AsemconnectVietnam - In the face of complex fluctuations in global trade and the increasing risk of origin fraud, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has just issued Directive No. 09/CT-BCT to tighten management of the issuance and control of origin of exported goods.

The Directive provides a series of measures to strengthen coordination between units inside and outside the Ministry of Industry and Trade to minimize the risk of tax evasion investigations, ensuring the reputation of Vietnamese goods in the international market, especially in the context of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) entering the stage of extensive implementation.
Transforming C/O management in the new context
According to the direction, the Import-Export Department is in charge of proposing amendments and supplements to legal documents related to the issuance of Certificates of Origin (C/O), in accordance with the Law on Organization of the Government and the Law on Organization of Local Governments in 2025.
The Department is also assigned to coordinate the implementation of the system of granting non-preferential C/O, certification of origin based on the self-certification mechanism (REX) and certificates of origin unchanged (CNM) to ensure smooth and uninterrupted trade flows.
In addition, the Import-Export Department advises on issuing documents requesting relevant ministries, branches, industry associations and the community of manufacturing and exporting enterprises to strengthen the management and supervision of input materials. The goal is to ensure that exported goods fully meet the requirements on food hygiene and safety, quality and origin according to the regulations of the import market.
Taking inter-sectoral action to protect Vietnamese goods
The Directive clearly states the requirement for coordination between the Import-Export Department and the Customs Department in inspecting and verifying the origin of imported raw materials for export production. At the same time, a network for sharing information and data between the two sides will be established to improve monitoring efficiency.
The Import-Export Department is assigned to direct agencies and organizations that issue C/O to strengthen the issuance and inspection of C/O, especially determining the origin criteria according to specific rules for goods from imported raw materials with exported goods. If necessary, the Department will propose specific measures to prevent illegal transshipment, combat origin fraud, and protect the reputation and interests of Vietnamese export goods.
The Minister of Industry and Trade assigned the Import-Export Department to preside over and coordinate with the Department of E-Commerce and Digital Economy to study and propose solutions to reform administrative procedures in issuing C/O in a civilized, modern, cost-saving and convenient direction for businesses.
The Legal Department presides over and coordinates with the Import-Export Department to review current legal regulations related to the origin of goods to propose the development of appropriate mechanisms. At the same time, coordinate to monitor, inspect, and verify the origin of imported and exported goods, promptly propose solutions in the new context.
The Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy is assigned to coordinate to upgrade and complete the eCoSys system, ensuring that the issuance of non-preferential and preferential C/O is carried out effectively. At the same time, the Department is researching to add data processing features to serve the activities of reviewing, inspecting, and evaluating C/O issuance dossiers, contributing to the digitalization of the process of granting and inspecting business information.
The Department of Foreign Market Development directs the Vietnam Trade Office in foreign countries to study mechanisms and regulations on the origin of goods in the host country, providing information to the Import-Export Department to complete domestic regulations. At the same time, the Department coordinates to monitor policies of countries related to goods origin, trade defense and provides timely information to functional units...
With increasing requirements on the origin and quality of goods from markets, proactively tightening origin is a necessary step to help Vietnamese goods avoid punitive tariffs, while improving competitiveness in the long term.
Experts say that in the context of Vietnamese enterprises increasingly integrating deeply, the origin control policy is not only a barrier but also a safety net to help enterprises develop sustainably and maintain the trust of international partners.
CK
Source: VITIC/ haiquanonline.com.vn