A total of 87 Philippine importers can’t have their expired Bureau of Customs (BOC) accreditation reactivated until they can provide acceptable reasons for why their shipments were seized.
The importers, which were included in a list posted by BOC on January 24, have had their Client Profile Registration System (CPRS) either expired or suspended, and have warrants of seizure and detention (WSD) issued against their shipments.
BOC said these importers are prohibited from reactivating their expired accreditation “due to failure to provide satisfactory explanation on WSD Issuances given to them.”
BOC Public Information and Assistance Division chief Rey Santos, in a text message to PortCalls, said the prohibition is only until the companies can submit an explanation that satisfies BOC’s Accounts Management Office (AMO), which oversees the accreditation of importers and customs brokers.
Late last year, Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faledon said they are reviewing the list of BOC-accredited importers and customs brokers, and will be delisting or suspending erring ones starting this year.
On January 13, BOC announced an initial list of 71 importers—some of them publicly listed companies—and their customs brokers that had their shipments seized at Port of Manila and Manila International Container Terminal, and are currently under investigation for possible violation of customs laws.
The accreditations of 11 importers included in the initial list are scheduled for suspension starting February.
Early this year, AMO started sending “show cause” orders to the initial batch of importers and customs brokers whose shipments were seized due to violations and were issued WSD.
AMO chief Mary Grace Malabed earlier said the importers were given three days to explain why they should not be delisted. She noted that the deadline for responding to the order was indicated in the email and mail sent out by AMO.
If the companies failed to respond or the investigation showed they had violated customs rules, a recommendation to suspend their accreditation would be sent to the importer or customs broker, which in turn could still file for a motion for reconsideration with the customs commissioner.
Malabed said the initial batch of importers being eyed for suspension included importers against whose shipments a WSD had been issued.
She said Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon has directed that once a WSD is issued, a recommendation for suspension should be issued at once.
Faeldon earlier said BOC will be publishing more lists of importers and customs brokers that have committed possible violations in other ports. – Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of Keerati at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
