In celebration of Vietnam’s National Day on September 2, THT Cargo Logistics would like to announce the holiday period and resumption of business operations so that our Valued Customers and Partners can proactively arrange their shipping, import-export, and related logistics activities.

NATIONAL DAY HOLIDAY SCHEDULE – SEPTEMBER 2, 2026

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR IMPORT & EXPORT OPERATIONS

During the holiday period, certain activities related to international transportation, seaports, shipping lines, airlines, Customs authorities, and other relevant parties may operate according to their own holiday schedules.

To minimize potential delays for shipments that are currently in progress or scheduled during this period, we kindly recommend that our Valued Customers proactively:

In a review involving raw material intended for cosmetic manufacturing, one chemical component highlighted why manufacturers should perform a deeper compliance check before booking and before the cargo leaves the country of export.

1. THE SITUATION

A company planned to import chemical-containing raw material for manufacturing in Vietnam.

The initial documentation included:

No significant issue was identified during the initial review.

However, when the product was reviewed at individual component and CAS Number level, one component required further verification against Appendix II – the List of Prohibited Chemicals and Minerals under Vietnam’s Law on Investment.

2. A COMMON COMPLIANCE GAP

A common import review may follow:

For chemical-related materials, a more comprehensive approach may be required:

3. CHEMICAL REGULATIONS SHOULD NOT BE REVIEWED IN ISOLATION

Vietnam’s Law on Chemicals refers to the prohibited chemical and mineral list established under the Law on Investment.

Therefore, chemical compliance should be assessed as an interconnected regulatory framework rather than as separate lists.

If a CAS Number appears to match a controlled or prohibited substance, further questions need to be answered:

A CAS match requiring verification does not automatically mean that the entire product is prohibited from import.

4. WHY THIS MATTERS TO FDI MANUFACTURERS

For a factory, import compliance is not merely a Customs issue.

A problem discovered after shipment may lead to:

For manufacturers operating with tight inventory and production schedules, one shipment can become a supply-chain issue.

PRE-SHIPMENT CHECKLIST

Before booking chemical-related raw materials, manufacturers should consider reviewing:

THT CARGO LOGISTICS VIEWPOINT

Industrial Logistics is not simply about moving a container from Point A to Point B.

For manufacturing supply chains, greater value comes from identifying potential risks before the shipment starts moving.

5 points businesses should check before claiming FTA preferential tariff treatment

If the purchasing department simply answers:

The risk may have already started at that point.

For imported goods, having a C/O does not automatically mean that the goods are eligible for preferential tariff treatment.

A certificate of origin only truly provides a basis for preferential treatment when the business simultaneously gets several things right: selecting the appropriate FTA, applying the correct HS code, satisfying the applicable rules of origin, using the correct type of origin document, making the appropriate customs declaration, and being able to substantiate the origin if the Customs authority conducts an inspection or verification later.

That is why a C/O should not simply be treated as a document that the “supplier sends together with the shipment”.

1. One shipment may have multiple FTA options

South Korea is a typical example.

For goods originating in South Korea and imported into Vietnam, depending on the specific goods and applicable conditions, businesses may need to consider VKFTA, AKFTA and RCEP instead of automatically using only one familiar FTA. In particular, the AKFTA rules of origin were updated under Circular No. 49/2025/TT-BCT, effective from 01/05/2026, including updates to the PSR based on HS 2022.

A similar issue also arises with goods sourced from other markets.

Goods from Japan may be subject to VJEPA, AJCEP or RCEP; the VJEPA C/O uses the VJ form, not the AJ form.

ASEAN-origin goods may be subject to ATIGA and, where appropriate, may need to be compared with RCEP. Under the traditional ATIGA framework, ASEAN-origin goods are associated with the Form D C/O.

RCEP establishes a common origin framework among ASEAN and partners including China, South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand; it also allows originating materials to be cumulated among member countries when the conditions of the Agreement are satisfied.

EVFTA has its own origin certification mechanism, and the Agreement’s rules of origin applicable in Vietnam were updated under Circular No. 14/2026/TT-BCT, effective from 10/05/2026.

