Qatar single window system for sea freight will soon apply to air cargo
2012 04 14
- Details
QATAR has introduced a "single window" facility for sea freight, speeding up clearance and facilitating proper tracking of consignments, which also helps stop fake products from reaching market, reports the Gulf Times.
Qatar Customs has now made it mandatory for all importers to obtain HS Code or Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System, an international system for classifying traded products and link it to their Commercial Registration (CR) and import licence, said the report.
The system exists for sea freight, and will shortly apply to air freight. "No Qatar-based importer is allowed to bring in consignments without the HS code now. Also, importers will have to register with Qatar Customs for the single window facility," a source told Gulf Times.
Importers polled liked "single window" facility, saying it had made clearance faster. Since HS code is now compulsory for sea freight to Qatar, only authorised agents can clear consignments.
This means, only "genuine" products are allowed into the market. As the whole process is tracked, counterfeit products will be seized immediately, said the report.
Also, products that do not tag the place of their manufacturer or country of origin will be "rejected outright and sent back", said a clearing agent. "The whole process is transparent and efficient. I will not be able to clear my sea freight, if I don't have the HS Code entered into my CR, which is filed with Qatar Customs, I will only be allowed to import products that are shown in my CR. It is all online and nobody can play with it. Everything is accounted for."
The HS Code is an international system of names and numbers for classifying traded products created by the World Customs Organisation and used in determining tariffs on items shipped internationally.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
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