THE European Commission (EC) has suspended the collection of penalties on shippers non-compliant with the European Union's new import control system (ICS).
EU-member states (MS) were given a free hand in determining the length of the grace period, which should not exceed six months after the full implementation of the ICS on January 1, 2011.
Under the ICS, shippers sending goods to the EU will have to provide EU Customs advance information 24 hours prior to loading for seafreight and four hours prior to arrival to its first destination for airfreight.
The advance information should be transmitted electronically to EU Customs' accredited value-added service providers. The declarant should also be accredited or registered with the EU Customs before it can lodge its cargo declaration.
Non-accredited shippers may continue trading with EU businesses as long as their partner-businesses within the region are accredited.
Non-accredited Philippine exporters should secure authorization from their carrier (for seafreight) and EU-accredited freight forwarder (for airfreight) so they can use their provider's Economic Operator Registration Identification (EORI) in declaring information into EU Customs.
The EORI is the single identification number issued by EU Customs to accredited firms and supply chain operators that comply with EU Customs' requirements.
EU Customs will have to approve the lodged declaration first before the cargo is loaded onto the vessel. If this process is not followed, the cargo may be deemed tainted and subject to further examination or outright rejection when the vessel or aircraft reaches its first port of destination within the 27-member nation EU.
Philippine value-added service provider InterCommerce Network Service (INS) has forged an agreement with CONEX, an EU Customs-accredited value-added service provider, that will allow Philippine shippers to EU to lodge their advance information through INS and onto CONEX then eventually to EU Customs.
