Customs mute over degroupage licences

From page 1 According to Little, it would appear that customs currently has its combined minds focused on another problem facing them. This is the fact that - under the new automated manifest acquittal system (MAS) - non-vessel owning common carriers (NVOCCs) will also now have to be included in the customs list of licensed and registered clients. Unlike clearing agents, container depots and bonded warehouses - all of which are already in their books of “known clients” - NVOCCs are mostly unknown names to the authorities. “This, therefore, has been of more concern to them than off-airport degroupage and has taken up a lot more priority.” Pam Cornish, m.d. of Eagle Global Logistics (EGL) - one of the many “have nots” in the clearing industry who are desperately waiting for an off-airport degroupage licence - is even more abrupt. “For the last five years customs has sat on this and done absolutely nothing,” she said. “It’s making the whole industry into “haves and have-nots” - where the “haves” hold an unfair competitive advantage.” At the SAAFF a.g.m., Cornish told FTW, she had had an extensive discussion with customs’ assistant g.m. Beyers Theron on this problem facing the industry. “But he would make no on-the-spot commitment,” she said, “and asked me to submit full details of our problem. “This I did, sending him a full e-mail detailing the whole problem as we see it, and asking for an urgent response.” But, Cornish added: “Since then - nothing but a deathly silence.” FTW heard that same hush. When we telephoned to speak to Theron, we were told he was “on leave” and no other names of who could help us on the issue were available. Theron also failed to respond to a cell-phone voice mail message from FTW before print deadline. Adding fuel to the fire is the Airports Company of SA (ACSA) intention to build its own on-airport degroupage centre as part of its plans for a completely new cargo centre development. Cornish and the other aspirant degroupage operations object to this plan becoming involved in the issue. “Customs told me some time back that ACSA would object to new off-airport degroupage licences being issued,” she said. “But this, quite frankly, is revenue for the Airport Company, and direct competition for the agents. “It is something in which ACSA should not be involved at all but is a matter purely for SA Revenue Services (SARS) customs & excise authorities.” If ACSA decides to go ahead with this plan, Cornish suggested, it should just become another in the chain of degroupage operations looking for a licence. “I’m fed up with all this,” she said. “In the free-market economy we are supposed to have reputable companies obtaining such licences should be a mere formality. “After that, it should be normal competitive conditions ruling the roost.”