To: Provincial Customs Departments

In response to Official Dispatch No. 534/XNK-TMQT dated 13/6/2019 of Export and Import Administration – the Ministry of Industry and Trade on import of tobacco products for sale as duty-free goods, below are opinions of General Department of Customs:

Electronic cigarettes and flameless cigarettes used for IQOS kits and the likes, etc. are yet to be classified and not regulated by any technical standards or regulations before import into Vietnam. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is studying this issue to propose management of these products to the Prime Minister. Therefore, no permission has been granted to the import of electronic cigarettes and flameless cigarettes used for IQOS kits and the likes into Vietnam.

Customs Departments of provinces where sale of duty-free goods is available must not permit sale of electronic cigarettes and flameless cigarettes used for IQOS kits and the likes as duty-free goods.

Sellers of duty-free goods that have temporarily imported these products without a license of the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall be requested to re-export them and face penalties (if violations are found).

For your information and compliance./.

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