New customs rulings issued to improve service<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government has issued three new regulations to improve
\nthe country's customs services and to curb smuggling and fraud
\nduring clearance.<\/p>\n
The new rulings, which were made available to The Jakarta Post
\non Wednesday, will take effect on Jan. 1, 2003.<\/p>\n
Two regulations aim to ensure faster service for importers,
\nthat is Ministerial Decree No. 453\/2002 on import clearance
\nprocedures and Ministerial Decree No. 455\/2002 on the requirement
\nfor appointed banks to handle the payment of duties and levies.<\/p>\n
The other ruling, that is Ministerial Decree No. 454\/2003 on
\nimporter registration, is aimed at obtaining accurate data on
\nimporters, identifying crooked ones and preventing them from
\ncommitting fraud in the future.<\/p>\n
Novrial, the head of the customs reform program at the
\ndirectorate general of customs and excise, told The Post that the
\nregulations were part of the agency's ongoing reform program to
\nensure the smooth flow of goods and to fight corruption and fraud
\nat the agency.<\/p>\n
To simplify and speed up import clearance, Decree No. 453
\nobliges importers to make payments at appointed banks which are
\non-line with the customs office and allow them to fill out
\nadministrative papers through electronic media.<\/p>\n
The decree also stipulates that air or sea forwarders have to
\nnotify the customs office about imported goods within 24 hours
\nprior to the arrival of the carriers.<\/p>\n
It also says that two years after importation, the customs
\noffice can "verify" all notices of import (PIB) documents owned
\nby importers.<\/p>\n
Decree No. 455 on appointed banks stipulates any bank can be
\napproved to handle payment of duties and levies as long as it has
\nfacilities at all its branches which enable them to
\nelectronically connect with the customs office.<\/p>\n
"We have designed the payment system to make it as simple as
\npossible," said Nofrial.<\/p>\n
With regards Decree No. 454 on importer registration, Nofrial
\nsaid through the registration, the agency expected to be able
\nidentify smugglers or those who lied about the real value of
\ntheir imports.<\/p>\n
To date, the agency has been relying on data provided by the
\nMinistry of Industry and Trade, which is the only institution
\nauthorized to issue licenses to importers.<\/p>\n
However, Nofrial said that a lot of data from the ministry was
\nmisleading as many businessmen submitted fake addresses and
\nidentities to obtain their licenses.<\/p>\n
Through the registration, the customs office wants to verify
\nand update the data provided by the ministry.<\/p>\n
Nofrial added importers could start registering their
\ncompanies on Nov. 11 at the customs' website www.beacukai.go.id.<\/p>\n
Initially, the customs office planned to call all importers to
\nregister themselves at the offices, but the plan was later
\ndropped over worries that the importers might collude with custom
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
After collecting data on importers, the agency will send its
\nofficials to check out the addresses of all licensed importers
\nand examine their operations. The importers are then classified
\ninto low or high risk categories.<\/p>\n
After completing the registration, the customs office will
\nissue an SRP certificate stating that the holders have been
\nregistered. The certificates will be sent via mail to importers.<\/p>\n
Based on the decree, importers who fail to register by Jan. 1,
\n2003 will still be given one more chance for import clearance.
\nAfter that, the customs office will not provide them with
\nservices.<\/p>\n
Several importers contacted by the Post on Wednesday refused
\nto comment on the new rulings, saying they were not yet aware of
\nthem.<\/p>",
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