2. The lowest tariff rate is not necessarily the best option if the goods do not satisfy the rules of origin

Assume that the same product imported from South Korea may be eligible under multiple FTAs.

The business sees that one FTA offers a very low preferential import tariff and asks the supplier to issue the origin document under that FTA.

But there is a more important question:

Depending on the FTA and specific HS code, the goods may need to satisfy criteria such as wholly obtained origin, change in tariff classification, regional value content, specific processing requirements, or product-specific rules – PSR.

Therefore, the selection of a C/O cannot be based solely on:

Instead, businesses must check simultaneously:

This is an area that businesses can easily overlook if C/O handling stops at the purchasing or documentation department.

3. Even a C/O issued in the correct form does not necessarily mean the documentation package is safe

Another risk often becomes visible only during customs clearance or when the Customs authority requests clarification: the C/O may appear valid on its own, but inconsistencies may emerge when it is compared with the complete set of documents.

The product description on the certificate of origin is presented in one way.

The invoice shows it differently.

The packing list contains quantities or weights that do not fully correspond.

Information relating to the exporter, manufacturer, invoice issuer or transaction structure may present special circumstances.

Or the business purchases goods through a trading company in a third country without properly assessing the requirements for third-country invoicing.

Therefore, C/O checking should not mean checking a single document in isolation.

The “logic of the shipment” must also be reviewed.

4. The greatest risk may not appear at the time of customs clearance

A shipment being cleared through customs and receiving FTA preferential tariff treatment does not mean that the business can consider the origin documentation process completed.

Customs authorities have mechanisms to inspect and verify origin when there are grounds or indications requiring clarification; many FTAs also establish verification procedures between the authorities of the importing country and the relevant authorities or organizations in the exporting country. RCEP, for example, contains specific provisions on origin certification and verification.

At that point, the question is no longer:

Instead, it becomes:

This is precisely the gap between “a C/O that can be used for customs clearance” and “a C/O that is sufficiently robust to protect the business in the event of a subsequent inspection”.

5. THT’s 5-layer C/O control process before businesses claim FTA preferential treatment

At THT Cargo Logistics, C/O checking does not stop at verifying whether all information on the form has been completed.

THT reviews the documentation through 5 layers of control:

6. A safe C/O does not start when the customs declaration is opened

It starts much earlier.

When selecting the supplier.

When determining the HS code.

When deciding which FTA to use.

When asking the supplier to prepare the origin documentation.

And more importantly, when the business verifies whether the origin basis behind the C/O actually supports the preferential tariff treatment it is preparing to claim.

7. THT CARGO LOGISTICS – CONTROL C/O RISKS BEFORE THEY BECOME COSTS

If your business regularly imports raw materials, components, machinery or other goods from South Korea, China, Japan, ASEAN, the EU or other markets that have FTAs with Vietnam, do not simply ask:

Also check three additional questions:

THT Cargo Logistics reviews C/O based on the complete logic of the shipment – from FTA selection, rules of origin and documentation to customs declaration and readiness for post-clearance verification.

The objective is not simply to have a C/O to claim preferential tariff treatment.
The objective is to use FTA preferential treatment on a proper basis and control risks before the customs declaration is submitted.

1. Not every production batch needs to be registered as a new product

VeriGoods assigns a product identification code to a specific product or product group.

Therefore, if a factory produces multiple batches of the same product, it does not automatically have to register the product again from the beginning for each individual batch.

Circular 31 stipulates that the lot/batch number or serial number is one of the traceability information elements, while the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s system supports the identification of product types, lots/batches, or individual product units. The current VeriGoods user guidance also describes functionality for registering product and lot/batch identification information.

2. Why can’t raw material suppliers currently be seen on VeriGoods?

When searching for a product on VeriGoods, users currently mainly see information such as:

This is consistent with Circular 31, as the information that consumers are entitled to access publicly mainly consists of basic information such as the product name, origin, images, manufacturer/business entity, brand, lot/batch number or serial number, and expiry date, if applicable.

