THE CUSTOMS Department has reported a smooth implementation of the new system of valuation, which saw new changes being introduced on June 3, 2002.
Assistant Commissioner for Valuation at Customs, Loma Rhoden has attributed the smooth transition to intensive preparation over the past two years, which included restructuring of the Valuation Branch, retraining of workers, desk reviews for importers, the training customs brokers and importers as well as public education.
The changes, which took effect on June 3, are to bring Jamaica's system of valuation in line with World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on Customs Valuation, to which Jamaica became a signatory in 1995. The WTO Agreement provides a system that is based on an internationally approved set of rules under Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT). The decision on Customs Valuation will allow customs administrators to request more information from importers when they have reason to doubt the accuracy of the declared value.
"The new Valuation Branch includes Valuation Verification, Post Entry Audit and Documentation and Research and now has a staff complement of 49, compared to 19 workers in the old Branch. We have prepared the staff through training and we have developed manuals to guide them in implementing the principles of the WTO System," Mrs. Rhoden said.
Desk reviews were conducted for 160 importers who had a standard mark-up on their invoice
values.
