Circular 48/2025/TT-BCT amends Circular 28/2009/TT-BCT on certification of tariff rate quotas for natural honey imported into Japan under VJEPA

 CIRCULAR

Amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Minister of Industry and Trade's Circular No. 28/2009/TT-BCT dated September 28, 2009, on certification of tariff rate quotas for natural honey imported into Japan under the Agreement between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Japan for an Economic Partnership

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government No. 63/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents No. 64/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the National Assembly's Resolution No. 190/2025/QH15 dated February 19, 2025, providing for the settlement of certain issues related to the reorganization of the state apparatus;

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 40/2025/ND-CP, dated February 26, 2025, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Industry and Trade;

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 78/2025/ND-CP dated April 01, 2025, detailing a number of articles of, and providing measures for guiding the implementation of, the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents, which was amended and supplemented under the Government's Decree No. 187/2025/ND-CP dated July 01, 2025;

Pursuant to the Agreement between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Japan for an Economic Partnership, signed at Tokyo, Japan on December 25, 2008;

At the proposal of the Director of the Agency of Foreign Trade,

The Minister of Industry and Trade hereby promulgates the Circular amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Minister of Industry and Trade's Circular No. 28/2009/TT-BCT dated September 28, 2009, on certification of tariff rate quotas for natural honey imported into Japan under the Agreement between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Japan for an Economic Partnership.

Article 1. Amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Minister of Industry and Trade's Circular No. 28/2009/TT-BCT dated September 28, 2009, on certification of tariff rate quotas for natural honey imported into Japan under the Agreement between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Japan for an Economic Partnership

1. To amend Article 6 as follows:

“Article 6. Principles for certification of tariff rate quota certificates

1. Traders who wish to enjoy Japan’s VJEPA preferential tax for Vietnam under the tariff rate quotas for natural honey exported to Japan under the Agreement between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Japan for an Economic Partnership, shall submit dossiers at the licensing agencies (provincial-level People’s Committees) of the places where the exporters are headquartered for certification.

2. Based on the annual tariff rate quotas accorded by Japan for Vietnam as prescribed in Annex 2 to this Circular, and the date of receipt of the registration for certification, tariff rate quota certificates of exporters shall be certified on the first come, first served principle. For the quantity of natural honey registered for export under tariff rate quotas in excess of the remaining quotas of the year, the provincial-level People’s Committees shall make consideration and certification of tariff rate quota certificates according to the remaining quota volume.”

2. To amend Clause 3, Article 7 as follows: 

“3. In case enterprises fail to submit papers specified in Clause 2 of this Article, the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall notify and request Japan not to grant tariff rate quota certificates to importers in Japan, after receiving reports from provincial-level People’s Committees.”

3. To amend Article 9 as follows:

“Article 9. Certification of tariff rate quota certificates

1. The provincial-level People’s Committee shall certify the tariff rate quota certificate within three (3) working days after the receipt of a valid dossier.

2. In case of refusal to make certification, the provincial-level People’s Committee shall issue a written reply clearly stating the reason.”

4. To amend Article 10 as follows:

“Article 10. Re-certification of tariff rate quota certificates which are torn, lost or damaged

In case a tariff rate quota certificate is torn, lost or damaged, traders may send to the provincial-level People's Committee a written request for certification of a certified copy of that original certificate. The provincial-level People's Committee shall certify the copy of the tariff rate quota certificate on the basis of export vouchers kept at the provincial-level People's Committee. Such copy must be written with the phrase “CERTIFIED TRUE COPY” in the “REMARK” column. It will bear the certification date of the original. This certified copy may be certified before the expiry of the original certificate.”

5. To amend Article 11 as follows:

“Article 11. Return of tariff rate quota certificates due to failure to conduct exportation

In case traders do not use the certified tariff rate quota certificate because they fail to export the goods lot for which a tariff rate quota certificate has been applied, or the exported goods lot is returned to Vietnam, traders shall return the certified tariff rate quota certificate to the provincial-level People’s Committee that had certified that tariff rate quota certificate.”

Article 2. Effect

This Circular takes effect from September 03, 2025./.