iCASE to make doing business with customs easier

KINGSTON — Commissioner of Customs, Danville Walker, says the Integrated Customs Automated Services (iCASE), to be introduced shortly, will make the business of importing and exporting easier, and ease the strain on the department.

“The truckers would put in their data, the freight forwarders etc… (and) the Custom entries would draw from that information. We wouldn’t have to worry about somebody submitting false declarations… Customs wouldn’t have to waste so much time opening so many boxes, because you have a system that’s intelligent and smarter,” he said.

“That is just smart business,” he said, noting that the system would save cost, which would mean more revenue for the department.

Mr. Walker was addressing the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce’s forum on May 18 at the Wyndham Hotel in New Kingston under the theme: ‘Customs 2011/2012 Revenue Initiative and Strategies’.

An Internet-based system, iCASE provides an electronic alternative to filing many of the paper documents used by Customs. Brokers, importers, exporters, shipping agents and other agents and agencies can use the portal to do business and interact with Customs online from anywhere in the world.

According to the Commissioner of Customs, the electronic export application is a critical platform for information, and he urged all stakeholders to prepare to conform. “I suggest everybody start to brush up because very shortly, the only way you will be able to export anything out of Jamaica, (is to) use iCASE,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner said the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), implemented in 2009, has been well received. 

The system seeks to encourage importers to become compliant with the Customs Act Regulation and other laws governing import and export.

Importers must meet the following criteria to achieve the AEO status: be fully tax compliant; ensure that import documents clearly outline the contents of each shipment; must have a good track record in providing proper invoices/non-fictitious invoices; have a permanent address; always make records available for audit by Customs and adhere to the Customs Act.

“What this system does is separate the good from the bad.  (Formerly) Customs’ approach was to check everything coming in…now, if you qualify, then we allow the importer to take the cargo, then do the checks after,” Mr. Walker explained.

By ALPHEA SAUNDERS, JIS Reporter