Customs demands original invoices for clearance

IMPORTERS USED to an easy time with what sort of invoice they present to customs for clearance beware!
There is now a distinct tightening up of this area of customs activity - and only original, fully-detailed invoices will be acceptable in future. Copy invoices may only be used on specific occasions and always at the sole discretion of customs. If the suppliers reproduce invoices mechanically, then these will have to be authenticated with original signatures and stamps if customs is going to accept them.
All this, say Customs, is being done to remove problems in the correct classification of goods for duty purposes, and as another deterrent against the common problem of fraud.
Currently, many shipments are being cleared on invoices that fall short of the requirements in the Customs Act. This is raising difficulties in classification of goods and collecting correct duties. It is also resulting in a lot of shipments to importers being delayed - with all the associated costs.
Also, unscrupulous importers are taking advantage of this previous laxness by customs, and duty fraud is becoming an everyday occurrence.
But, say Customs, they will now be rigorously applying regulations regarding invoicing.
Also - it is now legally required that invoices be in one of the official languages. Customs suggest that suppliers might, therefore, want to plump for English as a convenient invoicing language.