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Aug 31, 2018 / 16:35

Vietnam tightens control over imported scrap piling at seaports

Waste backlogs have been recently found in Vietnam’s seaports due to the unusual increasing litter flow.

The Vietnamese government has requested the relevant ministries to tighten the flow of scrap into the country and strictly handle the concerned officials and withdraw licenses if detecting violations.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc made the request at the government monthly meeting held in Hanoi on August 30.
 
Vietnam tightens control over imported scrap piling at its seaports
Vietnam tightens control over imported scrap piling at its seaports
At the meeting, Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung said nearly 6,000 containers of imported garbage reportedly are backlogged at Vietnam seaports. Thus, PM Phuc has requested the Ministries of Industry and Trade, Natural Resources and Environment to report to the PM on the situation regarding scrap imported into Vietnam.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has assessed that many containers which enterprises need to import to produce paper and steel are absolutely legitimate. However, after review, customs authorities reported that no one claims many cargo containers.

Therefore, PM Phuc assigned the Ministries of Finance, Natural Resources and Environment, Industry and Trade, Justice, and Public Security to inspect all results related to imported container shipments into Vietnam. From that, it is necessary to give accurate assessment to report to the government and sugguest suitable solutions for the issue.

The PM requested a careful review, especially the abuse of license, taking advantage of the name of the company to import, purchase, commercialize scrap. PM Phuc also assigned the Ministry of Public Security to conduct a thorough investigation into the issue.

From such pressing, the PM also urged the ministries to urgently propose preventive measures. 

Thus, a number of cases have been found illegal. On August 28, the investigation police under the Ministry of Public Security have prosecuted and detained four people including Nguyen Duc Truong (Director of Duc Dat Co.), Nguyen Van Son (Director of Truong Thinh private enterprise), Duong Van Phuong (employee of Truong Thinh private enterprise) and Duong Tuan Anh (manager of Hong Viet Construction Co.Ltd). They are accused of illegally importing scrap into Vietnam.

The prosecution and detention of the four above-mentioned defendants were carried out by the investigation police after coordinating with the General Department of Customs to investigate units and individuals that imported scrap into Vietnam.