Supply chains: FBR to chalk out economic operator programme

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will chalk out an authorized economic operator programme to provide facilitations relating to secure supply chains of imported and exported goods to ensure regulatory controls by customs department. The FBR officials informed the Senate Standing Committee on Finance that a new section 212A (authorized economic operator programme) has been proposed in the Customs Act, 1969.
According to the new section, the federal government may, by notification in the official gazette, devise authorized economic operator programme to provide facilitations relating to secure supply chains of imported and exported goods through simplified procedures with regard to regulatory controls applicable thereon. The Board may, with approval of the federal government, prescribe rules on matters pertaining to authorized economic operator programme.
The finance committee has been informed by the FBR that a new section has been inserted in the Customs Act ie provisional release of imported goods. Under proposed section 83B of the Customs Act, where any offence is detected in respect of imported goods which are not liable to confiscation or needed for evidence at a later stage, the collector of customs may, on written request of owner of the goods, allow release of the same on payment of duty, taxes or other charges and furnishing bank guarantee or pay order against the amount of any penalty or fine which may be imposed on such goods.
Through a section 219, the FBR has proposed power to make rules. The Board may, by notification in the official gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act, including for charging of fees for processing the customs documents and preparation of copies thereof. Without prejudice to the generality of foregoing provision, rules may be made on matters enumerated in the Third Schedule. No rules relating to matters enumerated at items 19 and 22 of the Third Schedule shall be made without previous approval of the federal government in writing. Rules made under this section shall be subject to the condition of previous publication.