The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has exempted a wide range of imports from pasting packing list and invoices inside the door of import containers for clearance of iron/steel/aluminium scrap, old and used vehicles, unpacked bulk cargo, imports under Duty and Tax Remission for Export (DTRE) scheme, old and used machinery, bulk imports of petrochemical and defence cargo.
According to an FBR announcement here on Monday, the board has withdrawn a provision in the Customs rules requiring all imported cargo entered in the customs area for clearance to be accompanied by a copy of packing list and invoice. Earlier, the board had added a new chapter XVIII under SRO No 198(I)/2005, dated February 28, 2005 to the Customs Rules, 2001, whereby all imported cargo entered in the customs area for clearance was to be accompanied with a copy of packing list and invoice.
However, the board through its letter No 3(1)L&P/05 of May 20, 2006 relaxed the said provision temporarily. The issue was re-examined recently in consultation with the Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Clearing Agents Associations and it has been decided to withdraw the above said letter of the board.
As a result, provision of Sub-chapter-I of Chapter XVIII of Customs Rules, 2001 shall become operational for all categories of goods except the old and used motor vehicles imported under various schemes; iron, steel and aluminium scrap; unpack bulk cargo like coal and raw cotton; goods imported under DTRE scheme; imports under section 22 of the Customs Act, 1969; old and used machinery; bulk imports of petrochemical; and defence cargo.
The provision of sub-chapter-I of Chapter XVIII shall apply from October 5, 2009. The FBR has advised the importers to make arrangements with their foreign exporters to make sure that invoice and packing list are kept inside the containers of import.
As far as imports under section 22 are concerned, the board has exempted imports under section 22 of the Customs Act, 1969 from pasting packing list and invoices inside the door of import containers. The section 22 is related to the re-importation of goods produced or manufactured in Pakistan. If goods produced or manufactured in and exported from Pakistan are subsequently imported into Pakistan, such goods shall be liable to customs-duties and be subject to all the conditions and restrictions.
When contacted, a tax expert said that since iron and steel scrap are being sold by organised sector under a formal contract and their invoices should be pasted inside the containers invoices, the invoices of iron and steel scrap inside the container would help in ascertaining their actual customs value based on authentic invoice.
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