The Customs Department last week embarked on a campaign to sensitise importers, shipping agents and customs brokers on its soon-to-be-launched Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme.

The main objectives of the campaign, which was hosted by the Post Audit Unit of Customs, was to enhance the service delivery of the department to importers, to inform them of their obligations and rights under the initiative and to encourage full compliance in all areas of Government, such as general consumption tax (GCT) returns, income tax returns and customs duties.

Management of risk

"The AEO system is being implemented to facilitate the management of risk and will be offered only to importers during the first phase of its implementation," Commissioner of Customs Danville Walker said. He was speaking at a special meeting with representatives of the shipping industry at the Shipping Association of Jamaica on Friday, June 19.

"The essence of the AEO concept can be found in the Customs-to-business partnerships," Commissioner Walker added. In addressing the representatives, the commissioner asserted that operators under the programme can be accredited by Customs as AEOs when they have proven that they possess high-quality internal processes that will prevent goods in international transport to be tampered with, by:

Ensuring the integrity of the information of the contents of a container/shipment - nothing more or nothing less;

Ensuring the integrity of their employees;

Securing access to their premises to prevent unauthorised persons putting goods in the containers.

Members of the Post Audit Unit, in sensitising importers and brokers who attended the training session on Monday, June 22, advised that the main benefit of being an AEO includes being fast-tracked throughout the system via a special window/area, thus eliminating the usual pre-clearance inspection.

They highlighted that the partnership between importers and Jamaica Customs will be captured in a memorandum of understanding for authorised economic operators. This document will be signed by companies and individuals who have been placed on the AEO system and will outline the terms and conditions of the contract, including consequences for breach of contract.

Breach of contract

"Any breach of the AEO contract will result in the operator being taken from the AEO system and placed on the Unapproved Economic Operator listing," stated Dawn Manning-Dixon, who was the main facilitator for thetraining session. "This simply means that all goods being imported or exported by this operator will be subject to all pre-clearance verification procedures as well as an assessment of value and quality," said Manning-Dixon.

Manning-Dixon reminded the audience of their obligations under the World Trade Organisation agreement to make accurate and complete declarations concerning the importation of goods. She encouraged importers to keep proper records, including audited financial statements, trial balances and general ledger accounts to facilitate an audit at any time by the Post Audit Unit of the Customs Department.

The Authorised Economic Operator programme is expected to be implemented before the end of thecalendar year 2009.

cruise & outports schedule

vessel Port Date

GATEWAY SHIPPING JA LTD

Liberty of the Seas Ocho Rios 30/06

JAMAICA FREIGHT AND SHIPPING

Seaboard Voyager Montego Bay 30/06

Seaboard Venture Montego Bay 02/07

LANNAMAN AND MORRIS (SHIPPING) LTD

Carnival Conquest Montego Bay 01/07

Carnival Freedom Ocho Rios 02/07

Carnival Destiny Ocho Rios 06/07

SEABOARD JAMAICA

Seaboard Voyager Montego Bay 30/06

Seaboard Venture Montego Bay 02/07

SEAFREIGHT JAMAICA LIMITED

Stadt Rendsburg Montego Bay 06/07