NBR to evaluate performance of PSI cos before expiry of term
Friday, 19 October 2007
Doulot Akter Mala
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is initiating a move to look into performance of pre-shipment inspection (PSI) companies before expiry of their contract tenure in 2008.
The board has planned to sit with all relevant sections of people including business communities, field level inspectors and commissioners to know their views on continuation of the PSI system.
The government appointed four PSI companies in September, 2005 for a three-year term (up to 2008) to continue with the provision for compulsory pre-shipment inspection (PSI), introduced in 2000.
The companies are Cotecna Inspection SA, SGS (Bangladesh) Limited, Bureau Veritas BIVAC (Bangladesh) Limited, and Intertek Testing Limited.
The customs department of the NBR has sought performance reports of the PSI companies from the commissioners of Dhaka and Chittagong customs houses, sources said.
The board has already issued an order seeking field-level opinions regarding performance of the existing PSI companies.
"The board is planning to sit with trade bodies to get their suggestions about continuation of the PSI system, but I personally believe that the system should be continued until full-fledged automation of the customs houses," a revenue official said.
The PSI companies were appointed to help the customs department, which lacked sufficient logistic support and skilled manpower, to carry out inspection of growing imports, he added.
The NBR was receiving complaints from importers about harassment and delay in getting delivery of their consignments after import valuation by the PSI companies.
Already the board has taken steps to verify the allegation of irregularities against the PSI company M/S Cotecna Inspection SA relating to import of luxury vehicles.
The NBR high-ups arranged a hearing for the PSI company on October 9 on a show-cause notice served by the board.
Sources said the board has the authority to cancel the licence of any PSI company or impose heavy penalty on any of the PSI companies if irregularities are detected.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is initiating a move to look into performance of pre-shipment inspection (PSI) companies before expiry of their contract tenure in 2008.
The board has planned to sit with all relevant sections of people including business communities, field level inspectors and commissioners to know their views on continuation of the PSI system.
The government appointed four PSI companies in September, 2005 for a three-year term (up to 2008) to continue with the provision for compulsory pre-shipment inspection (PSI), introduced in 2000.
The companies are Cotecna Inspection SA, SGS (Bangladesh) Limited, Bureau Veritas BIVAC (Bangladesh) Limited, and Intertek Testing Limited.
The customs department of the NBR has sought performance reports of the PSI companies from the commissioners of Dhaka and Chittagong customs houses, sources said.
The board has already issued an order seeking field-level opinions regarding performance of the existing PSI companies.
"The board is planning to sit with trade bodies to get their suggestions about continuation of the PSI system, but I personally believe that the system should be continued until full-fledged automation of the customs houses," a revenue official said.
The PSI companies were appointed to help the customs department, which lacked sufficient logistic support and skilled manpower, to carry out inspection of growing imports, he added.
The NBR was receiving complaints from importers about harassment and delay in getting delivery of their consignments after import valuation by the PSI companies.
Already the board has taken steps to verify the allegation of irregularities against the PSI company M/S Cotecna Inspection SA relating to import of luxury vehicles.
The NBR high-ups arranged a hearing for the PSI company on October 9 on a show-cause notice served by the board.
Sources said the board has the authority to cancel the licence of any PSI company or impose heavy penalty on any of the PSI companies if irregularities are detected.