NBR instructs release of goods of bonded enterprises even in case of minor discrepancies
Considering the greater interest of export trade and on an urgent basis, NBR has issued an instruction to resolve such complexities regarding the clearance of goods of bonded enterprises
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has directed customs houses to clear consignments for bonded factories without detention or fines, even if there are minor discrepancies between the declared HS Code or product description and the actual goods.
In a press release issued today (9 September), the NBR said that bonded industries will now be able to clear their imported raw materials even in cases where such variations exist.
It has come to the attention of the NBR that sometimes, due to various reasons, the HS Code or product description declared in the bond license, entitlement sheet, or relevant Utilization Declaration (UD) of a bonded warehouse license-holding enterprise, or in the declaration submitted for clearance of imported goods by such enterprise, differs from the HS Code or product description determined by the Customs authority through physical examination.
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Such differences often cause delays in the customs clearance process, and as a result, consignments are not released on time, creating obstacles to the timely shipment of export goods as per export orders, said an NBR press release.
Considering the greater interest of export trade and on an urgent basis, NBR has issued an instruction to resolve such complexities regarding the clearance of goods of bonded enterprises.
According to this instruction, if goods are declared for import based on the product description and HS Code included in the bond license, but the Customs authority determines a different HS Code or product description, and if the first four digits of the determined HS Code match the first four digits of the HS Code included in the bond license, then the consignment can be released promptly from the concerned Customs House upon submission of an undertaking to include that HS Code or product description in the bond license.
In addition, if goods are declared for import based on the product description and HS Code included in the bond license, but the Customs authority determines a different HS Code, the bonded enterprise may include that HS Code in its entitlement through the Customs Bond Management System (CBMS) and clear the goods within a maximum of two days.
NBR believes that by properly following this instruction, it will be possible to make the export activities of bonded enterprises simpler, faster, and more cost-effective, thereby playing a positive role in the overall export growth of the country and in earning foreign currency.
