HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Industry and Trade in Hà Nội officially announced yesterday the opening of a single national window for imported chemical declaration.

The single window would help businesses shorten the time needed for the declaration of their imports.

Accordingly, organisations and individuals can declare information on https://vnsw.gov.vn. The information would then be automatically transferred to the ministry’s system.

Nguyễn Văn Thanh, director of the Ministry’s Department of Chemicals, said statistics showed that there were around 70,000 chemical declaration applications a year from some 4,000 companies at the ministry.

Previously, the declaration was implemented both on paper and online. However, the results were still on paper, causing asynchronous procedures and difficulties for firms in remote areas.

In addition, although the ministry reduced the time for implementing the chemical import declaration from seven to five working days, the results, which were sent through letters caused a delay for businesses. This affected the completion of customs clearance for chemicals imports.

Thanh said the imported chemical declaration through a single national window has been under stable operation. It has received a positive response from businesses such as Hoya Glass Việt Nam Company Limited and Nokwon C&I Company.

“It could be said that this is a big improvement for the ministry in administrative procedure reform with an aim to support enterprises,” he added.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Deputy Minister Đỗ Thắng Hải said that rapid industrialisation and modernisation has made the chemical industry develop quickly.

According to Global Chemical Outlook’s data, the value of chemical products worldwide was increased from US$171 billion in 1970 to $4.12 trillion in 2010.

Together with the strong growth of the chemical sector, governments in many countries promulgated laws and regulations to manage dangerous chemicals including chemical declaration.

“Importers could receive their granting for chemical declaration right after declaring through the single window instead of five days before. This has followed the ministry’s determination to untie businesses’ difficulties and facilitate their development,” Hải said.

He added that this could benefit businesses in the sector while realising the target of simplifying administrative procedures and contributing to the development of the e-government in Việt Nam. — VNS