In a recent document sent to the Provincial and Municipal Customs Departments, the General Department of Customs requested units to strictly implement customs procedures for imported and exported petroleum in accordance with regulations.

The General Department of Customs requires that only key petroleum traders and petroleum service traders are allowed to store imported, exported, and temporarily imported petroleum for re-export at petroleum warehouses that have been confirmed by the Director General of the General Department of Customs to be eligible for inspection and supervision by customs authorities according to regulations.

Regarding the management and supervision of petroleum brought into, stored, and taken out of bonded warehouses through the software for managing imported and exported goods, automatic tank level measuring devices, and camera surveillance systems, the General Department of Customs assigns specific tasks to provincial and municipal Customs Departments to direct the Customs Sub-Departments managing affiliated petroleum warehouses to comply with regulations.

In case the import and export goods management software does not meet the prescribed conditions, report to the General Department of Customs to revoke/suspend the Decision on confirmation of petroleum warehouses eligible for inspection and supervision by customs authorities according to regulations.

In case of any difference in quantity, follow the provisions in Clause 4, Article 4 of Circular No. 69/2016/TT-BTC.

General Department of Customs requires strict management and supervision of petroleum depots

For automatic tank level measuring devices, the General Department of Customs requires subordinates to periodically or suddenly check the connectivity to be able to monitor in real time the process of pumping goods from the means of transport into the warehouse or vice versa.

In case the automatic tank level measuring device does not meet the prescribed conditions, report to the General Department of Customs to revoke/suspend the Decision on confirmation of petroleum depots eligible for inspection and supervision by customs authorities according to regulations.

The General Department of Customs also requires a review of the camera system installed at the petroleum depot of the main petroleum trader and the petroleum service trader to ensure that they meet the conditions for online connection with the customs authority so that the customs authority can regularly observe the gate, door, tank, and wharf areas in the petroleum depot; Images of vehicles transporting petroleum in and out of the depot can be exported and stored on the camera system within the prescribed time limit.

In case of any changes in the address, name or password to access the camera system at the petrol depot, promptly notify the General Department of Customs of the change in writing.

The General Department of Customs requires periodic or surprise inspections of the camera system for connectivity to enable online monitoring over the network, the ability to render stored image data, the ability to observe at the gate, door, tank, and wharf areas to ensure monitoring, supervision, or inspection, and comparison with information on vehicle names, license plates/vehicle registration numbers, and IMO registration numbers for transporting gasoline and oil in and out of warehouses according to the declaration of the trader and the request of the customs authority.

In case the camera surveillance system does not meet the prescribed conditions, report to the General Department of Customs to revoke/suspend the Decision on confirmation of petroleum depots eligible for inspection and supervision by customs authorities according to regulations.

Actively coordinate and exchange information with functional forces (Police, Tax authorities, Market Management...) about businesses, tricks, and goods with signs of smuggling, trade fraud, tax evasion, and tax fraud.