GOVERNMENT OFPAKISTAN
APPRAISMENT COLLCTORATE
CUSTOM HOUSE, KARACHI.
C.No. S9/608/2003.IMP Dated: 20.04.2004
STANDING ORDER NO. 07/2004 (APPRAISEMENT)
SUB: AUTOMATED CLEARANCE PROCEDURE (ACP)
In order to systematically introduce computerized clearance at Appraisement Collectorate, a system of “Express Lane Facility (ELF)" was introduced on 6TH July, 1998 for simplified examination procedure and in second phase "Electronic Assessment System (EASY) was introduced on 31st January, 2000 for automated assessment while "Risk Indicated Selective Examination (RISE) was introduced on 1st January, 2002. To further facilitate the trade a single Automated Clearance Procedure (ACP) is being introduced importers, who meet the criteria prescribed below, (which may be changed or modified from time to time), can apply for eligibility of the ACP. ACP will be put in effect from 17-05-2004.
Criteria:
i) Federal/ Provincial Government, public sector Organization State owned corporations. Defense imports.
ii) Importer and multi-national companies whose annual Imports value Rs. 50 Million or more in the last 12 months from date of application.
iii) Importer in items chargeable to specific duty.
iv) Other importers on application to the collector, on case to case basis
2. Applications for availing ACP are to be made on the form ACP-I (annex-l) and sent to Assistant Collector of Custom (Import Section). Importer already availing either ELF, EASY or RISE need not reapply for availing this service but would be required to submit from ACP-I to update importer profile in customs record, inform of change if any and nominate custom agents for their clearance under ACP by 30.04.2003. The applicants will pay a Rs.5000 annual processing fee which also covers the cost of the quarterly reports to be sent by registered post/mail.
3. The system aims to process the customs declarations made at the time of import by notified eligible importers, on the Goods Declarations (GD) from, using Custom House computer. However, about 10% of such declarations will be checked in detail randomly in order to ensure their authenticity. In case any discrepancies prejudicial to government revenue or import policy are found in random checking or Post Clearance Audit etc., sever penal action would be initiated against the importer as well as the Custom House Agent in accordance with Custom Act, 1969.
4. The custom House Computer System will generate a quarterly report listing imports made in last three months. Starting from the date of approval of the ACP facility, which will be sent by mail to the importer at his address, for verification of the imports made by him, if no reply is received within 14 days, it would be assumed that the importer acknowledges the imports. This list will help the importer maintain his record as required under the Customs, Sales Tax and Central Excise Acts.
5. The details of ACP are as under:-
i) The importer eligible for availing the automated clearance facility would nominate a maximum of five custom house agents, using form ACP-I, for filing the Goods Declaration form (GD) and send completed form to Assistant Collector (Imports) Custom House, Karachi. The Custom House would then issue a letter to the nominated Custom Agent (s) for confirmation of their acceptance of their nomination by that importer which would bind them equally in responsibility for making correct declarations, with the importer.
ii) All change in company particulars or change in Custom Agents name etc. are to be done by submitting freshly filled out from ACP-I, to the Asst./Deputy Collector (Imports). In case a nominated custom house agent is de-nominated. The custom House may seek clarification from the importer or the concerned custom house agent in the matter, after the agent has been removed from the list. The name of the agents removed, will remain in the company profile for at least three years.
iii) Unless the case is selected for random check, the computer system shall print on the Goods Declaration, 'PROCESSED UNDER ACP No...’. All such Goods Declarations shall not be presented in Assessment Group for manual assessment or processing. The assessment would be made automatically by the computer. The assessment aspect of such Goods Declaration will be scrutinized under Post Clearance Audit/ Post Import Audit.
