KARACHI, Dec 19: The Collectorate of Customs (Exports), Karachi, Aftab Anwar Baloch, has issued a standing order to avoid unnecessary hardship caused to exporters as a result of contravention cases involving difference of weight.
The collector through an order no.06/2002 has directed that in cases wherein variation in the declared net weight and the ascertained net weight of goods is more than 5 per cent and the goods are entitled to duty drawback on the basis of weight, contravention cases will be made out and submitted for adjudication.
It further stated that in cases wherein goods are entitled to duty drawback on the basis of the value and the difference in weight is more than 10 per cent the officer examining the consignment will record misdeclaration of weight in terms of kilograms as well as in terms of percentage on the fourth copy of the shipping bill in red ink and entry so made will be countersigned by the AC/DC concerned. In this event, no contravention case shall be made out.
In case of any other contravention, if the customs staff remarks on the quadruplicate copy, “as detained,” the clearing agent, if desired so by the exporter, shall retain the fourth copy for the purpose of sales tax, M R etc., against an undertaking to be submitted within seven days, by the clearing agent from the said exporter to the customs staff of the respective section.
Furthermore, the subject fourth copy shall be submitted back to the customs staff within 30 days positively by the clearing agent or exporter failing which this facility shall not be extended in future to such exporter or clearing agent.
The contravention report shall be submitted by the customs staff within seven days of the receipt of the fourth copy. If contravention report cannot be submitted within seven days of receipt of the fourth copy, extension in time shall be granted by the assistant collector of customs (exports) concerned personally but not beyond 15 days.
In past cases where fourth copy was not physically detained, contravention report shall be submitted within seven days of the submission of fourth copy by the exporter or clearing agent positively. In cases where fourth copy is not required by the exporter, action shall be taken as per laid down procedures.
It has also been decided that shipping bills shall not be marked to the Drug Enforcement Cell in routine. Instead, the export examination staff should keep profiles of exporters, which should include maintaining data about doubtful exporters, clearing agents, commodities and destinations. In case of reasonable doubt only, at least principal appraiser of the export station, may mark the consignment to Drug Enforcement Cell for checking.
The collector has simultaneously cancelled standing orders No.02/95 dated May, 1995 and 03/2002 (exports), dated June 29, 2002.