PM orders tighter control on waste imports

PM orders tighter control on waste imports The Saigon Times Daily Scrap imports is seen abandoned at a local port. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has required tighter control on waste imports – PHOTO: VNA HCMC – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on September 17 issued Directive 27/CT-TTg stipulating urgent measures to control the importation and use of secondhand goods as production materials. The relevant ministries and agencies are required to tighten control on waste imports as a large backlog of shipping containers holding scrap and lying abandoned at local ports is causing problems for authorities, reported Thanh Nien newspaper. Accordingly, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will assume the responsibility for environmental protection in the import and use of scrap before the Government. The ministry will have to, within its jurisdiction, review and issue stricter environmental protection requirements for enterprises that import waste as production materials. The ministry will not issue licenses to those importing scrap into the country for processing and re-exporting. The ministry was also assigned to ensure that Vietnam’s regulations on scrap import management are not contrary to international agreements signed by the country. It is also expected to review, amend, supplement and issue new national standards on environmental protection for waste imports. The Government leader also asked the ministry to coordinate with other relevant ministries, agencies and localities to monitor the issuance of certificates for environmental protection for scrap imports used as production materials. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance should direct customs agencies to… [Read full story]