Seizure of un-stamped goods a must for success of track & trace system

ISLAMABAD: The successful implementation of the track and trace system is directly linked with the outright seizure of cigarettes, sugar bags, fertilisers and cement bags, without tax stamps, available in the markets across Pakistan.

In this regard, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had issued different sales tax general orders (STGOs) on the seizure of goods without tax stamps. Tax experts told Business Recorder that the track and trace system has been implemented in sugar mills, three cigarette companies and fertiliser factories.

The cement sector has delayed the implementation of the system at their production lines. The cement units were required to install the track and trace at one production line of each factory.

After successful testing, the system would be made fully operational at all production lines of all factories.

However, the question arises whether the enforcement provisions of seizure of goods without tax stamps has been fully enforced in the markets for items without tax stamps. If goods without tax stamps are being sold with the items having such stamps in the market, the objective of the whole exercise would not be achieved.

Under the STGO 15 of 2022, no fertiliser bag shall be allowed to be removed from a production site, factory premises or manufacturing plant or import station without affixation of tax stamps/ Unique Identification Markings (UIMs) with effect from July 01, 2022.

The FBR has directed the cigarette manufactures not to remove tobacco products from the production site, factory premises or manufacturing plants without affixation of tax stamps/ Unique Identification Marking (UIMs) from April 30, 2022.

The tobacco manufactured/ produced in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and erstwhile Fata/ Pata shall not be allowed to enter into Pakistan’s tariff areas without affixation of tax stamps.

The FBR added that no tobacco products shall be allowed to be removed from the production site, factory premises or manufacturing plants without affixation of tax stamps/ UIMs from April 30, 2022.

In line with the Sales Tax General Order 5 of 2021, the FBR had imposed a ban on all sugar mills for removing sugar bags from factories/ production sites/ manufacturing plants without affixation of tax stamps/ unique identification marking (UIMs). “No sugar bags shall be allowed to be removed from a production site, factory premises or manufacturing plant without affixation of tax stamps/ UIMs with effect from November 11, 2021”, the FBR added.

As per Sales Tax General Order number 19 of 2022, the FBR has directed the cement manufacturers not to remove cement bags from the production site, factory premises or manufacturing plants without affixation of tax stamps/ Unique Identification Marking (UIMs) from October 1, 2022.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023