteria for use of Green Channel for completing procedures for issuing preferential C/O
This content is specified in the Circular No. 15/2018/TT-BCT (effective from August 15, 2018) on use of Green Channel for completing procedures for issuing preferential certificate of origin (C/O).
According to the Circular, a trader who wishes to use Green Channel to complete procedures for issuing preferential C/O shall:
- be recognized as a prestigious exporter by the Ministry of Industry; or
- be recognized as an authorized economic operator; or
- satisfy the following requirements:
+ The trader has not violated any regulations on origin in the last 02 years before applying for the use of Green Channel;
+ The trader shall have a document archiving system (both physical and electronic documents) with a view to proving the authenticity of C/O and origin of goods within the archiving time limit prescribed in the Decree No. 31/2018/ND-CP.
+ The trader shall complete procedures for declaring electronic C/O through the electronic certificate of origin management system (www.ecosys.gov.vn) and submit at least 30 applications for issuance of preferential C/O per year.
3. Ship-owners required to report their ship fuel oil consumption data from 2019
The Circular No. 40/2018/TT-BGTVT on data collection and reporting on fuel oil consumption of Vietnamese-flagged ships comes into force from August 15, 2018.
According to the Circular, from 2019, ship-owners are required to collect and submit reports on ship fuel oil consumption data in the calendar year via the Vietnam Register’s web portal (www.vr.org.vn) by February 28 of the following year.
To be specific:
- With regard to any engine-propelled ships of at least 5,000 GT, engaged in international voyages: Reports are made using the Form No. 02 in the Appendix 2 enclosed this Circular;
- With regard to other ships: Reports are made using the Form No. 02 in the Appendix 2 enclosed with this Circular, excluding information concerning distance travelled, energy efficiency design index and ice class.
In case of change in ship-owner or completion of procedures for registration for a ship sailing under a foreign flag, the existing ship-owner is also required to collect and submit report on the ship fuel oil consumption data.
4. Extending effective period of certificate of representative rural industrial product
The Circular No. 14/2018/TT-BCT amending the Circular No. 26/2014/TT-BCT on selection of representative rural industrial products comes into force from August 16, 2018.
According to the Circular, a certificate of representative rural industrial product is valid from the issuance date to the end of December 31 of the fourth year from the year in which the certificate is issued.
Accordingly, the effective period is extended by 01 year.
Within the effective period, rural industrial facilities are entitled to multiple benefits; for example, they are given priority in applying for subsidies from the national and local industrial encouragement funding for provision of vocational training, improvement of management capacity, etc.
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