The Department of Finance (DOF) has extended the application period for Philippine importers and brokers with valid and existing accreditation to June 30, 2014 — or the original expiration of their Bureau of Customs (BOC) accreditation, whichever comes earlier.
The original deadline for those with immediately expiring accreditation was May 31, 2014.
Under Department Order No. 33-2014 dated May 21 signed by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, failure to file the proper and complete application by June 30 will result in automatic cancellation of such accreditation, effective July 1, 2014, or the date of expiration as indicated in the accreditation, whichever is earlier.
The order took effect immediately and was issued to give importers and brokers with valid and existing accreditation ample time to fulfill the accreditation requirements, the DOF said in a statement.
There have been widespread complaints among stakeholders of long lines and delayed accreditation at the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) as well as ill-informed staff at the agency. Stakeholders have specifically cited BIR for being ill equipped to handle the sheer volume of all importers and customs brokers that had to secure the importer clearance certificate (ICC) or broker clearance certificate (BCC) — the first stage of accreditation process that will enable them to import and transact business with Customs.
In the second and final stage of accreditation, importers and brokers will present the ICC and BCC to the Bureau of Customs to be able to enter the customs premises.
Image courtesy of pandpstock001 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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This topic along with many others related to customs, transport, trade and logistics will be tackled at the Mindanao Shipping Conference 2014 scheduled on June 18, 2014 at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City. Email info@portcalls for inquiries.
4 comments
During the public forum held last March on this issue the BIR speaker specifically advised that all existing ICC and BCC expiring March to June will have to apply immediately, July to September should start applying a month after, then those with October to December will need to apply 3 months before their licenses expired.
Will this still be applicable? Our own license will expire Jan 2015.
Hi Monita.
As far as we know, this ruling still applies.
In addition, kindly note the BOC has issued a revised CMO on the accreditation of importers and customs brokers. Go to http://www.scribd.com/doc/225766999/Bureau-of-Customs-Memorandum-Order-11-2014-revising-guidelines-for-registration-of-importers-and-customs-brokers
for a copy of the CMO. Hope this helps. Thanks.
Are PEZA registered companies required to secure BIR-ICC?
As far as we know, yes.
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