VN bans import of used tech products

HA NOI — Viet Nam has banned the import of some group of second-hand information technology products, according to a newly-issued circular from the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Under the circular, eight group of second hand IT products would be prohibited from import. The list includes computer printers, photocopiers, computers, fax machines and their spare parts, type-writers, text-processing devices, calculators or other kinds of device with calculating functions.

In addition, electronic devices that can send and receive sound and images such as telephones, mobile phones and cameras are also on the list. Wires or cables are also subject to the import ban.

The ban affects Vietnamese businesspeople, companies or organisations involved in trading second hand technology products. It will not affect products imported for the purposes of quality maintenance services, re-imported after overseas maintenance, and items imported to be used in manufacturing.

To Hong Nam, officer at the Department of Information Technology under the ministry, said that the ban aimed to prevent industrial waste from entering the country, to protect consumer rights and help increase domestic technological product sales.

Currently there were no exact data regarding the number of second-hand IT products imported into Viet Nam, Nam said.

He added that in many cases, customers buying such products were not covered by consumer rights, or had information such as origin of product labelling, nor quality guaranty.

The circular, replacing a ministry decision issued in 2006, will take effect from February 15. —VNS