Exemption Letter for radio and telecom devices, ITE, and appliances entering Vietnam

Radio devices, telecommunication devices, Short range devices (SRD) and ITE exported to Vietnam or manufactured to be sold in Vietnam domestic market must be complied with regulations of Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC Vietnam). Importers and manufacturers have to obtain Type Approval certificates for radio devices, telecom devices, SRD, and ITE before entering Vietnam market. Procedures to obtain Type Approval Certificate usually takes 4 weeks lead time with products local testing or 2 weeks lead time with test reports recognized by MIC Vietnam under MRA.

Manufacturers and importers usually experience problems in customs clearance process to export or import products to Vietnam because their products looks like product subjected to regulatory type approval or certification.

The regulations on mandatory certification are complicated and it is the fact that staffs of Vietnam Customs Authority are not well-trained enough to identify if the products is belong the mandatory category or not.

Pursuant to Circular 05/2014/TT-BTTTT of Ministry of Information and Communications Vietnam (and Circular 42/2016/TT-BTTTT applicable from Oct 01, 2017), a Bluethooth device or a WLAN device operating in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands with RF output power less than 60mW is exempted from mandatory MIC type approval. But how to prove its output power is less than 60mW to Vietnam Customs Authority? What is the requirement to prove the RF out put power? Which documents or official letter issued by a competent Authority will be recognized by Customs Authority?

Pursuant to QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN of Ministry of Science and Technology Vietnam, a battery operated Vacuum Cleaner is also exempted from mandatory home appliance EMC approval, but in facts there are many cases happens that the products were hold by Customs Authority before the case made clear.

Pursuant to Decision 04/2017 of the Vietnam Prime Minister, printer is subjected to minimum energy performance standard - MEPS, but the Decision 04/2017 doesn’t define clearly which kind of printers are subjected which kinds of printers are exempted. It is the fact that thermal printers are exempted from minimum energy efficiency performance level but you may still have trouble with thermal printers in customs clearances.

Therefore, manufacturers and importers are encouraged to obtain Exemption Letter to prevent any problem may occurs during customs clearance process and enjoy a good supply line. Exemption Letter is an official document issued by Competent Authority to prove the products are exempted from regulatory type approval or energy certification. Exemption Letter is recognized by Customs Authority and helps to have a smooth customs clearance process.

Please find below an Exemption Letter issued by VNTA for your references.