22 November 2023

The Ministry of Industry and Trade promulgates Circular No. 21/2023/TT-BCT stipulating the temporary suspension of trading in the temporary import and re-export of logs and lumber from natural forests from Laos and Cambodia.

According to the Import-Export Department - Ministry of Industry and Trade, on November 15, 2018, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Circular No. 44/2018/TT-BCT stipulating the temporary suspension of trading in the temporary import and re-export of logs and lumber from natural forests from Laos and Cambodia.

According to the provisions of Clause 1, Article 4, Circular No. 44/2018/TT-BCT is effective until December 31, 2023. After 4 years of implementation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has conducted a review and evaluation of the implementation of this Circular.

Based on the results of summarizing and evaluating the implementation of Circular No. 44/2018/TT-BCT dated November 15, 11 of the Minister of Industry and Trade, to avoid legal loopholes when Circular No. 44/2018/TT-BCT dated November 15, 11 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade expires; Continue to maintain policies to limit illegal logging, transportation and trade of timber across borders, control the situation of traders taking advantage of regulations on temporary import for re-export of logs and lumber to commit commercial frauds; Continue to implement mechanisms, policies and measures to improve the efficiency of forest management and forest product management in accordance with international regulations Vietnam has acceded to such as: Voluntary partnership agreement between Vietnam and EU countries on forest law implementation, forest governance and trade in forest products (VPA/PLET), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Plants and Wild Fauna (Cites)...; To strengthen measures to protect the environment, combat climate change, etc., in line with the guidelines of the Party and the State, on November 14, 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Circular No. 21/2023/TT-BCT stipulating the temporary suspension of trading in the temporary import and re-export of logs and lumber from natural forests from Laos and Cambodia.

According to the provisions of Circular No. 21/2023/TT-BCT above, from January 1, 2024, temporarily suspend business activities temporarily imported from Laos and Cambodia for re-export to third countries for logs and lumber from natural forests of HS 44.03 and 44.07 according to the List of exported goods, Vietnam imports issued together with Circular No. 31/2022/TT-BTC dated June 08, 2022 of the Minister of Finance.

This Circular applies to traders engaged in temporary import and re-export of logs and lumber from natural forests from Laos and Cambodia; agencies, organizations and individuals involved in the temporary import and re-export of logs and lumber from natural forests from Laos and Cambodia.

Circular No. 21/2023/TT-BCT takes effect from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2027.

Source: congthuong.vn