At land border stations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has tightened procedures to prevent the misuse of Afghan Transit Cargo during the transfer of cargo from one container to another, including the transfer of reverse transit cargo that is not containerized into open trucks.
The Customs Rules, 2001 were amended in this regard by a notification that was released on Monday by the FBR.
According to the updated guidelines, cross-stuffing from one container to another of the same size—i.e., 20 feet into 20 feet and 40 feet into 40 feet—shall occur under Customs supervision. In boxed trucks authorised to transport freight under Transports Internationaux Routiers, cross-stuffing may also be permitted (TIR).
The FBR has said that the process of “cross stuffing” means the transfer of goods from one container to another container or any other mode of transportation which is approved for TIR operations, on the premises of the port or at an off-dock terminal under customs supervision and shall also include the transfer of non-containerized reverse transit cargo into open trucks of approved transport operators at land border stations.
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The revised rules say that the cross-stuffing of containerized cargo under Afghan transit trade shall be allowed both inside the seaport terminal where cargo arrived as well as at any approved off-dock terminals (ODT) at separately demarcated areas. At the time of filing of Goods Declaration (GD), the Customs Computerized System (CCS) shall provide the option for cross stuffing.
The logistic companies, bonded carriers, clearing agents and ODTs owning a minimum of 25 containers, compliant with Container Safety Convention 1972, fitted with CSC plate, and bearing maximum weight carrying capacity and year of manufacture can register with customs for provision of empty containers for cross-stuffing of transit cargo, the rules state.
According to the rules, the trader or his representatives must also provide information about the old container number(s), new container number(s), or empty container number(s), the name of the bonded carrier, and the registration number of the vehicle if they choose to cross stuff at the seaport terminal.
For the given GD, the CCS must concurrently generate three messages with all the data that the trader has provided.
