Circular No. 54/2015/TT-BCT stipulates the list of goods for purchase and exchange by border residents.

✦ Smart summary

Circular No. 54/2015/TT-BCT stipulates the list of goods for purchase and exchange by border residents, applicable to border residents and relevant agencies. This circular identifies types of goods permitted for import and specifies the suspension of importation of certain items when necessary.

Scope of application

Border residents as defined in Article 11 of Decision No. 52/2015/QĐ-TTg, and agencies, organizations, and individuals related to the management and operation of border trade activities.

Key points

Border residents → may purchase and exchange domestically produced or neighboring country-produced goods to meet daily living and production needs → without specific limits or conditions.
The list of goods imported into Vietnam under the form of purchase and exchange by border residents is stipulated in the Appendix attached to this Circular.
Border residents → are not allowed to import items outside the specified list, except in cases where it is necessary to promote production or supply essential goods for daily life or due to natural disasters or epidemics → the Minister of Industry and Trade issues a decision to permit.
In cases where food safety and disease prevention at the border need to be ensured, the Minister of Industry and Trade → may suspend the importation of certain items from the list of goods for purchase and exchange by border residents on specific localities → without a specific time frame.
This Circular shall take effect from February 15, 2016.

🌐 Social impact of this document

Positive impact: Provides a legal basis for border residents to engage in lawful purchase and exchange of goods.
Negative impact: May cause difficulties in importing certain necessary items without the approval of the Minister.
Border residents benefit from this regulation.
Enterprises and management agencies have the responsibility to comply with this Circular.

❓ Frequently asked questions

How is the list of goods for purchase and exchange by border residents defined?

The list of goods imported under the form of purchase and exchange by border residents is stipulated in the Appendix attached to this Circular.

Can border residents import items not included in the specified list?

They are not allowed to import items outside the specified list, except in cases where it is necessary to promote production or supply essential goods for daily life or due to natural disasters or epidemics → the Minister of Industry and Trade issues a decision to permit.

Under what circumstances can the importation of certain items be suspended?

In cases where food safety and disease prevention at the border need to be ensured, the Minister of Industry and Trade → may suspend the importation of certain items from the list of goods for purchase and exchange by border residents on specific localities.

When does this Circular take effect?

This Circular takes effect from February 15, 2016.

What conditions must border residents meet to purchase and exchange goods?

Border residents → may purchase and exchange domestically produced or neighboring country-produced goods to meet daily living and production needs → without specific limits or conditions.

Full text

MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE		SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM Independence - Freedom - Happiness
Number: 54/2015/TT-BCT		Hanoi, December 30, 2015

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the List of Goods for Purchase and Exchange by Border Residents

Pursuant to Decree No. 95/2012/NĐ-CP dated November 12, 2012, of the Government, detailing the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Industry and Trade;

This Circular applies to Vietnamese traders; other agencies, organizations, and individuals involved in cross-border trade activities as stipulated in Decision No. 52/2015/QĐ-TTg.

At the request of the Director of the Department of Border Trade and Mountainous Areas,

The Minister of Industry and Trade issues this Circular to stipulate the List of Goods for Purchase and Exchange by Border Residents.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates the List of Goods for Purchase and Exchange by Border Residents as prescribed in Chapter III of Decision No. 52/2015/QĐ-TTg dated October 20, 2015 of the Prime Minister on the management of border trade activities with neighboring countries.

Article 2. Applicability

1. Border residents as defined in Article 11 of Decision No. 52/2015/QĐ-TTg dated October 20, 2015 of the Prime Minister on the management of border trade activities with neighboring countries.

2. Agencies, organizations, and individuals related to the management and operation of border trade activities.

Article 3. List of Goods for Purchase and Exchange by Border Residents

1. Goods of border residents are goods produced in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam or neighboring countries purchased and exchanged by border residents in border areas on both sides to meet their daily living and production needs.

2. The list of goods allowed to be imported into the Socialist Republic of Vietnam under the form of purchase and exchange of border residents' goods is specified in the Appendix attached to this Circular.

3. Goods outside the list prescribed in this Circular shall not be imported into the Socialist Republic of Vietnam under the form of purchase and exchange of border residents' goods, except in cases where it is necessary to promote production or supply essential goods for the daily life of border residents or due to natural disasters or epidemics, the Minister of Industry and Trade, after consultation with the Central Border Trade Steering Committee, shall issue a decision allowing border residents to purchase and exchange certain goods outside the list prescribed in this Circular in specific areas for a specific period of time.

4. In cases where food safety and disease prevention across borders need to be ensured, the Minister of Industry and Trade, after consultation with the Central Border Trade Steering Committee, shall issue a decision suspending the importation of certain goods within the List of Goods for Purchase and Exchange by Border Residents in specific areas.

Article 4. Effective date

1. This Circular takes effect from February 15, 2016.

2. Repeal Circular No. 42/2012/TT-BCT dated December 27, 2012 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade stipulating the List of Goods Allowed to be Imported into the Socialist Republic of Vietnam under the Form of Purchase and Exchange of Border Residents' Goods.

3. Any difficulties encountered during implementation should be reported to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Department of Border Trade and Mountainous Areas) for timely resolution./.

Place of Receipt:
- Central Party Committee Secretariat;
- Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers;
- Party Committees;
- Offices: Central, Government, President, Cabinet, National Assembly;
- Ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, and agencies under the Government;
- Ethnic Council and Committees of the National Assembly;
- Provincial People's Councils, Provincial People's Committees;
- Supreme People's Court;
- Supreme People's Procuracy;
- State Audit Agency;
- Central Agencies of Mass Organizations;
- Legal Documents Supervision Bureau (Ministry of Justice);
- Official Gazette;
- Government Portal, Ministry of Industry and Trade;
- Ministry of Industry and Trade: Minister, all Departments, units under the Ministry;
- Departments of Industry and Trade of provinces and centrally-administered cities;
- To be filed: Office, Department of Border Trade and Mountainous Areas (5b).