Companies instructed to halt outdated machinery imports

Companies instructed to halt outdated machinery imports

The Ministry of Science and Technology has sent a document 2527/TB-BKHCN issued in September 6, 2012 asking local businesses to temporarily suspend imports of second-hand machinery, equipment and production lines.

Under the document, local importers are required to stop importing outdated machinery and equipment that have been removed by other countries due to backward technology, low quality and environmental pollution.

The decision stipulates to stop import of used machinery and equipment in 18 production sectors: steel, cement, metal, alloy, chemical fibre, aluminium electrolytic, paper, alcohol, flat lass, monosodium glutamate, tanning, dyeing, printing and so on.

The ministry also stated that the above prohibitions do not apply to temporary import, re-export or transit of used machinery, equipment and technological lines.

The ministry noted that it will continue to review or update information on outdated machinery, equipment and technological lines that have been discarded by other countries.

According to Nguyen Phu Cuong, deputy head of the ministry's Department of Science and Technology, the suspension of import of old machinery has been implemented because numerous factories in other countries have shut down, thus discarding lots of outdated machines, equipment and technologies.

The import of outdated machinery and equipment will turn the country into a landfill for discarded technologies.

According to the ministry, in China alone, 2,255 firms have stopped production, discarding outdated technology and machinery. 

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