23 April 2025

On the afternoon of April 22, the Ministry of Industry and Trade held a conference to announce and implement Decision No. 1103/QĐ-BCT, issued on April 21, 2025, by the Minister of Industry and Trade.

The conference was held in a hybrid format, combining both in-person and online participation. Attending the event were Mr. Nguyễn Anh Sơn – Director General of the Import-Export Department; Deputy Directors Mr. Trần Thanh Hải and Ms. Trịnh Thị Thu Hiền; officials from the Rules of Origin Division of the Import-Export Department; and representatives from local Export-Import Management Offices across the country.

The conference disseminated and implemend Decision No. 1103/QĐ-BCT dated April 21, 2025, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade.

From May 5, VCCI's Authority to Issue Non-Preferential C/Os, CNMs, and Register REX Codes Will Be Revoked

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Nguyễn Anh Sơn, Director General of the Import-Export Department, emphasized that in accordance with the implementation of the Law on Government Organization 2025 and the Law on Local Government Organization 2025, on April 21, 2025, the Minister of Industry and Trade signed Decision No. 1103/QĐ-BCT. This decision revokes the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (VCCI) authority to issue Certificates of Origin (C/Os), Certificates of Non-Manipulation (CNMs), and to process REX code registrations under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) from Norway and Switzerland.

Earlier, on April 15, 2025, the Minister issued Directive No. 09/CT-BCT to strengthen state management over the inspection and verification of goods origin in the new context. Under this directive, the Import-Export Department is assigned to take over the responsibility for issuing non-preferential C/Os, CNMs, and registering REX codes through its regional Export-Import Management Offices after revoking these tasks from VCCI.

Today, April 22, 2025, with the approval of the Ministry’s leadership, the Import-Export Department—in coordination with the E-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency, the Trade Remedies Authority, the Ministry’s Office, the Legal Department, Industry and Trade Newspaper, and Industry and Trade Magazine—organized a conference to disseminate and implement Decision No. 1103/QĐ-BCT. The event was held in both online and in-person formats, with the participation of officials and staff from 18 regional Export-Import Management Offices across the country.

Mr. Nguyễn Anh Sơn, Director General of the Import-Export Department, Delivers Opening Remarks at the Conference

According to Decision No. 1103/QĐ-BCT, starting May 5, 2025, in addition to issuing 18 types of preferential Certificates of Origin (C/Os) under Free Trade Agreements, the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s C/O issuing authorities will begin issuing 10 types of non-preferential C/Os (including Form B C/Os, Certificates of Non-Manipulation, etc.) and accept registrations for self-certification codes under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) granted by Norway and Switzerland.

As such, today’s conference will focus on discussing the implementation process for issuing non-preferential C/Os, CNMs, and accepting registrations for origin self-certification codes under the Norwegian and Swiss GSP schemes, which will be officially enforced from May 5, 2025.

Strengthening State Management of Goods Origin in the New Context

Mr. Nguyễn Anh Sơn also emphasized that through this conference, the Import-Export Department calls on all C/O-issuing offices to diligently and responsibly implement the regulations on issuance, inspection, and verification of C/Os in accordance with Decree No. 31/2018/NĐ-CP and other guiding documents issued by the Minister, including:

Directive No. 06/CT-BCT dated June 11, 2024, on strengthening state management of origin for exported goods; Notice No. 394/TB-BCT, conveying Minister Nguyễn Hồng Diên’s guidance on enhancing origin management; Directive No. 09/CT-BCT dated April 15, 2025, on intensifying inspection and supervision of goods origin in the current situation.

He stressed that in the context of an increasingly complex and unpredictable international trade landscape, C/O-issuing offices must be ready to take on their responsibilities and step up efforts to combat origin fraud, particularly by enhancing the effectiveness of C/O issuance and inspection, especially in cases where enterprises show a sudden surge in application volumes.

Proactive Monitoring and On-Site Verification, Mr. Sơn urged the offices to proactively monitor the C/O issuance process, report timely, and actively raise questions or propose solutions upon detecting any procedural violations or signs of origin fraud. Furthermore, he called for strengthened implementation of on-site verification at manufacturing facilities (both pre- and post-C/O issuance) as stipulated in Circular No. 39/2018/TT-BCT.

“I hope that following today’s conference, the C/O-issuing offices will enhance their professional expertise in origin regulations related to non-preferential C/Os, CNMs, and self-certification codes under the Norwegian and Swiss GSP schemes. At the same time, I urge all offices to improve management practices, carefully evaluate enterprise applications, and remain vigilant in order to fulfill their assigned tasks in this evolving context,” Mr. Nguyễn Anh Sơn emphasized.

18 Regional Export-Import Management Offices Assigned to Issue C/Os, CNMs, and REX Codes

At the conference, the Import-Export Department focused on disseminating key tasks related to the implementation of non-preferential C/O issuance, Certificates of Non-Manipulation (CNMs), and REX code registrations, including the following:

First, introduction of rules of origin for non-preferential C/O forms, based on the requirements of importing countries, and guidance on REX code registration;

Second, presentation of the key points of Decision No. 1103/QĐ-BCT;

Third, overview of coordination and handover procedures between the regional Export-Import Management Offices and the C/O-issuing units previously under VCCI;

Fourth, guidance on application components, file assessment procedures, and relevant considerations in the issuance of C/Os and registration of REX codes;

Fifth, training on electronic C/O procedures, including e-C/O issuance workflows, fee collection, and electronic data handling.

To enhance professional exchange and ensure smooth and uninterrupted issuance of non-preferential C/Os, CNMs, and REX codes—thereby facilitating business operations—the Import-Export Department will organize a follow-up conference from April 25 to 26, 2025. This session will assess Q1/2025 C/O issuance performance and provide focused training and dissemination on relevant procedures.

In the context of rapidly evolving and unpredictable global trade, proactive adaptation is essential. With the goal of promoting balanced and sustainable trade, safeguarding Vietnam’s interests while upholding its international commitments on rules of origin, effective origin management has become a critical task. It plays a key role in export-import activities and is essential to enhancing the global competitiveness of Vietnamese enterprises.

Source: Bao Cong Thuong