Imported perishable goods are expected to get customs clearance at ports within 48 hours of submission of the bill of entry or export completing all customs procedures with the government set to approve a rule in this regard soon.
Sources said a rule with a provision to release imported perishable items within 48 hours from ports is now at the final stage, and has been prepared in response to the request of the country's leading trade bodies.
In line with the government's instruction, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has already drafted the rule styled 'Perishable Goods Speedy Release and Disposal Regulations-2021' and sent it to all stakeholders for their opinions, NBR sources said.
"NBR's customs wing has prepared the draft on the basis of a series of discussions with the field-level customs officials. We would finalise the rule accommodating the opinions from all the parties concerned," said the NBR official.
At present, there is no rule for speedy clearance of perishable goods, but customs usually try faster release of those goods under their own best practices.
Trade bodies mainly the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) have long been lobbying the government to take steps for quick release of imported perishable goods from ports.
NBR sources said it has sent the draft rules to major stakeholders, including FBCCI, DCCI, MCCI, CCCI, Federation of Bangladesh Customs Clearing and Forwarding Agents Association, port authorities across the country and managing director of Biman Bangladesh seeking their opinions.
Sources said the customs audit, modernisation and international trade wing also held a virtual meeting with the stakeholders last month on the draft rules.
NBR's customs member, Khondaker Muhammad Aminur Rahman chaired the meeting, which decided to incorporate two new provisions in the draft as per opinions of the stakeholders.
A provision for providing assessment certificates within the day of examination will be included in the rules, said the official.
The assessment of perishable goods will be conducted on the basis of second-appraisement, he added.
The NBR framed the draft rules as per condition of the Trade Facilitation Agreement of the World Trade Organisation to facilitate ease of doing business.
In the draft, the NBR has incorporated 64 perishable goods- including edible oil, fertiliser, raw tobacco, rawhide, all types of seeds including potato, salt, milk and milk products, fish, fruit, live animals, medicine, raw materials for medicines, pulse, sugar, frozen fish and meat, chocolate, biscuit, tea, onion, garlic, ginger and other spices, food items with six-month validity, cosmetics with six-month validity and other goods with risks of faster quality fall etc - to be considered for faster clearance.
As per WTO-TFA, customs authorities should ensure fast-track clearance of perishable goods.
In the meeting with the customs wing, the C&F agents proposed considering the differences between net weight and gross weight of such goods and following the 'Customs Valuation Rules-2000' while framing the regulation, as per the meeting minutes.
C&F agents demanded a separate scanning machine for perishable goods in the import cargo complex of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
The C&F agents of Dhaka also alleged that Bangladesh Biman was charging cold storage fees for all perishable goods despite not having the facility for all products.
Chattogram Customs C&F association proposed that the customs accept certificates issued from country of origin as per BDS (Bangladesh Standard) of BSTI.
A representative of the Mongla port authority suggested expediting the release of exportable goods, which have been sent back for some reason, by the exporters.
MCCI representatives recommended establishing a separate desk for the release of perishable goods, arranging more cold storages, introducing single window facility, and preparing the rules in consultation with the stakeholders.
As per the draft rules, customs will be able to sell or transfer the seized and unreleased perishable goods, which could not be disposed of through auction due to various reasons, to the state-owned agencies such as Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) at minimum prices.
Customs officials will complete all procedures, including customs assessment and examination to release the import and export goods, within 48 hours of submission of the bill of entry if taxes and duties are cleared.
There will also be a specific desk or group of officials at customs houses to handle the perishable goods.
As per the draft rules, importers, exporters or C&F agents will have to inform the certification authority such as BSTI, atomic energy or quarantine authorities along with customs authority prior to import or export of perishable goods.
Importers will be able to submit bills of entry or bills of export anytime within 48 hours for perishable goods, irrespective of day or night.
However, customs will not follow the 48-hour timeline for release of perishable goods in case of having instructions of customs intelligence, risk management or if the products are selected for physical inspection on a random basis.