(Bureau of Customs logo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has given importers and brokers until July 31, 2014 to submit their accreditation, and failure to do so would prohibit th
em from transacting business with the agency.
With this, Customs Commissioner John Sevilla noted that there will be no second extension of the deadline which was originally set last June 30.
“It is highly unlikely that there will be another extension, as we have already given brokers and importers ample time to understand the new policies on accreditation and complete the prerequisite documents,” he said.
Based on the data from the BOC-Account Management Office (AMO), as of July 14, 2014, only 34 percent or 5,039 have so far applied for accreditation out of the 14,995 accredited brokers and importers.
He added, “We strongly urge brokers and importers to get accredited or they will lose their ability to transact with Customs.”
All brokers and importers who would like to import goods into the Philippines must be accredited with the BOC allowing them to be registered in the Client Profile Registration System (CPRS) of the BOC that will enable them to file import entries.
With the implementation of the new rules, the bureau is looking to close the loopholes in importation procedures as part of the government’s efforts to address the smuggling activities in the country.
Importers and brokers are required to apply for accreditation with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for the issuance of their respective Importer Clearance Certificate (ICC) or BIR Broker Clearance Certificate (BCC).
The ICC or BCC shall then be presented to the BOC-AMO as part of the requirements for accreditation.
The new process of accreditation was mandated by the Department of Finance through two Department Orders, last February 6, 2014 and issued last February 26, 2014.
In relation, BIR and BOC also issued Memorandum Orders implementing the DOs—Revenue Memorandum Order No. 10-2014, Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) Nos. 04-2014 which was repealed by CMO No. 11-2014 issued last May. (MNS)