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Importers are now allowed automatic renewal of their accreditation under Bureau of Customs amended procedures
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Customs Administrative Order 07-2022 aims to simplify the accreditation process for importers, including the use of mandatory receipt of electronic notices
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A processing fee of P2,000 will be required for new applications or renewal of accreditation, double the current P1,000 charge for both new and renewal applications
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) now allows automatic renewal of importer accreditation under Customs Administrative Order 07-2022.
The order aims to simplify accreditation procedures for importers, including the use of mandatory receipt of electronic notices.
Under the CAO, accreditations will still be valid for one year from the date of approval, unless suspended, revoked or cancelled. An accreditation, however, may now be automatically renewed by BOC for certain instances provided under CAO 07-2022 and subject to submission of the required documentation.
Signed by Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero and approved by then Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III on June 28, CAO 07-2022 takes effect 15 calendar days after its publication on the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Guerrero early this year said BOC was working on a new order that would allow automatic extension of accreditation of importers and customs brokers in good standing. In August last year, BOC sought comments on its proposed CAO on the accreditation of importers.
CAO 07-2022 covers all importers who will transact with BOC in relation to the importation, movement, and clearance of goods.
It also governs the accreditation of the following importers:
- Other government agencies or instrumentalities
- Foreign embassies, consulates, legations, agencies of other foreign governments
- International organizations with diplomatic status and recognized by the Philippine government, including foreign workers and consultants
- Foreign officials and employees of foreign embassies, legates, consular officers, and other representatives of foreign governments
According to CAO 07-2022, only accredited or registered importers can transact with the BOC using its automated customs processing system.
All applicants for accreditation must enroll in the Customs Profile Registration System (CPRS) and also disclose in the CPRS their responsible officers, declarants, if any, and other material information.
The importer’s declarant, other than a registered and licensed customs broker, will be registered with the CPRS and authorized to act as such for only one importer.
BOC may also allow one-time accreditation privilege to importers with a high level of customs compliance record under its Authorized Economic Operator program and other trade facilitation programs.
BOC will issue separate guidelines for the application for accreditation of the following importers:
- Non-regular importers
- Importers of postal items
- Importers of goods cleared exclusively through informal entry process, unless allowed by BOC’s automated system
- Registered business enterprises/locators of free zones
- Other importers as may be determined by the commissioner
These importers will still be subject to the same responsibilities and penalties provided under CAO 07-2022.
Third-party importers transacting with BOC on behalf of importers and consignees will be treated equally as true importers or consignees, and will be liable for acts that violate customs laws.
A processing fee of P2,000 will be charged for new applications or renewal of accreditation, double the current processing fee of P1,000 for both types of application. The fee will be reviewed periodically in accordance with the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and other applicable rules and regulations.
A first time or new applicant should file his application by opening a ticket in the Customer Care Portal System (available online through BOC’s website) and upload scanned copies of the required documents, with the hard copies to be submitted to the Account Management Office (AMO) or its equivalent office, or any other office as may be directed by the commissioner through BOC’s Customer Care Centers.
BOC in 2021 shifted to online application in a bid to facilitate the accreditation process.
CAO 07-2022 provides new documentary requirements for both new and renewal accreditations. Among these is the requirement for geotagged photos of the office and warehouse/storage area pursuant to Customs Memorandum Order No. 08-2022, and the list of importables, which was first required in 2014 but was removed in 2019.
An accredited importer may apply for automatic renewal of application by submitting the following documents online to the AMO or its equivalent unit at least seven working days prior to its accreditation expiration:
- Request for automatic renewal
- Affidavit of No Change in Business Information
- BOC receipt showing payment of processing fee for renewal of accreditation
- Clearance from concerned offices within BOC indicating that there is no outstanding liability from the Collection Service; no warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) has been issued against its shipments, or its WSD has been resolved in favor of the importer; and has no pending case or has not been subject to investigation by the Legal Service
- Additional requirements as may be determined by BOC
CAO 07-2022 notes that BOC will issue a separate CMO providing the criteria, parameters and procedures for the automatic renewal of accreditation of importers, including the use of a uniform template in the Clearance for Automatic Renewal.
The CAO also lists the importers’ responsibilities in relation to application for accreditation, goods declaration, payment of all duties, taxes and other charges due on the imported goods; post-clearance; and cooperation on CMTA enforcement.
It also lists the penalties to be imposed for violation of these responsibilities, with the violations categorized as light infractions, less grave infractions, and grave infractions and first, second, and third violations.
An importer, responsible officers in case of partnerships, corporations or cooperatives; and the declarant, if any, will be barred or blacklisted from transacting with BOC if convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude after filing an application for accreditation or during the period of its validity.
An importer’s accreditation with BOC may also be suspended, cancelled or revoked, preventing the importer from lodging or processing the goods declaration in BOC’s automated system.
Accreditations may be cancelled upon written request by importers. All revoked accreditations will be reflected as “cancelled” until BOC’s automated system has been accordingly modified to reflect the actual status of those accreditations.
The suspension or revocation of the importer’s accreditation, meanwhile, may only be set aside or lifted temporarily if approved by the Customs commissioner or the duly authorized representative, subject to the issuance by BOC of the procedure for the purpose.
BOC will also issue the procedure to afford due process to the importer whose accreditation has been suspended, revoked, or blacklisted.
BOC, meanwhile, will establish an efficient, IT-based mechanism to monitor compliance by accredited importers, such as verification of documents or post-inspection of office, and/or warehouse/storage facility if available, and inclusion of the ultimate consignee in the goods declaration processed by a third-party importer. – Roumina Pablo
