I. What you need to know about printer and printer ink: First and foremost, printer belong to the category of technology – communication product, put under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of information and communication. In order to import this product, first and foremost, enterprise need to be registered in the printing industry or registered in commercial trade of printing device. When importing device, required license from the Ministry of information and communication is a must. It worth to take note that enterprise must take full responsibility in the quality of their product.
At the same time, printer ink is categorized as a special product, as such, the importation of this product is quite simple and doesn’t require much (documents).
Currently in Vietnam’s market, printer and printer ink is imported through the official quota. A small number of local enterprises are producing printer ink or currently registered in producing printer. However, it worth to take note that enterprises working in the printing industry mostly import printer to Vietnam. At the same time, printer ink produced by local enterprises mostly satisfy the local market.
Enterprises has to take note that if they import used printer, they will need to take a look at Appendix number (No) 01 (Category of used technology and communication product that are banned from import) published alongside
Circular No 31/2015/TT-BTTTT on October 29
th, 2015 from the Ministry of Information and communication.
II. Procedure import and export printers and printer ink (mostly for import): To import printer to Vietnam, firstly an enterprise must be registered in the printing industry. Secondly, enterprise will need license from the Ministry of information and Communication.
Accodring to Point b Clause 1 Article 27
Decree No 60/2014/NĐ-CP published on June 19
th, 2014 by the government:
“Article 27. Importing printing device
1. Printing devices as follow when import must have license from the Ministry of information and communication:
a) Master making machine, master-patch film making machine, zinc burn, printing molding machine;
b) Printer using digital technology, offset, flexo, copper pipe, mesh printer (silk);
c) Paper knife machine, book folding machine, book binding machine (steel binding or thread sewing), binding machine, conjugate machine, chain combination for finishing printing product;
d) Color printer, printer with color printing ability”.
Enterprise importing printing devices, especially printer need to take note of Clause 1 Article 2
Circular No 16/2015/TT-BTTTT published on June, 17
th, 2015, in which the HS code of the product is regulated as follow:
“Article 2. Goods in the printing industry, release publication according to HS code:
1. Goods in the printing industry:
Goods in the printing industry include: devices, accessories, components, according to description and HS code belong to the specialized jurisdiction of the Ministry of information and communication belong to groups as follow:
a) 84.40;
b) 84.42;
c) 84.43”.
For printer ink, enterprise can take a look at Decree No 39/2018/TT-BTC published on April 20
th, 2018. About the HS code, product has HS code as follow:
HS code for printer ink, enterprise can go for group 3215. In detail, HS code for black color printer ink belong to sub-group 321511. HS code for ink of different color is 32151900.
For importing printer, according to Decree No 60/2014/NĐ-CP and
Circular No 16/2015/TT-BTTTT, printer after imported must register for importing license from the Publishing Department:
• Printer using digital technology such as: laser printer, inkjet printer with speed higher than 50 sheets (A4)/minute or has size bigger than A3 or printer that has color printing (multi color).
• Offset printer, flexo, copper tube, letterpress.
• Color photocopy device, printer with color photocopy ability.
Different types of heat printer, 3D printer, Net printer (silk) don’t need to apply for import license.
On the procedure for importing printer, enterprise will have to fulfill conditions as follow:
• Organization, individual that want to import printer submit their request for printing devices importing license through online public services network or postal services, submit through postal delivery or submit direct at the Publishing department, Ministry of information and communication.
• In the period of 5 working days, from the day of submission, the Ministry of information and communication will approve the import license; in case there is no license, there will be official document stating the reason clear.
Documents as follow are required for the import license:
• Request form for import license according to model 04 at the appendix of
Decree No 25/2018/NĐ-CP.
• Catalogue of the printing device.
• A copy of the business registration certificate.
After getting the import license, the clearance procedure can begin, it worth to take note that alongside the import license, documents as follow are required:
• Sales contract,
• Commercial invoice,
• Packing list,
• Bill of Lading,
• Certificate of Origin
For importing printer ink, due to not categorized in specialized product, the procedure for this product is not complicated, documents as follow are required:
• Sales contract,
• Commercial invoice,
• Packing list,
• Bill of Lading,
• Certificate of Origin
III. Legal documents: