Husked and unhusked rice of all kinds and tobacco leaves and stems imported from Laos will be import tax free from January 1st, 2012, reported the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT). 

These regulations were announced in a circular issued by the MoIT on December 26th , 2011. Accordingly, the total quota in 2012 for husked and unhusked rice of all kinds is 70,000 tonnes while the figure for tobacco leaves and stems is 3,000 tonnes.

In order to enjoy the preferential tariff rate, imported commodities must have certificates of origin (C/O), form S, issued by authorised Lao agencies and must be approved at 12 border gates which were regulated in the circular.

Vietnamese businesses are permitted to import husked and unhusked rice of all kinds under the tariff quota. For tobacco leaves and stems, only traders who have licences granted by the MoIT are allowed to trade

(CPV)