The General Authority of Customs (GAC) has issued rules to regulate the work of custom clearance agents.
Ahmed bin Ali Al Mohannadi, Chairman of the GAC, issued decision No 7/2016 to regulate the work of customs clearance agents to enhance quality of custom services and develop the work.
The decision has divided custom clearance companies into three categories - A, B and C - according to their compliance with the rules and standards set up by the Authority. The decision also indicated several conditions and terms that need to be fulfilled by people who want to get licences, in addition to the procedures that need to be followed.
The decision has specified the minimum capital of customs company and the annual clearance for companies in A category has been specified not be less than 7,000 clearances and 3,500 for companies in B category and 500 for C.
The decision has made it clear that clearance company has to operate in a specific zone and must have a specific number of custom agents and representatives and the procedure of cancelling their licenses.
Before issuance of this decision, GAC held a number of consultative meetings with representatives of custom companies as major partners involved in the process of import and exports.
The decision will have great impact on customs’ services along every category of the companies which will encourage them to improve their performances and compete to ensure quality said, Sultan Al Naimi, Director of Customs Affair at GAC. Al Naimi said this step has come in preparation for the opening of the new Hamad Port which will boost the customs work in terms of volume of exports and imports. There will be training courses in cooperation with Qatar Chamber for the customs clearance agents, he added.
