Post-shipment checks will be smooth: Customs<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Customs officials at Tanjung Priok port and
\nSoekarno Hatta airport have assured businessmen the post-shipment
\ninspection of Indonesia's imports, starting April 1, will run
\nsmoothly.<\/p>\n
Head of the Jakarta customs and excise office Noek Safoeroh
\nassured the House of Representatives' Trade and Finance
\nCommission the inspections would facilitate a smoother flow of
\ngoods than the current pre-shipment inspection.<\/p>\n
She promised that Tanjung Priok port's customs officials, who
\nare under her authority, would serve businessmen better than 11
\nyears ago when the customs service lost its inspection authority.<\/p>\n
\"When the government stripped us of our inspection authority
\nin 1985 by introducing the pre-shipment system, we lost not only
\nour function but also our dignity.<\/p>\n
\"Is it possible for those who once lost their dignity to be so
\nfoolhardily corrupt again?\" Noek asked rhetorically. The custom
\nservice's inspection authority will be returned next April.<\/p>\n
She seemed irked by the Indonesian Importers' Association's
\npersistent criticism. The association has questioned customs
\nofficials' integrity and readiness to resume post-shipment
\ninspections.<\/p>\n
The association, apparently still traumatized by the corrupt
\ncustoms service before 1985, has urged the government to maintain
\nthe current pre-shipment inspection system.<\/p>\n
Pre-shipment inspections are done by the state-owned PT
\nSurveyor Indonesia in cooperation with the Geneva-based Societe
\nGenerale de Surveillance, the world's largest inspection company.<\/p>\n
The head of the Soekarno Hatta cargo customs office, Sontang
\nRuli Siregar, said the post-audit system had proved to be more
\nefficient and faster in handling air cargo imports.<\/p>\n
Customs document processing at the airport takes less than
\nfour hours because of electronic documentation facilities, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Air cargo imports were freed from pre-shipment inspection in
\nJuly.<\/p>\n
Official data shows 70 percent of imports enter Indonesia
\nthrough Tanjung Priok port and Soekarno Hatta airport.<\/p>\n
Roy Ronald Lino, director of customs verification, promised
\nthat once electronic data interchange was in place at Tanjung
\nPriok port document processing would take less than four hours.<\/p>\n
He said electronic data interchange would be ready for
\noperation at the port by April 1.<\/p>\n
Electronic data interchange links electronically the customs
\noffice with banks, port authorities, shipping lines, importers
\nand freight forwarders.<\/p>\n
Noek said her office had made other preparations for the
\ncoming post-shipment inspections, including price listing and
\nimporter classification.<\/p>\n
\"We will classify importers into different groups -- producer
\nimporters, bonafide and less bonafide general importers,\" Noek
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
She said the classification of importers was necessary to
\ndetermine the lane -- green or red lane -- for their imports.
\nImports through the green lane will not be subject to physical
\ninspection.<\/p>\n
Imports by producer importers and bonafide general importers
\nwill pass the green lane, while imports from less bonafide
\nimporters will go to the red lane.<\/p>\n
\"Less bonafide importers include those which do not have fixed
\naddresses or often commit violations like manipulating documents
\nor smuggling,\" Noek said.<\/p>\n
Producer importers would be treated like bonafide general
\nimporters because if they violated regulations the customs office
\ncould easily audit them in their factories, she said.<\/p>\n
The Tanjung Priok port authority will install X-ray scanners
\nto speed up container box inspections.<\/p>\n
Director General of Customs and Excise Soehardjo Soebardi said
\nthe government had approved the port authority's proposal to
\npurchase container scanners. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/post-shipment-checks-will-be-smooth-customs-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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