Customs set new rules on accrediting importers

CEBU, Philippines – Bureau of Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales has issued a memorandum revising the rules and regulations that cover the accreditation of importers, which amended Customs Memorandum Order no. 15-2009 dated April 13, 2009.

Memorandum Order no. 23-2009 dated July 1, 2009 said the new rules will cover all importers except for importations that are exempt from accreditation requirements, which are covered by separate rules and regulations.

Among those exempted include the first and last importation for the year, importations by parcel post, importation covered by special laws, and importations of the Philippine government, its agencies and instrumentalities.

Likewise, importations by foreign embassies, consulates, legations, agencies of other foreign governments and international organizations with diplomatic status and recognized as such by the government of the Philippines like Asian Development Bank/World Health Organization, are also exempted.

The issuance of the new Customs memorandum is aimed to ensure the effective and proper enforcement of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines and all other relevant laws, rules and regulations by ensuring that only legitimate entities are accredited as importers.

It is also aimed to guard the interest of the government against abuse of accreditation privileges.

"Any importer whose accreditation has expired shall not be allowed to transact business with the BOC," the order says.

Morales' order strongly warned that an importer shall not use his accreditation privileges for any unlawful or fraudulent transactions with the BOC.

"He shall not allow himself to become a dummy of another importer or person for any unlawful and fraudulent customs transactions nor permit the use thereof, directly or indirectly, by another importer or person," the order further reads.

It added that any importer who deliberately files an import entry, knowing fully well that such accreditation has expired, shall subject the offending party and/or the imported articles to the penalties provided for by law.

If found guilty, the importer's accreditation privileges shall be immediately revoked or cancelled without prejudice to other legal actions that the BOC may take and such importer shall no longer be allowed to renew the same. - Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO (THE FREEMAN)