Post audit for exports and imports launched on April 1

Post audit for exports and imports launched on April 1

JAKARTA (JP): The customs and excise law will come into force on April 1 with the implementation of post-auditing for both imports and exports, Director General of Customs and Excise Soehardjo Soebardi said yesterday.

"Post-auditing is mandated by law and, therefore, we have to do it," Soehardjo told reporters at his office here.

He said that his office is ready to carry out post-auditing of imports and exports as it has basically done it since 1994, especially for sea cargo worth less than US$5,000, and since July last year for air cargo.

Many parties, especially importers, have expressed their doubts over the readiness of customs officials to perform their new duties in accordance with the law, in good faith, and in the interests of the country.

The Indonesian Importers Association, for instance, has been lobbying the government to maintain pre-shipment inspection for Indonesia's imports.

"Looking at the current condition, I think the Directorate General of Customs and Excise is not yet ready to carry out on- arrival inspections for Indonesia's imports," the association's chairman, Amirudin Saud, said earlier this week.

The current customs rules require pre-shipment inspection of imports, which are carried out by government-contracted surveying companies.

The government has assigned state-owned PT Surveyor Indonesia, under a biannual contract, to inspect Indonesia's imports at points of loading.

Soehardjo said recently that his office will be restructured to adjust to the law. The restructuring will not only affect the organization of the directorate general but also its daily activities.

The activities of the customs and excise office will be directed more toward facilitating the country's international trade, rather than acting merely as a fund-raiser for the state, he said.

To implement the law, Soehardjo said yesterday, the government has prepared dozens of rulings, including 15 government regulations and 49 decrees of the finance minister.

Of the 15 government regulations, nine will concern customs, and the remaining six will be related to excise -- including a regulation on the increase of excise rates for cigarettes.

For the first stage, Soehardjo said, the government will issue six government regulations, which will very likely be announced on Monday. (rid)