'Importers prefer pre-shipment inspection system'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Most importers prefer pre-shipment to post-
\nshipment import inspections, according to a survey by the
\nIndonesian Importers Association.<\/p>\n
The survey, conducted from Oct. 1 to Nov. 11, also found that
\nthose preferring pre-shipment inspections were prepared to pay
\ninspection fees, currently borne by the government, to a
\ndesignated surveyor if the government maintained the current
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
Association chairman Amirudin Saud said yesterday he had sent
\nthe survey's results to 10 senior officials, including
\nCoordinating Minister for Economy and Finance Saleh Afiff and
\nCoordinating Minister for Production and Distribution Hartarto.<\/p>\n
"We urge the government to maintain the current system of pre-
\nshipment inspections of imports," Amirudin said at his office.<\/p>\n
The government has indicated that it would replace the current
\npre-shipment system with a post-shipment inspection system on
\nApril 1, next year.<\/p>\n
Amirudin said his office had sent 1,000 questionnaires to
\n1,000 importers, including manufacturers. The association
\nreceived 873 completed questionnaires.<\/p>\n
The questionnaire asked two questions: whether the respondents
\nagreed with pre-shipment inspections and were prepared to pay
\ninspection fees to an appointed surveyor; and whether they agreed
\nwith the post-audit import system stipulated by Customs Law. The
\nquestionnaire made references to several of the law's articles
\nwhich will govern the post-audit import system.<\/p>\n
The survey showed that 798, or 91.4 percent of respondents,
\nanswered "yes" to the first question.<\/p>\n
Most respondents also answered "yes" to the second question.
\nOnly 61 importers, or 6.99 percent of respondents, answered "no"
\nto the second question. Fourteen respondents did not give answers
\nto either of the questions.<\/p>\n
Amirudin said the survey indicated most importers were still
\ntraumatized by the corrupt customs service before the
\nintroduction of pre-shipment inspections in 1985.<\/p>\n
"They are still doubtful about the readiness of customs
\nofficials to resume the post-shipment inspections," he said.<\/p>\n
Pre-shipment import inspections are now undertaken by the
\nstate-owned PT Surveyor Indonesia in cooperation with the Geneva-
\nbased Generale de Surveillance at loading points.<\/p>\n
The government will terminate its pre-shipment inspection
\ncontract with Surveyor Indonesia on April 1, which coincides with
\nthe enforcement of the new customs law.<\/p>\n
The customs law will introduce a post-audit import system and
\nreturn the inspection authority to the Directorate General of
\nCustoms and Excise.<\/p>\n
Director General of Customs and Excise Soehardjo Soebardi told
\na hearing with House Commission VII for trade and finance on
\nTuesday that his office was ready to resume inspections.<\/p>\n
But Amirudin questioned Soehardjo's statement, charging that
\nmany customs officials, especially those at Jakarta's Tanjung
\nPriok port, remained corrupt.<\/p>\n
"I doubt their claim that they were ready to resume the
\ninspection service and their pledge to stop corruption among
\ntheir ranks," Amirudin said.<\/p>\n
He said he had recorded 92 cases of smuggling which involved
\ncustoms officials in the first 11 months of this year.<\/p>\n
Most of the smuggled goods were consumer goods, mainly
\nelectronics, imported from or through Singapore. They entered the
\ncountry in packages which were claimed to be worth less than
\nUS$5,000, which are exempted them from pre-shipment inspections.<\/p>\n
Amirudin said each of the 92 cases was worth more than $5,000.
\nMany of them were worth a hundred thousand dollars each and some
\nwere worth more than $1 million each.<\/p>\n
"How can you convince me that customs officials are now clean
\nwhen I can still easily discover such collusion and malfeasance,"
\nAmirudin retorted. (rid)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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