On September 5, 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) issued Circular No. 48/2026/TT-BCT, detailing a number of articles of the Law on Foreign Trade Management and Decree No. 292/2026/ND-CP. This Circular took effect immediately on September 5, 2026.
One notable content is the List of used consumer goods and vehicles banned from import by HS code, under the management authority of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, issued in Appendix I attached to the Circular.
1. Circular 48/2026/TT-BCT focuses on stipulating:
- The list of used consumer goods and vehicles banned from import by HS code, under the management authority of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
- The list and procedures for export and import of rough diamonds under the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
- Regulations on tariff-rate quotas for imports.
- The coordination, provision, and exchange of information mechanism between the Customs Department, provincial People’s Committees, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
2. New points regarding the scope of the import ban list
The import ban list under the authority of the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Circular 48/2026/TT-BCT does not broadly expand the list of banned import items; rather, it tends to focus on reviewing, restructuring, and detailing the list by HS code. Specifically:
For used medical equipment:
- Used medical equipment is no longer included in the Banned Import List under Appendix I of the newly issued Circular 48/2026/TT-BCT.
- Under transitional provisions, the previous list of banned used medical equipment imports will continue to apply until the end of December 31, 2026. After this date, management will follow specialized healthcare legislation.
For used consumer goods:
- The new list continues to control used consumer goods within the management scope of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, while also detailing certain HS codes and their scope of application.
- Notably, some groups of electronic goods previously on the old list — such as mobile phones (HS 8517), speakers, headphones and audio amplification devices (HS 8518), cameras (HS 8525), radio broadcasting/receiving devices (HS 8527), and some devices under group 8528 — are no longer listed in the Banned Import List.
3. Notes on transitional provisions
- The list of banned used medical equipment imports in Appendix I of Circular 12/2018/TT-BCT (as amended by Circular 08/2023/TT-BCT) will continue to be implemented until the end of December 31, 2026. After this date, management of medical equipment will be fully aligned with the specialized healthcare legal system.
- Licenses already issued under Circular 12/2018/TT-BCT before September 5, 2026 will continue to be used in accordance with the content and validity period stated on the license.
- Administrative procedure dossiers fully received before September 5, 2026 will continue to be processed under the regulations in effect at the time of receipt.
4. Points for businesses to note when applying
Given the changes in foreign trade management policy, proactively updating regulations and checking commodity policies from the import-preparation stage will help businesses limit policy risks and avoid incurring extra costs and time during customs clearance.
UNI provides import-export policy consulting and customs clearance services, supporting businesses in reviewing HS codes, determining commodity policies, and carrying out procedures in line with current regulations.
(According to Circular No. 48/2026/TT-BCT dated September 05, 2026)
Related Services: Customs Clearance Procedures
📞 Contact UNI Customs Consulting for free consultation:📧 Email: uni@eximuni.com📱 Hotline: (+84) 24-7308-7988 (Hanoi) | (+84) 28-7301-8910 (HHCM