In case of FCL cargo Superintendent (cash) shall "out of charge" such Goods Declaration after duties and taxes have been paid. At the wharves, sheds, etc. the FCL cargo may not be examined. The container seal shall be checked for being intact and its numbers verified. If the seal is found missing, broken or tampered, or its numbers do not tally, this fact will be endorsed in the computerized examination report and detailed examination will be carried out.
in case of LCL cargo. The marks and numbers and total number of packages shall be tallied at wharves, sheds etc. The Goods Declaration (GD) of LCL cargo shall be "Out of charge" by Principal Appraiser (sheds). If the number of packages quantities or marks and number do not tally, this fact will be endorsed in the computerized examination report and detailed examination will be carried out.
The Examining Officer (exit gate) shall re-verify the container number and seal number in case of FCL cargo, marks and numbers in case of LCL, Cargo; and payment of duty stamp on the Goods Declaration, before goods are allowed out of Custom area.
iv) All imports pertaining to deletion programs of availing benefits of conditional/ concessionary SROs [Whereby certain security i.e. Indemnity Bond. Bank Guarantee, etc. is required to be submitted in group/bank guarantee cell] shall be allowed to avail the facility of ACP after completing the due procedure in the group/ Bank Guarantee Cell. Superintendent Cash will "Out of Charge" such Goods Declarations after completion of process by the Group.
v) The facility of ACP will be availed only for goods imported against valid LC (Letter of Credit) or registered bank contract.
vi) The ACP will not be availed in following Cases.
a) Where the Goods Declarations is filed prior to the arrival of the vessel under section 79 (I);
b) Import of scrap of all kinds, second hand machinery. Job lot/ stock lot goods.
c) Chemicals on the controlled list or useable in the manufacturing of narcotics, psychotropic substance or chemical weapons;
d) Item meant for re-export:
e) Banned/ restricted item as per current import Trade & Procedures Order.
f) Items in section II (Procedural Requirement) of current Import Trade & Procedures Order, except CKD kits of Motor Cars and other motor vehicles and trucks and buses, or unless allowed by Collector of Customs.
g) Items ordered to be excluded from ACP due to high risk, by the Appraisement Intelligence Branch, after approval of Additional Collector in charge and notice issued by Addl. Collector (Imports).
vi) The CSC (Customer Service Centre) shall manifest Goods Declaration under ACP for notified importers only if the same are filled by the their duly nominated custom house agents whose names appear in the company profile (from ACP-I) on the computer, or by the Importers themselves if they have permission/ license for self-clearance. In case that custom house agents license had been suspended for any reason whatsoever, the GD may be filed by any one from among the nominated agents for that company. In case there is no other agent, Asst. Collector (Imports) may allow any agent to file the GD on the time basis until a fresh ACP-I is filed by the importer, or importer get self-clearance permission.
vii) The computer system at CSC (Customer Service Centre) shall randomly select GDs for detailed scrutiny and processing (assessment) and examination of goods; such GDs shall be marked by computer system “RANDOMLY SELECTED FOR DETAILED PROCESSING AND EXAMINATION VIDE ACP N...' All such Goods Declaration will be presented in Assessment Groups and to shed examination staff for examination as per examination order. In cases, where Goods Declaration selected is for more than 10 countries the examination shall be of 20% of the total number of containers, unless otherwise ordered by the Assistant Collector in charge. The principal Appraiser (Shed) after satisfying himself, will "Out of Charge” all such Goods Declarations.
viii) The Facility of ACP will stand withdrawn on detection of any discrepancy or miss-declaration which shall be fed in the main computer system by the person /group / section making detection by filling out form ACP-2. This will form a part of the Company Profile kept on the custom data base, unless otherwise ordered by the Collector of Customs.
ix) The Additional Collector of Appraisement in charge of Import Section shall be the competent authority to notify or de-notify the importers, or restrict certain types of import or certain items of import from using the ACP.
6. This supersedes and consolidates STANDING ORDER No. 1/2002 (Appraisement) dated 01.01.2002 STANDING ORDER No. 02/2002 (Appraisement) dated 31.01.2000 and STANDING ORDER No. 05/1998 (Examination) dated 06.07.1998 from the date of ACP is implemented.
Signed by
(MAHBOOB SAQIB KHAN)
Collector
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