The government is set to approve a rule for imported perishable goods. A report published in this daily on Saturday states that when the draft rule styled 'Perishable Goods Speedy Release and Disposal Regulations-2021' will come into effect, the imported perishable goods will get customs clearance at ports within 48 hours of submission of the bill of entry or export completing all customs procedures.
We appreciate the government’s initiative to introduce this new law that will ensure speedy clearance of imported perishable goods to help keep price of the items under control in the market and the product fresh as well.
The new rule will help reduce
container congestion in the
country’s seaports and airport
Since long country’s trade bodies have been urging the government to take steps for quick release of imported perishable goods from ports. At present, there is no rule for speedy clearance of perishable goods. The National Board of Revenue (NBR), the central authority for tax administration of the government has 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.
These goods are considered perishable because they can be damaged or rotten anytime if get stuck in the seaport or airport for long time. Therefore, we hope this new rule will ensure smooth supply chain that will facilitate economic and trade activities across the country. Besides, container congestion in the country’s seaports and airport will also be reduced.
