The Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative (MCLI) isfacilitating further briefing sessions on the proposed changes to the Road Cargo Manifest procedures for the Mozambique Revenue Authority (MRA).
According to MCLI CEO, Barbara Mommen, these amendments were introduced by the MRA last month in an effort to reduce congestion at the KM4 terminal in Ressano Garcia and to speed up the processing of exports by road into Mozambique.
She cited data from the MRA, pointing out that foreign trucking companies made up 80% of the transporters moving export goods via South Africa and Swaziland to Mozambique.
Currently, South African companies are required to present a cargo manifest to the South African Revenue Service (Sars) before leaving South Africa, while the importer of the goods provides a declaration to the MRA through the offices of a clearing agent.
“The World Customs Organisation (WCO) best practice indicates that the transporter should make the declaration as the importer does not transport the goods and should not have to present a cargo manifest,” said Mommen.
According to her, the intended changes to the procedure will not only bring the current process in line with the WCO recommendations, but will improve the customs procedure and curb smuggling and tax evasion.
The implementation of the new process – run by the MRA in conjunction with Sars – will be preceded by a pilot project so as to ensure as smooth as possible a transition to the new single customs manifest procedure.
Interested parties can contact MCLI on admin@mcli.co.za or +27 13 744 0293 for dates and venues of the briefing sessions.
The MRA has requested that transporters who are interested in participating in the pilot project contact MCLI in order to apply by sending an email with the following subject line: ‘MRA SCM Pilot Project’ to admin@mcli.co.za
