Customs office defends proposed brokerage plan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Director General of Customs and Excise Soehardjo
\ndefended yesterday a plan to establish customs brokerage
\ncompanies, saying that their activities will be necessary to help
\nimporters.<\/p>\n
"The operation of the planned customs brokerage companies is
\nthe logical consequence of the self-assessment concept that has
\nbeen introduced in the country's customs administration," he said
\nin his response to charges that the companies would go against
\nthe new customs law.<\/p>\n
The Association of Indonesian Importers strongly opposes the
\nplan. It claims that the customs brokerage companies would not
\nonly breach the customs law, but also inflate customs clearance
\ncosts.<\/p>\n
The association's chairman, Amirudin Saud, charged that the
\nbrokerage companies could allow customs officials to cover up
\ncorrupt practices when they regain full authority next year over
\nthe on-arrival inspection of imports.<\/p>\n
In his written statement, Soehardjo said that the government
\nis likely to introduce the self-assessment system in the customs
\nservice next year to support the new customs law, which will be
\nfully enforced in the same year.<\/p>\n
Under the new system, importers will fill in and process their
\nimport documents according to the new law. The customs brokerage
\ncompanies will be established to help those who are not able to
\nhandle customs clearance on their own.<\/p>\n
The staff of the companies, which must be registered at
\ncustoms offices, will receive special training to ensure that
\nthey do their jobs professionally and that their services do not
\nviolate the law, he said.<\/p>\n
"It would be irrational for the association to say that the
\ncustoms brokerage firms are against the new customs law," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He added that under article 29 of the new customs law, all
\nimporters are allowed to process and handle their documents.
\nBecause not all are familiar with document processing, they would
\nbe allowed to assign customs brokerage companies that would be
\nregistered at customs offices.<\/p>\n
Soehardjo said that the operation of customs brokerage
\ncompanies is not new and that many freight companies already
\noffer similar services.<\/p>\n
The Directorate General of Customs and Excise has no direct
\ncontrol over freight forwarding firms and other customs service
\nproviders because it has no licensing power over them. Freight
\nforwarding companies obtain operation licenses from the Ministry
\nof Transportation. (hen)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/customs-office-defends-proposed-brokerage-plan-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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