ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced comprehensive changes in the licensing procedure for the shipping agents including responsibilities of the licensees. The FBR has amended Customs Rules, 2001 through a notification issued here on Thursday.
The revised provision of the qualification test for shipping agents revealed that now each applicant shall deposit a course fee of Rs500 for examination-related expenses in the respective account of the Directorate General of Training and Research (Customs) and its Regional Directorates.
The license and its condition further disclosed that the license may be renewed for a period of five years, if it has remained valid for the last 10 years and no criminal proceedings have been initiated or pending against the licensee.
The licensee in case of any additional charges, other than freight, shall collect and shipping-line them only if mentioned in publicly only agreed charges by shipper and shipping line notified or published tariff of the shipping agent or carrier and is made available to the client or as specifically written on the bill of lading, airway bill or bill of freight, the FBR said.
If mutually agreed between shipper and shipping line, detention tariff per container per day including free days shall be mentioned on the bill of lading, airway bill and bill of freight; otherwise, detention shall be applicable and charged as per local published tariff of the shipping agent or carrier which is made available to the client, the FBR added.
In case of violation in respect of any additional charges other than freight not mutually agreed by shipper and shipping line that are mentioned in publicly notified or published tariff of the shipping agent or carrier and are made available to the client or are not specifically written on the bill of lading, airway bill or bill of freight punitive action envisaged in the Act and these rules shall be initiated against the delinquent licensee following the due process of law, the FBR maintained.
In case of violation in terms of detention charges after lapse of exact free days not mutually agreed by shipper and shipping line and that are mentioned in publicly notified and published tariff of the shipping agent or carrier and are made available to the client or are not specifically written on bill of lading, airway bill or bill of freight, punitive action as envisaged in the Act and these rules shall be initiated against the delinquent licensee following the due process of law.
The FBR said that the licensee shall make arrangements for performing transactions which do not require payment of security deposit and only require payment of security deposit when absolutely necessary.
The changeable amount of security deposit shall be reasonable and the licensee shall refund the security deposit within 15 working days after satisfying their accounts. In case of any delay in refund of security deposit beyond the terminal period, punitive action shall be initiated as per law, the FBR maintained.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2022
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