Two data layers need to be distinguished:

• Public data: used by consumers for product lookup.
• Traceability data: used by businesses for management, system integration, and provision to regulatory authorities when required.

3. How deeply does a factory need to manage its traceability data?

Circular 31 requires minimum traceability data to include key tracking events and the timing of such events throughout the supply chain, in addition to lot/batch numbers and other product information.

For a manufacturing plant, the key requirement is to be able to connect:

These detailed data elements do not necessarily all need to be made public to consumers scanning a QR code. However, the business must organize, retain, and manage traceability data in accordance with the applicable requirements.

If an internal traceability system is used, the data must be capable of being connected and shared with VeriGoods through an Application Programming Interface (API), ensuring update history, data integrity, and the ability to provide the data within 24 hours when requested by a competent authority.

4. What happens if a mandatory product is not subject to traceability implementation?

Under Circular 31, products subject to mandatory requirements must have traceability implemented before being placed on the market. Traders are responsible for the information they declare and are subject to inspection and supervision by regulatory authorities.

If the data is inaccurate, untruthful, not properly maintained, or the business fails to implement required corrective measures, the Ministry of Industry and Trade may suspend or cancel the confirmation for displaying traceability information in accordance with the prescribed cases.

5. What should FDI manufacturing plants do from now?

Do not start with the question:

Instead, start with these four questions:

VeriGoods Registration

Businesses should create an account directly on the official system and retain administrative control over the account, email address, and digital signature of the business itself. The official registration guidance requires businesses to update their company profile before registering product identification information.

THT CARGO LOGISTICS’ PERSPECTIVE

1. Domestic Enterprises Can Choose the Customs Clearance Location

According to the guidance, where a domestic enterprise outsources processing to multiple export processing enterprises located in areas under the management of different customs authorities, the enterprise may choose the location for carrying out customs procedures in accordance with the regulations.

at:

2. Customs Authorities Can Retrieve Contract Information from the System

In particular, the customs authority where import and export procedures are carried out may retrieve information on the processing contract/contract appendices of the domestic enterprise from the GCSXNK-WEB system to process customs declarations.

3. For Processing Contracts That Have Already Been Notified

If the processing contract has already been notified and the deadline for the finalization report has not yet arrived, the enterprise shall submit the 2026 finalization report to the customs authority where the processing contract was notified.

4. Procedures for Exporting Raw Materials, Machinery and Products

Meanwhile, procedures for exporting raw materials, supplies, machinery and equipment, and importing processed products may be carried out at the customs authority managing the area where the enterprise’s head office, production facility, or the export processing enterprise is located.

1. Circular No. 42/2026/TT-BCT – List of Dual-Use Goods

The list comprises 31 groups of dual-use goods, focusing on areas such as electronics, chemicals, high-tech metals & alloys, special materials, high-tech equipment, and UAVs.

2. Important Notes on Declaring Regulatory Document Codes on Customs Declarations

According to Official Letter No. 19916/CHQ-GSQL dated August 5, 2026, issued by the Customs Department, when registering customs declarations for goods subject to export, temporary import for re-export, transit, transshipment, and temporary transit, enterprises should note the following:

3. Enterprises Should Proactively Review Goods Before Export

Enterprises exporting relevant goods should proactively review the list and prepare the following information:

The above information serves as the basis for determining whether the goods are subject to control and whether an export license is required.

1. What Does TT26 Change in the C/O Issuance Process?

The 12 key preferential C/O forms (EVFTA, UKVFTA, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, ASEAN, etc.) will continue to be issued by the Import-Export Department through 4 Import-Export Management Offices: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai. The eCoSys system has been updated since August 1.

2. 6 Common Challenges in C/O Issuance After August 1, 2026

3. WO-Origin Documentation — The Highest-Risk Group

4. How Should Exporters Prepare Their C/O Documentation?

5. THT C/O Documentation Support Services

6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

You import a die-cutting machine for a packaging production line. To you, it is simply a mechanical processing machine — seemingly unrelated to the “printing industry.” The customs documents are prepared as they would be for a standard machinery shipment.

