Vietnam decentralizes Certificate of Origin issuance procedures

Under Circular No. 26/2026/TT-BCT issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the responsibility for issuing Certificates of Origin (C/O) is being decentralized. Starting August 1, 2026, the Import-Export Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade will handle specific types of C/O, while Provincial People's Committees (via provincial Departments of Industry and Trade) will manage others.

This shift has raised concerns among businesses regarding logistical efficiency. For example, a company with a factory in Dong Thap but with its entire export operation—including warehouses, ICD ports, and logistics partners—centered in Ho Chi Minh City, would be required to process C/O applications in Dong Thap rather than Ho Chi Minh City. Such requirements may lead to increased costs and longer customs clearance times.

In response to requests for more flexibility, the Ministry of Industry and Trade noted that since July 1, 2025, both the Ministry and provincial authorities have been operating in parallel to implement C/O issuance. This follows government decrees aimed at decentralizing administrative procedures and simplifying business conditions in the industrial and commercial sectors.