New regulations on rice export and import business take effect on October 1

Starting October 1, many new regulations regarding rice import and export business officially take effect, aiming to streamline business conditions, simplify administrative procedures, expand opportunities for high-value rice products, and enhance the responsibilities of traders.

On September 23, the Government issued Decree No. 365/2026/NĐ-CP on rice export and import business. The Decree takes effect on October 1, 2026, replacing Decree No. 107/2018/NĐ-CP on rice export business and Decree No. 01/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing several articles of Decree 107.

The new Decree was formulated based on a comprehensive review of existing regulations to address practical shortcomings, thereby creating a more specific, clear, and transparent legal framework. Alongside inheriting appropriate provisions, Decree No. 365/2026/NĐ-CP also repeals and reduces several requirements compared to Decree No. 107/2018/NĐ-CP and related documents.

Streamlining Rice Export Business Conditions

Decree No. 365/2026/NĐ-CP has reduced the conditions for rice exports from 3 (under Decree No. 107/2018/NĐ-CP) down to 2, making it easier for enterprises to access and enter the rice export market.

Accordingly, legally established and registered traders are permitted to engage in rice export when they have at least one specialized warehouse for storing paddy and rice, and one rice milling facility that complies with regulations on food safety, standards, and technical regulations. These facilities can be owned by the trader or leased from other organizations or individuals, backed by written contracts that match the validity period of the Certificate of Eligibility for Rice Export Business. Traders granted a Certificate are strictly prohibited from subleasing their certified warehouses or milling facilities to other traders.

Additionally, to encourage product diversification and enhance the added value of Vietnamese rice, Decree 365/2026/NĐ-CP expands exemptions from business conditions for organic rice, parboiled rice, and micronutrient-fortified rice. Specifically, traders exporting these specialized lines are exempt from maintaining specialized storage and milling facilities, keeping circulation reserves, and submitting periodic reports like regular rice exporters. This regulation provides maximum convenience for enterprises producing and exporting high-end, specialty rice, elevating the position and competitiveness of Vietnamese rice in the international market.

Simplifying Administrative Procedures

Under Decree No. 365/2026/NĐ-CP, administrative procedures have been reviewed and clearly defined to ensure accessibility and ease of implementation for enterprises.

• Elimination of redundant documents: The requirement for traders to submit business registration certificates, enterprise registration certificates, or investment certificates in the application dossier has been abolished.

• Shorter processing times: Processing times for issuing, re-issuing, modifying, or supplementing certificates have been significantly reduced. For instance, the issuance time for complete dossiers drops from 15 down to 10 working days, and response times for incomplete dossiers fall from 7 to 5 working days.

• Minimized paperwork: Dossiers are kept to a minimum, requiring no notarization or documents that state agencies can independently retrieve via the National Enterprise Database.

• Optimized reporting: Rice export enterprises are required to submit only 1 periodic report on the 5th of every month, replacing the previous requirement of 3 reports per month under Decree No. 107/2018/NĐ-CP, thereby reducing compliance time and costs while ensuring timely state management.

Evaluating the Credibility of Rice Export Traders

Decree No. 365/2026/NĐ-CP outlines 10 criteria for evaluating the credibility of traders, taking effect from January 1, 2028. These criteria cover credit standing, taxation, customs, production-consumption linkages, brand development, export performance, compliance with reporting and circulation reserves, infrastructure maintenance, logistics, and workplace safety/fire prevention.

This framework aims to monitor compliance, enhance transparency, and ensure the sustainable development of the industry. Trader credibility ratings will serve as a basis for appointing focal point traders and allocating targeted contracts, ultimately building a reputable workforce of exporters to elevate the global standing and competitiveness of Vietnamese rice.

(Source: According to PV Anh Thơ / baochinhphu.vn)

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