THE Committee for Accreditation of Cargo Surveying Companies (CACSC) has accredited another surveyor for all Philippine-bound bulk and breakbulk cargoes.
Belgium-based Bureau Veritas (BV) may now conduct port load inspection and survey on all Philippine-bound bulk and breakbulk shipments. Cotecna Philippines Inc was the first company to secure CACSC accreditation.
The cargo survey and advance clearance system for bulk and breakbulk cargo imports are contained in Administrative Order (AO) No. 243-A. Under the AO, advance information on such shipments is required 12 hours prior to cargo arrival in any Philippine port.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) began requiring advance information on such shipments this month.
Cargo surveying serves as supporting basis for the BOC to determine the correct dutiable weight, quantity, description of goods in tariff terms, and/or cargo make or quality. The cargo survey report is submitted to customs to support declarations made upon importation.
As accredited cargo surveyors, BV and Cotecna will conduct cargo surveying and issue the Load Port Survey Report. The latter shall be issued after a full survey of quantity and quality of the bulk and break-bulk cargo and should contain the following details: cargo quantity, quality, grade, price or value and classification; port of loading; name of vessel; estimated time of departure from port of loading; bills of lading; surveyor’s seals details; ports of call of carrying vessel, if there is any; and such additional testing results as may be required by the BOC necessary in determining the value, tariff classification, and/or assessment of shipments.
