CIRCULAR

PROVIDING CERTIFICATES OF FREE SALE FOR EXPORTS AND IMPORTS UNDER THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT'S MANAGEMENT

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 01/ 2008/ND-CP of January 3, 2008, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development: and the Government's Decree No. 75/2009/ND-CP of September .10. 2009, amending Article 3 of the Government's Decree No. 01/200S/ND-CP of January 3, 2008;
Pursuant to the November 21, 2007 Law on Product and Goods Quality;
Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 132/2008/ND-CP of December 31. 2008, detailing a number of articles of the Law un Product and Goods Quality;
Pursuant to the June 29, 2006 Law on Standards and Technical Regulations;
Pursuant to the Government's Decree. No. 127/2007/ND-CP of August 1, 2007, detailing a number of articles of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations;
Pursuant to the Prime Minister's Decision No. 10/2010/QD-TTg of February 10, 2010, providing certificates of five sale for exports and imports;
The. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development provides certificates of free sale for exports and. imports under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's management as follows:

Chapter 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Circular provides the grant of certificates of free sale (CFS) for products and goods domestically made for export and the management of CFS for products and goods imported for sale in Vietnam, which are managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Article 2. Subjects of application

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Article 3. Competence to manage CFS of imports and grant CFS of exports

1. The competence to manage CFS of imports and grant CFS of exports is specified in Appendix I to this Circular.

2. Competent agencies specified in Clause 1 of this Article shall clearly announce places for registering trader dossiers; granting CFS of exports and inspecting CFS of imports.

Chapter II

GRANT OF CERTIFICATES OF FREE SALE FOR EXPORTS

Article 4. Conditions for products and goods to obtain CFS

Products and goods domestically made for export may be granted CFS when satisfying the following conditions:

1. Such grant is requested by exporters.

2. Their standard or regulation conformity announcement is certified under current law.

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Article 5. Registration of CFS grant

1. Registration order:

a/ Trader dossiers are registered at an agency competent to grant CFS under Article 9 of the Prime Minister's Decision No. 10/2010/QD-TTg of February 10, 2010.

b/ Traders submit CFS application dossiers to an agency competent to grant CFS.

2. A CFS application dossier comprises:

a/ An application for a CFS which is made completely and properly (according to the form provided in Appendix II a to this Circular, not printed herein).

b/ A certified true copy of the lawful written certification of the standard or regulation conformity announcement.

c/ Written request of a competent agency of the importing country (if any).

3. Dossier submission:

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Article 6. Dossier verification and CFS grant

1. For an incomplete or invalid dossier:

a/ For a dossier sent by post: Within 2 working days after receiving the CFS application dossier, an agency competent to grant CFS shall notify in writing the CFS applicant of the dossier's contents to be modified, supplemented and completed.

b/ For a dossier submitted directly: The civil servant receiving the dossier shall examine the dossier's validity. When it is incomplete or invalid, he/she shall return the dossier and guide the applicant in supplementing and completing the dossier.

2. For a complete and valid dossier under Article 5 of this Circular:

a/ The civil servant receiving the dossier shall produce a dossier receipt slip (if the dossier is submitted directly).

b/ Within 5 working days after receiving a CFS application dossier, an agency competent to grant CFS shall grant a CFS (made according to the form provided in Appendix III to this Circular, not printed herein, or as required by the importing country)- A CFS is valid for 2 years at most from the date of its grant.

3. When a product or goods fails to meet the conditions to obtain a CFS under Article 4 of this Circular, an agency competent to giant CFS shall make a written notice to the CFS applicant clearly stating the reason.

4. When finding that examination of the dossier does not provide sufficient grounds for granting a CFS or when detecting violations of previously granted CFS. an agency competent to grant CFS may conduct examination at the place of manufacture or designate a capable conformity assessment institution to conduct examination. Examination expenses shall be paid by the CFS applicant.

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1. Conditions for CFS re-grant:

A CFS is re-granted when:

a/ The original CFS remains valid but is lost or missing;

b/ The original CFS remains valid but is damaged and no longer usable:

c/ The CFS is detected to contain errors made by the CFS applicant or the agency competent to grant CFS.

In the cases defined at Points b and c of this Clause, the original CFS must be recalled when a new CFS is granted.

2. Re-grant procedures:

a/ An applicant submits an application for re-grant of a CFS (made according to the form provided in Appendix II, b to this Circular, not printed herein) to an agency competent to grant CFS.

b/ The agency competent to grant CFS notifies the trader of the re-grant of a CFS when detecting a CFS's errors due to its fault.

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a/ Within 4 working days after receiving an application for re-grant of a CFS, an agency competent to grant CFS shall consider and compare it, with the original dossier filed at its office and:

- Grant a certified true copy of the CFS, for the cases specified at Points a and b, Clause 1 of this Article. This copy must contain the phrase "certified true copy", date of grant and validity based on the original CFS's validity.

- Grant a new CFS for the case specified at Point c. Clause I of this Article.

b/ In case of refusal, the agency competent to grant CFS shall reply the CFS applicant in writing clearly stating the reason.

Article 8. CFS revocation

1. An agency competent to grant CFS shall revoke a CFS in the following cases:

a/ The cases specified in Clause 1, Article 14 of the Prime Minister's Decision No. 10/2010/ QD-TTg of February 10. 2010.

b/ The CFS is granted to a product or goods which fails to comply with its announced technical regulations.

2. CFS shall be revoked under Clause 2. Article 14 of the Prime Minister's Decision No.l0/2010/QD-TTg of February 10, 2010.

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MANAGEMENT OF CERTIFICATES OF FREE SALE OF IMPORTS

Article 9. Requirements on CFS of imports

1. CFS granted by competent authorities of exporting countries or territories must contain all the information specified in Clause 2, Article 6 of the Prime Minister's Decision No.10/2010/QD-TTg of February 10, 2010, providing certificates of free sale for exports and imports.

