Removing difficulties for seafood businesses

The Government Office issued Document No. 5029/VPCP-TH dated July 16, 2024, conveying the instructions of Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai on removing difficulties for seafood businesses.

Specifically, the Government Office has Report No. 2542/BC-VPCP dated June 30, 2024, which summarizes the article VASEP recommends solving problems of seafood enterprises, published in the Finance and Life e-magazine on June 21; Nhan Dan Online, The Banking Times on June 24; The Saigon Times on June 25.

The articles stated that the VASEP proposed to remove three obstacles for businesses and fishermen: The regulation on ceiling interest costs to calculate income tax is unreasonable; Procedures for issuing certificates of exploited aquatic materials take months; Regulations on the minimum size allowed for exploitation of marine species are causing difficulties for businesses and fishermen.

According to VASEP, Decree 37/2024/ND-CP stipulates that the minimum length of tuna allowed for exploitation is 0.5 m (equivalent to 5 kg in size), while the international standard for this species is 1.8 - 3.4 kg. Currently, the EU protects aquatic resources by regulating quotas, ban periods, etc., rather than simply controlling the minimum size.

In addition, VASEP recommends that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) consider changing regulations on the approach to confirming S/C certificate at fishing ports in the current IUU traceability confirmation process.

That is to issue an S/C certificate immediately to the owner of the goods when the owner of the goods has completed loading and unloading materials from the ship under the supervision of port staff regarding type and volume, etc., at the fishing port.

Regarding this issue, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai assigned the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and MARD, according to their assigned functions and tasks, to preside and coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to capture reflective press information.

Review the recommendations of the VASEP and promptly handle them according to authority; In case of exceeding authority, report to the Government and Prime Minister in July 2024.