Officials approved an amendment to Customs law on Tuesday, April 26 in the afternoon. The amendment approved would allow the General Directorate of Customs to close businesses that maintain inventories of merchandise for sale, distribution, or marketing for 15 calendar days, prior to sanctioning procedures and without having supporting customs documents.
The fine for these companies would be equivalent to the customs value of the merchandise, as long as the act does not constitute a criminal smuggling offense.
This initiative is part of the agenda agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Minister of Finance explained the proposal complies with the standards recognized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
Among the tools that would be given to the Customs Administration in conjunction with this amendment is the use of state-of-the-art technology devices to control the entry and exit of merchandise from the country.
Additionally, the amendment eliminates the submission requirement of a customs declaration or exit document of exported goods.
The new initiative also allows for the possibility of self-correcting the Single Customs Declaration (DUA), and consolidates the authorized economic operator figure.
The file voted on in the first debate implements the exchange of customs information between users and the Administration, so that the procedures can be carried out electronically, through the use of digital signatures or similar technologies.
Finally, the new law allows temporary imports of merchandise with lease contracts and purchase options, and includes measures to help the importing sector make simple and accumulated declarations.
