Customs weeds out 115 importers, brokers

MANILA, Philippines - About 115 importers and customs brokers had been struck off the list of entities accredited to transact with the Bureau of Customs, reflecting the government’s intensified drive to clean up the agency and rid it of corruption.

In a bold move, the Bureau of Customs suspended the accreditation of 70 importers and 45  brokers found to have repeatedly violated Customs policies and procedures in filing import documents, a far cry from the 26 suspended by the agency in 2013. In particular, these entities failed to disclose detailed product descriptions for goods imported.

Customs Administrative Order 8-2007 and Customs Memorandum Order  28-2007 state that the imported articles must be described in sufficient detail for proper valuation and tariff classification.

Customs Commissioner John Sevilla said the suspended importers and brokers would no longer be allowed to file import entries and therefore lose the privilege to import goods.

“Let this be a warning to our stakeholders that we have zero tolerance for wrongdoing. They must do their part in helping reform the Bureau of Customs by complying with the law,” Sevilla said.

Last month, the BOC implemented new rules on the accreditation of importers and customs brokers, subjecting them to stringent procedures with the Bureau of Internal Revenue.  They are required to secure the necessary importer clearance certificate or broker clearance certificate from the BIR.

The new regulations are aimed at ensuring that only legitimate and honest tax-paying  businesses can import goods through the ports.     

The Fiscal Intelligence Unit of the Department of Finance has the authority to conduct audit of foreign goods entering the country and ensure that the BOC collects the correct tariff rates and the appropriate amount of import taxes and duties.     

The new rules are aimed at plugging revenue leakage arising from smuggling.     

Studies show that the country loses  more than P100 billion a year  due to smuggling, affecting the government’s ability to earn and channel funds to deliver basic services.