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Implementation of the National Single Window in Agriculture: Recognition at Langson border

Director of Animal Health Department of Lang Son (Department of Animal Health) Chu Nguyen Thach said, implementing NSW, Sub-Department implements 2 procedures: issuance of quarantine certificates for export animal products (December 2016); issuance of quarantine certificates for imported animal products (October 2017).

The rate of import procedures conducted through NSW has changed dramatically from 1.96% in the (first 3 months) (October to December 2017) to 95.65% in the first 10 months of 2018. However, the proportion of export licenses has not been improved much. Specifically, the number of NSW application files in 2017 is 7.44% and in the first 10 months of 2018 was 24.13% ...

"The ratio of export records conducted through NSW is low because there are shipments in which there are lots of export goods’ declarations belonging to border residents, so the operation through electronic systems meets difficulties because they haven’t got a digital signature, have not registered for tax code to carry out transactions ... "- Branch Director Chu Nguyen Thach shared.

For difficulties and obstacles, Mr. Chu Nguyen Thach said that his unit manages 12 international, national border gates and auxiliary border gates (Dong Dang station, Huu Nghi, Tan Thanh, Chi Ma, Na Nua, Binh Nghi, Na Hinh, Bao Lam, Co Sau, Co Sa, Ban Chan and Quarantine isolation areas along the border of Lang Son province, including many border areas in remote areas, so there is a lack of equipment, weak and unstable internet connection; working skills of some officers and enterprises are limited.

On the other hand, because the electronic licensing system is not connected between other agencies, the enterprises still need the certificate (printed papers with red stamp) to use on the road or submit to the export quarantine office.

At Sub-department of Plant Protection of Region VII (Department of Plant Protection), Head of Department Nguyen Thi Ha said, implementation of expanding to grant "certificates of imported plant quarantine, transit and domestic transport" through NSW, the Sub-Department organized training sessions for involved individuals and organizations (March 2017). From 15/4/2017, sub-departments and 5 sub-plant quarantine stations have carried out the above procedures.

In 2017, there were 69.38% through NSW in 21,211 filings in the Sub-Department. From the beginning of the year to mid-November, there were 17,702 procedures, of which 20.65% were through NSW.

According to the Head of the Plant Quarantine Sub-Department of Region VII, the ratio of export records conducted through NSW was low because the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Circular No.33/2014/TT-BNNPTNT on December 29, 2017, by integrating phytosanitary registration and food safety testing while the NSW software had not yet been upgraded to meet the integration requirements. Therefore, in the process of waiting for the upgraded system, the lots of goods that both need plant quarantine and food safety test shall be directly declared," said Nguyen Thi Ha,Head of Department.

Regarding the procedures for granting certificates of plant quarantine for export or re-export, which have not yet been implemented according to the plan (planned for implementation on January 1, 2018), the representative of the customs office said that the cause related to the cost, and at the same time some technical errors are being developed by the software development unit. Besides, the procedure for issuing the certificate of plant quarantine in transit has not been implemented as planned this year due to financial problems.

According to Ms Nguyen Thi Ha, outside the Lang Son area, her unit also implemented NSW at seven border gate in Cao Bang, but not deployed because there are no goods.

Notably, with regard to the implementation of the ASEAN Single Window, the Plant Quarantine Sub-Department of Region VII organized the training and prepared the conditions to be ready for implementing the ASEAN Single Window when all member States complete the legal statutes for deployment.

For efficiency, the benefits of implementing NSW, both the leaders of the Animal Health Agency of Lang Son and the Department of Plant Quarantine of Region VII said that NSW helps reduce time and expenses for agencies and organizations. It also increases publicity, transparency...

During the fact finding process in Lang Son province, the reporter noted that the transmission line of agricultural units is still used for both the National Portal and other internal IT systems, so the data transmissions still meet many difficulties. "Currently the Customs sector has its own line of communication for NSW, so the data transfer is very convenient, so it is recommended that the agriculture sector also invest in the Plant Protection Department's own transmission line to implement NSW"- Mr. Nguyen Van Hoc- Head of Huu Nghi Plant Quarantine Station (Department of Plant Quarantine Region VII) proposed.

Source: Customs News