A second-hand machine banned from import is seized by authorities. Viet Nam is making efforts to restrict imports of second-hand machinery to avoid becoming a landfill for discarded technologies. — VNA/VNS File Photo

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The import of second-hand machinery will be allowed if its quality is 80 per cent as good as a new one, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The remaining quality is based on technical parameters of used machinery in comparison with that of a new one.

The circular 20/2014/TT-BKHCN, issued last week, also regulates that the machinery, equipment and technology, if imported, must be in use for less than five years.

The rule for machinery and equipment less than three years old is applied to those used for agricultural production, beverage manufacturing and post services.

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan said Viet Nam encouraged the import of modern and high-technology machinery. However, used machinery must meet requirements of quality, safety and energy savings along with environmental protection standards.

Accordingly, documents showing the machinery's technical standards and quality-control certificates must be submitted to the customs for clearance.

The regulation will come into effect on September 1.

This move was aimed at preventing the inflow of obsolete machinery and equipment which would turn the country into a landfill for the world's discarded technologies.

In 2012, the Government temporarily put a halt to the import of outdated second-hand machinery, equipment and production lines in response to information about the closure of 2,250 companies in China that used inefficient and outdated technology. — VNS