All consignments must be pre-alerted, and supplier’s invoices sent to Courier Agents/ Small Package Consolidators. Any consignment without supplier’s invoices will not be processed (at the time of sorting), by Customs. These consignments will be secured at the courier facilities/shed #5. These consignments will be subsequently dealt with by customs on the submission of relevant shipping documents.
- Courier Agents/Small Package Consolidators MUST indicate on the Bill of Lading/Airway Bill (BL, AWB), the exporter's name and address. NOTE: Exporter/Shipper field must contain the actual name of the Exporter/Supplier and not the name of the shipping agent or shipping line. This requirement is mandatory, and failure to adhere to this requirement may result in delays in sorting/ processing consignments.
- Courier Agents/Small Package Consolidators, and Customs to sort shipments to identify and release the packages which qualify under the De Minimis System.
- Officers shall sort packages, utilizing the Sorting List generated in ASYCUDA. To print the list, the Manifest must be registered.
- Before or after the sorting process is complete, Courier Agents/Small Package Consolidators shall pay duties and taxes on pre-alerted cargo (i.e. consignments with accompanying supplier’s invoices) on behalf of their clients. This should be done, using the “SD4” Declaration Regime. This arrangement covers non-commercial shipments only.
- Courier Agents/Small Package Consolidators are required to provide the importer with a receipt (Sec 263 of the Customs Act) containing the classification of the goods, the transaction number, and a breakdown of the duties and taxes paid.
- Importers of commercial consignments can designate any registered broker or tariff clerk to act on his/her behalf.
- Duty is payable on all items in a consignment if the consignment does not qualify for De minimis treatment, i.e. if the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) total is over $150.00 XCD. The applicable duty will be charged on items on importation.
- Sorting of cargo will be conducted by officers stationed at the shed in conjunction with a rotating team of officers to aid in making the sorting and delivery faster and more effective.
- The Customs Act # 20 of 2010, provides for severe penalties for offences of:
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- Improper Importation of Goods (section 45),
- Submitting False Declarations (Section186),
- Counterfeiting Documents (section 187)
- Fraudulent Evasion of Duty (section 189).
Where such violations are detected, offenders are liable to be prosecuted or fined and the goods are liable to forfeiture.