Ministry of Industry and Trade Issues Directive to Strengthen Origin Fraud Management for Goods
Directive 09/CT-BCT was issued to minimize the impact on the production and export activities of Vietnamese enterprises, create favorable opportunities for domestic enterprises to restructure their production operations, and prevent fraud in the origin of exported goods in line with the requirements of importing countries and FTA partner countries…
On April 15, 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Directive 09/CT-BCT on strengthening state management of the inspection and supervision of goods origin in the new context…
Directive 09 was issued in the context of complex, fast-moving and unpredictable developments in international trade, increasingly intense strategic competition, and particular sensitivity as the United States applies reciprocal tariff policies against many countries around the world, including Vietnam.
This has caused trade tensions to escalate, leading to trade fraud practices. In particular, fraud involving the origin of goods is becoming increasingly widespread and complex as a way to avoid the sanctions that countries impose on imported goods.
Therefore, Directive 09 was issued to minimize the impact on the production and export activities of Vietnamese enterprises, create favorable opportunities for domestic enterprises to restructure their production operations, and prevent fraud in the origin of exported goods in line with the requirements of importing countries and FTA partner countries
This is also a proactive move to adapt to the new context, aiming to promote balanced and sustainable trade and ensure harmonized interests between Vietnam and the countries with which it has signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), as well as other international commitments.
Accordingly, the Minister of Industry and Trade has requested relevant units and agencies under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, as well as agencies and organizations issuing Certificates of Origin (C/O), to vigorously and consistently carry out the following nine tasks:
First, the Import-Export Department shall take the lead, in coordination with the Legal Department, in researching and promptly advising competent authorities on amending and supplementing legal documents in the field of goods origin, in order to organize the issuance of C/O under the new circumstances.
At the same time, it shall take the lead, in coordination with the Legal Department, the Ministry Office, the Department of Planning, Finance and Enterprise Management, and the Department of e-Commerce and Digital Economy, to ensure a smooth transition in the issuance of non-preferential C/O, REX and CNM certificates, avoiding disruption and facilitating enterprises.
Advise the Minister on developing and issuing policies to strengthen the management and supervision of input materials and the production of export goods, so as to meet food safety and hygiene requirements, quality standards, and origin requirements set by importing countries.
The Import-Export Department also acts as the focal point for coordination with the Customs Department (Ministry of Finance) to strengthen the assessment, supervision and inspection of the origin of imported goods, especially imported materials used for production and export, during customs procedures under customs legislation; and to organize an information network and data system to carry out the inspection and verification of the origin of imported and exported goods.
At the same time, the Import-Export Department is responsible for directing the agencies and organizations issuing C/O to strengthen the issuance and inspection of C/O, in particular determining origin criteria under product-specific rules based on imported input materials used for exported goods. Where necessary, the Department shall propose specific measures to prevent illegal transshipment, combat origin fraud, and protect the reputation and interests of exported goods of anti-origin-fraud, protect the reputation and interests of exported goods of Viet
In particular, the Minister of Industry and Trade has assigned the Import-Export Department to take the lead, in coordination with the Department of e-Commerce and Digital Economy, in proposing solutions to simplify administrative procedures in a "civilized, modern" direction, providing good service and saving costs for enterprises applying for C/O.
Second, the Legal Department shall coordinate with the Import-Export Department to promptly finalize the legal documents that need to be amended and supplemented, in order to organize the issuance of C/O appropriately under the new circumstances.
Take the lead, in coordination with the Import-Export Department, in reviewing relevant current legal documents to propose a mechanism for issuing C/O appropriate to the new circumstances.
Continue to closely coordinate with the Import-Export Department, the Trade Remedies Authority, and the Customs Department (Ministry of Finance) in supervising, inspecting and verifying the origin of imported and exported goods, in order to promptly propose handling measures under the new circumstances.
Third, the Department of e-Commerce and Digital Economy shall take the lead, in coordination with the Import-Export Department, in urgently upgrading and completing the features of the eCoSys system in order to promptly roll out the issuance of non-preferential C/O and ensure the effective issuance of preferential C/O.
Take the lead, in coordination with the Import-Export Department, in researching and developing additional data-processing features on eCoSys to support the review, assessment and inspection of C/O applications, and verification where necessary.
Step up administrative procedure reform by digitizing statistical data related to enterprises applying for C/O.
Fourth, the Department of Foreign Market Development is responsible for directing Vietnam Trade Offices overseas to study and research the mechanisms and regulations on goods origin of host countries, and to provide this information to the Import-Export Department so as to improve regulations on rules of origin, C/O issuance, and the prevention of origin fraud.
Take the lead, in coordination with the Import-Export Department and the Trade Remedies Authority, in promptly providing information on policy developments in other countries regarding the management of goods imports through state management tools on goods origin and trade remedy measures.
Fifth, the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development shall strengthen market inspection and supervision to detect and handle trading of goods, in particular smuggled materials and goods of unclear origin used to produce export goods, and where necessary refer cases to the competent authorities for handling to ensure strict enforcement of the law.
Coordinate with the Departments of Industry and Trade of provinces and centrally run cities to direct market surveillance forces nationwide to regularly monitor and combat legal violations in domestic trading activities aimed at production for export; and closely coordinate with the Import-Export Department to propose measures for inspecting, supervising and handling violations related to the origin of goods.
Sixth, the Trade Remedies Authority shall focus on implementing the group of tasks under the Scheme "Strengthening State Management of Anti-Circumvention of Trade Remedy Measures and Origin Fraud."
Seventh, the Multilateral Trade Policy Department shall monitor and engage with FTA partners to address issues arising in relation to goods origin during the implementation of FTAs; and coordinate with relevant units to compile information, report, and propose appropriate solutions, ensuring compliance with international commitments and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese enterprises.
Eighth, the Ministry Office and the Department of Planning, Finance and Enterprise Management shall coordinate with the Import-Export Department according to their assigned functions and duties related to state management of the origin of export goods.
Ninth, agencies and organizations issuing C/O shall fully perform their responsibilities for the issuance, inspection and verification of C/O as prescribed.
Step up efforts to prevent origin fraud by enhancing the effectiveness of C/O issuance and inspection, especially for enterprises with a sudden surge in the volume of C/O applications.
Proactively review and monitor the implementation of C/O issuance; promptly report and propose handling measures upon detecting violations related to the C/O issuance process and origin fraud.
Strengthen the organization of inspections and verification of goods origin at production facilities (before and after C/O issuance).
Directive 09/CT-BCT on strengthening state management of the inspection and supervision of goods origin under the new circumstances takes effect from April 15, 2025.