Mandatory pre-shipment inspection on the cards
AS CUSTOMS officers battle to control escalating fraud at all entry and exit points in South Africa, the introduction of mandatory pre-shipment inspection of all cargoes is being mooted as a possible solution to the problem.
According to well-placed sources, government is currently finalising a tender document which will result in the appointment of one or several quality inspection companies to act on behalf of SA shippers.
Currently some 40 countries around the world have government contracts with inspection companies requiring pre-shipment inspection of all imports and exports. The inspection company is responsible for checking the contents of the container, sealing it, checking its price etc. This prevents under-invoicing in the case of imports to avoid duty and over-invoicing in the case of exports to score additional foreign exchange.
Currently any pre-shipment inspections are completed at the request of the purchaser.
If inspections become mandatory, based on the experience in other countries, the inspection fee would possibly be incorporated in the import licence fee.
