The Directorate General Customs Valuation (DGCV) on Wednesday revised the custom duty on imported dates. According to details, the DGCV has issued new valuation ruling for dates' imports after over four years. The earlier customs values of dates were determined vide valuation ruling no. 501 in 2012 and the MCC Quetta has recently determined the customs values of dates of Iran origin imported via land route.
It is, therefore, deemed appropriate to re-determine customs value of dates in order to reflect the prevailing price trends in the local and international markets. This prompted an exercise to re-determine the customs values of subject goods. In this context this Directorate General initiated an exercise for determination of customs values of dates. All stakeholders were called for meeting on January 3, 2017 which was duly attended by all the stakeholders.
All the stakeholders strongly contended and requested that the said valuation ruling may be reviewed in the light of prevailing international and local market prices. The view points of all participants were heard in detail and considered to arrive at fair value of subject goods.
It was also highlighted that the subject goods are perishable items and therefore have got limited shelf life, consequently, near the expiry dates, these perishable items are sold on sale and discounted prices.
The importers said that all these factors may also be considered in fixing value of subject goods and prices were also verified on the basis of location of market in the city and date of expiry of the product in question.
The PRAL database, market information and international prices through web were examined thoroughly. All the gathered information was also analysed for determination of customs value. In case of import from Iran via land route through MCC Quetta, 15 per cent margin in value may be admissible considering the reduced element of freight charges.
In cases where declared/transaction values are higher than the customs values determined in this ruling, the assessing officers shall apply those values in terms of sub-section (1) of section 25 of the Customs Act, 1969. Besides that consignments imported by air, the assessing officer shall take into account the differential between air freight and sea freight while applying the customs values determined in this ruling. The value added products of dates such as filled with almond, honey, chocolates and others will be assessed under section 25 of Customs Act 1969 by clearance collectorate.