CONTAINERS AND CUSTOMS: GUIDE TO EASIER PASSAGE
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BRITISH Customs last year reduced the pro
portion of containers which must be opened before shipment for export. The relaxation benefits in general only containers of those drawback goods and goods re-exported after temporary importation which are made available for first examination at the exporter's or packer's premises. It does not include high duty goods such as wines, spirits, beer and tobacco.
Packers, carriers, shipping and forwarding agents and similar traders who are independent of the exporters and who not only pack the containers but retain control of them up to the point of shipment may qualify as "approved containers operators". says a Customs statement this week.
Provided that approved operators give an undertaking to comply with certain conditions about the documentation of goods, and securing of containers and production before shipment, only a small proportion of containers they ship will normally have to be opened for examination at the port of shipment.
Particulars of the conditions with which operators must comply before they may be approved are obtainable from any Customs and Excise office. Application for approval should be made to the local Customs and Excise officer.
Other operators unable to comply with the conditions necessary For approval. and those exporters who themselves pack the goods into containers for exportation under revenue control, can achieve a substantial reduction in the number of containers required to be opened for examination before shipment, by adopting the following procedure. They should:— • Show on the shipping bills relating to the particular goods subject to revenue control.
"Goods packed into container No • Furnish a list of the contents of each container showing the marks and numbers of the internal packages, the quantity and description of the goods and the reference numbers of the related shipping bills.
• Present the list of contents together with the relative shipping bills to the Customs officer at the place of shipment (after pre-entry at the Custom house where necessary).
• Pack drawback goods and any other goods under revenue control in an accessible position near the container door.