Customs Comes out with New Rules for Scanners

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A month after the container scanner has been in use, Treasury has come out with new guidelines for importers, shipping companies, freight forwarded and consignees whose cargo are subject to the xray machine.

Acting Chief of Customs and deputy Treasurer Keith Gebauer issued a four page memorandum dated June 1st which  he said  provides clarity on minimum requirements for each signed and submitted declaration of entry form.

Documentation for importing vehicles and an update to the scanning procedures, he said some of what’s listed are not new but rather existing regulations which may not have been implemented consistently.

Customs will enforce the procedures listed in the memorandum beginning June 15.

The memo lists what the law requires as far as competing a declaration of entry form and documentation that must be presented and the type of information that should be included.

The memo states that the Customs division reserves the right to review each signed declaration of entry form and invoices submitted for authenticity and should the processing or inspecting agent deem an invoice to be lacking authenticity in any way, shape or form, may reject the submitted invoices.

Under documentation for importing vehicles into the territory Gebauer’s memo spells out that Custom will evaluate each vehicle declaration of entry to determine the authenticity of the declared value of the imported vehicles.

While genuine bill of sales may be presented, custom may use alternate valuations including vehicle valuations such as Blue Book services to determine the fair market value of the imported vehicle, if the submitted valuation is not reasonable based on fair market value.

In instances where customs needs to review a vehicle valuation, importers may also be required to provide additional proof of purchase such as the form of payment used to purchase the vehicles.

If a vehicle does not meet the minimum vehicle age requirement, that is 15 years old, shippers, freight forwarders importers and consignees are required to secure all permits and waivers as needed prior to the vehicle being packed for shipment.

The Acting Chief of Customs lists changes to the scanning of containers.  He said the M60 container scanner operators, have determine that containers must be on  trailer to have a compete scan of the contents of the container.

Therefore effective June 15, scanning of containers which have vehicles will no longer be permitted on the ground,  they have to be on a trailer.

In addition vehicles will no longer be de vanned from containers and staged for scanning as had been allowed up to now.

Vehicles shipped via “break bulk” are to be scanner via a method best suitable as determine by the Customs scanning unit.

Gebauer’s memo also explains the charging of scanning fees for cargo scanned at the airport by the scanning van which would allow freight forwarder to stack multiple consignees on a single pallet not to exceed 6 feet and pay a single pallet rate.  If not they have to pay $50 per pallet.

Finally the memo from the customs chief explains procedures for after hour s inspections of containers.

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