2. Upon request of a competent state agency specified in Clause 1. Article 3 of this Circular, a CFS granted by an exporting country or territory must be consularly legalized under law, except cases exempt from consular legalization under treaties to which Vietnam is a contracting party.

Article 10. Imports required to have CFS

1. The list of imports required to have CFS as a basis for competent state agencies to grant import licenses or other certificates undercurrent law is provided in Appendix IV to this Circular.

2. A CFS may be used for one or more than one lot of the same imported product as provided by competent slate agencies specified in Clause 1. Article 3 of this Circular.

Article 11. CFS in spec lion

1. CFS is included in a dossier of application for an import license or another certificate for imports under the current law and serves as a basis for competent agencies to issue regulations on relevant procedures and management.

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3. When suspecting the truthfulness of CFS of imports or finding imports unconformable with their CFS. concerned competent state agencies shall request in writing the CFS granting agency to provide necessary information for clarification.

4. Competent slate agencies may reject untruthful CFS of imports as certified by the CFS granting agency of the exporting country.

Chapter IV

ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

Article 12. Responsibilities of manufacturers, exporters and importers of products and goods

1. To prove exports* or imports' satisfaction of CFS requirements at the request of agencies competent to grant, inspect and manage CFS.

2. To take responsibility before current law for the accuracy and truthfulness of their declarations related to their CFS application.

3. To take responsibility before current law for the accuracy and truthfulness of CFS of imports.

4. To be inspected and examined for their declaration and use of CFS under this Circular and other relevant laws.

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1. To assume the prime responsibility for carrying out. disseminating and guiding procedures to grant CFS for exports and manage CFS of imports under their competence provided in Article 3 of this Circular.

2. To receive and verify dossiers and grant CFS when exports meet the CFS requirements specified in Article 6 of this Circular.

3. To inspect and manage CFS of imports provided in Appendix IV to this Circular.

4. To direct and guide their attached units in professional operations of CFS grant, inspection and management.

5. Annually or upon request, to submit reports on the grant and inspection of CFS of exports and imports under their management to the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department for summarization and reporting to the Ministry,

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 14. Effect

This Circular takes effect 45 days from the date of its signing.

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Any problems arising in the course of implementation should be reported in writing to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for consideration, amendment and supplementation.

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT




Cao Duc Phat

APPENDIX I

COMPETENCE TO MANAGE CFS OF EXPORTS AND IMPORTS
(To the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry's Circular No. 63/2010/TT-BNNPTNT of November 1, 2010)

No.

Group of" products and goods

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I

Varieties and breeds

1

Agricultural crop varieties (except imports)

Department of Crop Production

2

Livestock breeds (including embryos, sperms and breeding livestock)

Department of Livestock Husbandry

3

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Directorate of Fisheries

4

Forest tree varieties originated from seeds, tissue transplantation and cutting raising

Directorate of Forestry

II

Agricultural supplies

1

Fertilizers and materials for production of fertilizers for cultivation

Department of Crop Production

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PE bags for saplings; organic and microorganic fertilizers for forestry

Directorate of Forestry

3

Animal feeds and feed additives

Department of Livestock Husbandry-

4

Media for preparation and preservation of animal sperms and embryos

Department of Livestock Husbandry

5

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Department of Plant Protection

6

Veterinary drugs (including aquatic veterinary drugs)

Department of Animal Health

7

Supplies and chemicals for animal breeding

Department of Livestock Husbandry

8

Additives and chemicals for processing and preserving agricultural, forest and aquatic materials and products and salt

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9

Biological preparations and chemicals for treating and improving the aquaculture environment

Directorate of Fisheries

10

Aquatic feeds, aquatic feed additives

Directorate of Fisheries

III

Products

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Department of Animal Health

2

Products originated from aquatic animal species

National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department

3

Products originated from aquatic species

Department of Processing and Trade for Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Products and Salt Production

4

Products of plant origin

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5

Forest products: timber and non-limber products of lawful origin

Directorate of Forestry

6

Forest, animals and plants

Directorate of Forestry

IV

Fishing gear and devices and equipment for aquaculture

I

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Directorate of Fisheries

2

Devices and equipment for aquaculture

APPENDIX IV

LIST OF IMPORTS REQUIRED TO HAVE CFS UNDER THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT'S MANAGEMENT
(To the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry's Circular No. 63/2010/TT-BNNPTNT of November 1, 2010)

No

Products and goods

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Agricultural supplies:

- Samples of plant protection drugs;

- Plant protection drugs outside or not yet included in the list of those permitted for use in Vietnam, which are used by agricultural production establishments under economic contracts with foreign parties; or used for treating export wood, rattan and bamboo products; or used in entertainment and recreation establishments;

- Plant protection drugs outside or not yet included in the list of those permitted for use in Vietnam, which are imported for re-export or used in subcontract export production under economic contracts with foreign parties.

2

Veterinary drugs (including aquatic veterinary drugs)

3

Fertilizers and materials for fertilizer production

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Animal feeds and feed additives

5

Aquatic feeds and aquatic feed additives

6

Additives and chemicals for processing and preserving agricultural, forest and aquatic materials and products and salt

7

Biological preparations and chemicals for treating and improving the aquaculture environment

II

Agricultural products:

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Non-food agricultural and aquatic products

2

Specimen wild animals and plants

3

Forest products (timber and non-limber products)

4

Agricultural, forestry and aquatic food products which contain genetically modified ingredients or are irradiated or produced with new technologies

Edible salt

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Fishing gear and equipment subject to strict requirements on fishing safety

1

Materials used as fishing gear

2

Fishing nets

3

Other fishing gear