The Collectorate of Customs (Appraisement) has announced a criteria for eligibility for the Automated Clearance Procedure (ACP) due to be introduced from May 17 for swift clearance of the imports.
A standing order issued by the Collectorate provides that federal/provincial government, public sector organisations, state owned corporations, defence imports, importers and multinational companies, whose annual imports value Rs 50 million or more in the last 12 months from the date of the application, importers dealing in items chargeable to specific customs duty, and other importers to be allowed by the Collector on of each case.
The importers applying for the automated system will have to pay Rs 5000 as annual processing fee, which would also cover the cost of the quarterly reports to be sent by the registered mail.
Under the procedure for availing the facility of the ACP, applications would be made on the "form ACP-1", and sent to the Assistant Collector of Customs (Import Section).
Importers already availing facilities under previous systems of ELF, EASY or RISE need not to apply for the new service, but would be required to submit "form ACP-1" to update importer's profile in customs record. Importers must inform the changes if any, and nominate customs agents for their clearances under the ACP.
The automated system aims to process the customs declaration made at the time of the import by the notified eligible importers on the Goods Declaration (GD) form, using Custom House computer.
However, about 10 percent of such declarations would be checked in detail at random in order to ensure their authenticity. In case, any discrepancies prejudicial to the government revenue or import policy are found in random checking or post clearance audit, severe penal action would be initiated against the importer as well as the Custom House agent in accordance with Customs Act 1969.
The Customs House computer system will generate a quarterly report listing imports made in last three months, starting from the date of approval of the ACP facility, which will be sent by mail to the importer at his address for verification of imports made by him.
If no reply is received within 14 days, it would be assumed that the importer acknowledges the imports. This list will help the importer maintain his record as required under the Customs, Sales Tax and Central Excise Acts.
The ACP provides that the importers, eligible for availing the automated clearance facility, would nominate a maximum of five Custom House agents using "form ACP-1" for filing GD form and send the completed form to the Assistant Collector (Imports), Custom House, Karachi.
The Custom House would then issue a letter to the nominated Customs agents for confirmation of their acceptance of tier nomination by that importer, which would bind them equally in responsibility for making correct declarations with the importer.
Under the system all changes in company particulars, or change in customs agents names etc, are to be done by submitting a fresh filled out "form ACP-1" to the assistant/deputy collectors (Imports).
In case a nominated Customs House agent is de-nominated, the Custom House may seek clarification from the importer or the concerned Customs House agent in the matter.
All GDs selected at random for detailed processing will be presented to the Assessment Groups and to the Shed Examination staff for examination under the rules.
In cases where GDs selected for more than ten containers, the examination shall of 20 percent of the total number of containers, unless otherwise ordered by the Assistant Collector In-charge.
The Principal Appraiser Shed will make all such GDs out of charge after satisfying himself about their contents.
The procedure further provides that the ACP facility will stand withdrawn on detection of any discrepancy or mis-declaration, which shall be fed in the main computer system by the person, group/ section making detection by filling out form ACP.
This will become part of the company's profile kept in customs database unless otherwise ordered by the Collector of Customs.
The Additional Collector of Appraisement in-charge of Import Section shall be the competent authority to notify or de- notify the importers or restrict certain types of import or certain items of import from using the ACP.
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