Businesses will only be allowed to import mobile phones, cosmetics and liquor via the three seaports of Hai Phong, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City from the beginning of next month.

The new Ministry of Industry and Trade regulation has been drawn up in order to better control the import of goods, limit poor-quality and counterfeit items while combating fraud.

Import companies will now have to undergo customs clearance checks at the three ports instead of at border crossings or airports as well as present documents to prove that they were designated and authorised distributors, importers or manufacturers of genuine goods.

The ministry called on its departments and relevant agencies to guide importers in complying with regulations while strengthening inspection procedures and strictly punishing violators.

The ministry's Import and Export Department said that local authorities should report shortcomings and difficulties directly to the ministry in order to solve any problems that might arise.

However, a Smartphone importer said that their imports would amount to several thousand items each time.

He said it would be costly if they had to rent a container for such a small number of goods, adding that transport by sea would take up to 30 to 45 days and face considerable risks in the process./.