Clearance of perishable goods, live animals: Customs to give priority under ATTA

Pakistan''s customs authorities would give priority to the consignments of live animals, perishable goods and other goods of urgent nature for customs clearance for transit to Afghanistan under the new Afghan Transit Trade Rules 2011. Sources told Business Recorder here on Thursday that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a new provision of ''priority to certain consignments'' in the Afghan Transit Trade Rules 2011.
According to the new rules, the contracting parties (Pakistan or Afghanistan) shall grant, at any customs office during a customs transit operation, priority to consignments consisting of live animals, perishable goods and of other urgently needed goods for which rapid transport is essential.
The Afghan Transit Trade Rules 2011 stated that for transport of dangerous goods under customs transit, special permission shall be obtained from the relevant authorities of the concerned Contracting Party (Pakistan or Afghanistan).
In case of loss, destruction, or shortage of the cargo en route, the rules said that when it is established to the satisfaction of the customs authorities that goods specified in the transit documents/GD have been destroyed or have been irretrievably lost by accident or other unforeseen events en route or that they are short by reason of their nature, payment of duties and taxes normally due, shall be waived.
Another provision relating to the cancellation of goods declaration (GD) said that in case of short shipment of cargo clearing agent shall produce the short shipment letter from shipping company and request the appropriate officer of ATG for cancellation of Good Declaration. Principal Appraiser of ATG shall allow for cancellation of GD on payment of usual fee. In case of change of clearing agent by the importer, new clearing agent will submit the request of Afghan consignee for change of clearing agent along with previous Good Declaration (AT), NOC letter from previous clearing agent certifying that the goods has not been cleared/removed from the Port after approval, the clearing agent shall file fresh GD on payment of usual amendment fee. Thereafter, it shall be submitted to the import section for cancellation in computer system, new Afghan Transit Trade Rules 2011 added.