Circular No. 07/2026/TT-BCT amending and supplementing certain provisions of Circular No. 37/2013/TT-BCT dated December 30, 2013, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade on the importation of cigarettes and cigars.

CIRCULAR

  Amending and supplementing some articles of Circular No. 37/2013/TT-MININD dated December 30, 2013 of the Minister of Industry and Trade on the importation of cigarettes and cigars

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Pursuant to Decree No. 40/2025/NĐ-CP of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Industry and Trade;

Pursuant to Decree No. 67/2013/NĐ-CP of the Government detailing a number of provisions and measures for implementation of the Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Tobacco regarding tobacco trade;

Pursuant to Decree No. 69/2018/NĐ-CP of the Government detailing a number of provisions of the Law on Foreign Trade Management;

Pursuant to Decree No. 94/2017/NĐ-CP of the Government on goods, services, and areas subject to state monopoly in commercial activities;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Import-Export;

The Minister of Industry and Trade promulgates this Circular amending and supplementing some articles of Circular No. 37/2013/TT-MININD dated December 30, 2013 of the Minister of Industry and Trade on the importation of cigarettes and cigars.

Article 1. Amending and supplementing Article 6

"1. The Ministry of Industry and Trade designates traders holding a Production License for tobacco products and having 100% state capital contribution as traders importing cigarettes and cigars under the state trading mechanism.

2. Traders holding a Production License for tobacco products must directly carry out the importation of cigarettes and cigars and may not delegate or entrust other traders to perform such actions."

Article 2. Amending Clause 3 of Article 7, abolishing Clause 4 of Article 7

1. "3. Traders importing cigarettes must implement conformity declaration according to national technical regulations; Traders importing cigars must declare applicable standards in accordance with current regulations."

2. Abolish Clause 4 of Article 7

Article 3. Amending and supplementing Clause 1 of Article 8

1. When processing import procedures, in addition to the import documents required by customs authorities, traders must present to the customs authority one original copy of the Automatic Import Registration Form for cigarettes and cigars that has been confirmed by the issuing authority or submit the confirmed Automatic Import Registration Form for cigarettes and cigars to the customs authority through the Electronic Data Processing System; traders bear responsibility for the legality and completeness of the documents submitted to the customs authority.

Article 4. Amending and supplementing Clauses 1, 2, and 3 of Article 9

1."1. Before processing import procedures, traders submit one set of documents directly at the People's Committee of the province/city where the trader's main office is located or submit documents through public postal service or online of the issuing authority including:

a) Automatic Import Registration Form for cigarettes and cigars: two copies according to the model specified in Appendix II issued together with this Circular;

b) Import Contract: one copy of the certified true copy (stamped by the trader);

c) Commercial Invoice: one copy of the certified true copy (stamped by the trader);

d) Bill of Lading or transport document of the consignment: one copy of the certified true copy (stamped by the trader) (if any);

đ) Production License for tobacco products: one copy of the certified true copy (stamped by the trader)."

2. Replace the phrase "Department of Import-Export - Ministry of Industry and Trade" in Clause 2 of Article 9 of Circular No. 37/2013/TT-MININD with the phrase "issuing authority".

3. Replace the phrase "Department of Import-Export - Ministry of Industry and Trade" in Clause 3 of Article 9 of Circular No. 37/2013/TT-MININD with the phrase "issuing authority".

Article 5. Amending Clauses 1 and 2 of Article 10

1. Replace the phrase "Department of Import-Export - Ministry of Industry and Trade" in Clause 1 of Article 10 of Circular No. 37/2013/TT-MININD with the phrase "issuing authority".

2. Replace the phrase "Department of Import-Export - Ministry of Industry and Trade" in Clause 2 of Article 10 of Circular No. 37/2013/TT-MININD with the phrase "issuing authority".

Article 6. Abolishing Article 11

Abolish Article 11.

Article 7. Replacing Appendix I, Appendix II

Replace Appendix I, Appendix II issued together with Circular No. 37/2013/TT-MININD with Appendix I, Appendix II issued together with this Circular.

Article 8. Responsibility for Implementation

The issuing authority organizes inspection or coordinates with relevant agencies to organize inspection of cigarette and cigar import activities in accordance with Circular No. 37/2013/TT-MININD and this Circular.

In case competent authorities conclude that traders do not comply with current regulations related to cigarette and cigar imports and the level of violation is at the administrative penalty stage, the issuing authority will consider not confirming the Automatic Import Registration Form for cigarettes and cigars of the trader until the trader has remedied the violation.

In case competent authorities conclude that traders do not comply with current regulations related to cigarette and cigar imports and the level of violation is at the criminal prosecution stage, the trader shall not act as the importer of cigarettes and cigars under the state trading mechanism stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 1 of this Circular until the trader is exempted from punishment or has their criminal record expunged in accordance with the law by the competent state authority.

Article 9. Implementation Provisions

1. This Circular takes effect from April 10, 2026.

2. During the implementation process, if any issues arise, organizations and individuals are responsible for reporting them to the Ministry of Industry and Trade to make appropriate supplements and amendments.

3. The Director of the Department of Import-Export, Heads of units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and relevant agencies and organizations are responsible for implementing this Circular.