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New guidelines are in place for electronic zone transfer system (e-ZTS) covering the inter-zone goods transfer between PEZA-registered enterprises
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Customs Memorandum Order 19-2022 covers implementation of the e-ZTS for goods transfer from an ecozone export enterprise or an ecozone logistics service enterprise to another EEE or ELSE located in a different PEZA zone
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CMO 19-2022 took effect on July 15
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has issued new rules on Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) firms’ inter-zone goods transfer.
Customs Memorandum Order No. 19-2022 covers adoption of the electronic zone transfer system (e-ZTS) for goods transfer from an ecozone export enterprise (EEE) or an ecozone logistics service enterprise (ELSE) to another EEE or ELSE located in a different PEZA zone.
The order took effect on July 15 and implements Customs Administrative Order No. 11-2019 (guidelines for the admission, movement, and withdrawal of goods in Free Zones) covering BOC-PEZA Joint Memorandum Order No. 2-2015 and the 2018 memorandum of agreement between the two agencies.
BOC and PEZA in 2015 signed the JMO to implement e-ZTS to further facilitate the conduct of business by PEZA-registered enterprises. CMO 40-2015 was issued to implement the JMO and provide guidelines for the electronic transfer of goods from one economic zone logistics service enterprise to its partner locator at a PEZA site.
Much of the operational provisions of CMO 19-2022 are similar to those of CMO 40-2015, particularly on the examination of goods transfer and monitoring of transfer, but now indicates PREs and EEEs instead of just the ELSE operator.
Under CMO 19-2022, all EEE/ELSE locators wanting to transfer their goods to other EEE/ELSE will still be required to post a general transportation surety bond (GTSB), which will still be valid for a period of one year. There will be no need for BOC to check on the GTSB value for “charging/debiting” or for crediting for every transfer of goods under CMO 19-2022.
For the filing and approval of the GTSB, though, added steps were the uploading of secured and approved GTSB by the EEE in the e-ZTS following the procedures outlined in Annex C of CMO 19-2022, and verification of the uploaded GTSB by the BOC/PEZA officer in the e-ZTS.
Computation of the GTSB is still the same pursuant to the JMO.
The approved GTSB must be lodged/uploaded in the e-ZTS prior to the first application or filing of the electronic zone transfer document (e-ZTD), a single document that consolidates and replaces various PEZA permits, including the PEZA boat note.
No PREs can transfer goods to a partner PRE without having posted a GTSB duly approved as provided for in JMO No. 2-2015 and CMO 19-2022.
BOC officials in ecozones will be in charge of duties and responsibilities with respect to the inter-zone transfer of goods. These include, among other things, approving the GTSB to ensure that there is adequate security for the goods being transferred to another PEZA zone; selective examination of the goods covered by the e-ZTD before exiting from the ecozone and upon arrival to the destination ecozone; and support tracking transfer to identify transfers that may have diverted from the intended destination.
The duly designated PRE can still obtain the GTSB required from any BOC-accredited surety companies. – Roumina Pablo
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