Only when the shipment reaches the customs clearance stage do you discover that the machine’s HS code is included in the List of Imported Goods Subject to Printing-Sector Management. Under the regulations, the equipment must be declared as imported printing equipment before customs clearance — but this step was not included in your documentation.

This is not an uncommon situation. Among the equipment shipments that THT Cargo supports for packaging, bookbinding, and prepress operations, this is one of the categories most likely to encounter regulatory issues — and the root cause is almost always the same.

1. Why is it so easy to get this wrong?

Common assumption: only printing machines (offset, flexographic, digital, etc.) require specific procedures; cutting, folding, binding, and box-making machines are simply auxiliary equipment.

Reality: Vietnam’s regulatory framework for printing activities does not regulate only “printing machines.” Under Decree No. 60/2014/ND-CP (as amended by Decree No. 25/2018/ND-CP and Decree No. 72/2022/ND-CP), specialized regulatory management covers the entire printing process: prepress – printing – post-press processing.

2. The list is much broader than the two words “printing machine”

The List of Imported Goods in the Printing Sector is established based on HS codes, cross-referenced with Circular No. 31/2022/TT-BTC, and further clarified under Circular No. 11/2024/TT-BTTTT (issued on September 23, 2024). Many machine categories have names that do not appear to have anything to do with “printing”:

• Heading 84.40 – Bookbinding machinery: stapling machines, thread-sewing machines, hot-melt binding machines, cover-making machines, paper folding machines, combined finishing machines, and production lines for finishing printed products.
• Heading 84.41 – Cutting and packaging machinery: paper cutting machines (one-side and three-side), slitting machines, die-cutting machines, bag – sack – envelope making machines, and especially machinery for making corrugated cartons, boxes, cylindrical and drum-shaped containers — equipment that is very familiar to packaging and paper-box manufacturers.
• Heading 84.42 – Prepress machinery: film recorders, plate recorders, gravure cylinder engraving machines, plate exposure machines, plate developing/washing machines, and coating machines (offset, flexographic, gravure, letterpress, and screen printing).
• Heading 84.43 – Printing machines and photocopying machines of various types.

Most of the equipment listed above does not carry the name “printing machine” — yet it still falls within the scope of specialized regulatory management based on its HS code. These are precisely the details that THT’s team reviews for customers before ordering, so there are no surprises at the port.

3. “Declaration” ≠ “License application” — but it is still mandatory

The good news is that the procedure is now simpler than before. The declaration of imported printing equipment can be completed entirely online through the National Public Service Portal, with applications received by the Authority of Publication, Printing and Distribution under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Simpler — but it cannot be skipped. If the equipment has an HS code included in the list, the company is still required to:

4. The cost of overlooking one step

• Warehouse, storage yard, and container detention charges increase with every day the shipment remains on hold.
• Production lines fall behind schedule — affecting orders and delivery commitments to customers.
• Legal and compliance risks arise if the company is found to have incomplete documentation or incorrect declarations.
• Loss of control — urgent handling after the shipment has already arrived at the port is always much more costly than preparing in advance.

5. 3 checks to perform before placing an order

4. Cross-check the HS code and the machine’s actual technical description (catalogue, machine nameplate) against the List of Imported Goods in the Printing Sector.
5. Do not assume that “only printing machines require specific procedures.”
6. Prepare the declaration documents in parallel with the ordering process — do not wait until the shipment is about to arrive before taking action.

6. Why FDI enterprises choose THT Cargo for this category of goods

• Specialized expertise in printing-sector regulations: THT reviews the HS-code list for printing-sector goods as an established process — not on a case-by-case basis.
• Review from the ordering stage: determine whether the machine is subject to declaration before the shipment is loaded onto the vessel, so you have full control over the required documentation.
• End-to-end online declaration support: from preparing the declaration and technical documents to submitting the application through the Public Service Portal.
• Supporting FDI factories: understanding the pressure of production schedules and delivery commitments — the goal is on-time customs clearance with no unnecessary waiting charges.