Helping to build customs compliance capacity

Never before has the global
trading, shipping, clearing
and customs community
experienced such a radical
change and complete
legislative overhaul in the
landscape of Sars customs
compliance, says GMLS
managing director Mark
Goodger.
“The new Customs Acts
clearly define the new
concepts of “self compliance
and self determination”.
“Sars is in fact going
a step further and has
introduced measures to
directly assess and examine
the skill and capacity of
people conducting customs
business with them. This
applies to all traders in the
preferred trader programme
(PT) as well as customs
brokers (as clearing agents
will be known under the
new Act).”
What stands out, however,
is the fact that the basics of
HS classification, valuation
and origin remain the
same, says Goodger. “Yet
this professional expertise
is only retained through a
few remaining experts in
the field, and the general
majority of those performing
customs compliance are
reduced to data typists.”
Through its WCO, ICC
and INCU expertise, GMLS
is committed to ensuring
that this training and
capacity is revived, says
Goodger. “In collaboration
with its university partners,
GMLS aims to introduce
accredited customs
compliance certificated
courses at all levels.”