THE PRIMARY benefit of being a customs accredited agent is the sheer time saving in the customs clearance of import cargo, according to Chris Scott, MD of Customs Services - supply chain management specialists in the clearing and forwarding industry. “It enables EDI (electronic data interchange) clearances,” he told FTW, “which reduces the time taken for this procedure from a previous two to three working days to a matter of hours. “We are listed by customs, and that means - as “known clients” - that we have a minimal amount of examination of our import consignments by customs.” This, Scott added, also has a major spin-off on the company’s service level to clients. “It makes us that much more competitive in the market place,” he said. A negative is that the agents’ liability was increased. “The amendment to the Customs Act means that agents face more liability in cases of any misdeclaration,” said Scott. “We also had to sign an indemnity for customs - all of which effectively means that customs just can’t lose. “But the reputable companies don’t get hit, and the positives far outweigh the negatives.” Scott feels that the new customs accreditation allows for a streamlining of Customs Services’ business in the clearing and forwarding of cargoes to-and-from South Africa. This benefit, he added, is being felt in the company’s dealings with its main market places of Europe, the Far East, the US, Canada, South America and India. “It’s mostly general cargo but with a special focus on a lot of project cargo. “For example we have just moved a truck-making factory to Iran and metal rolling machines from Italy into SA, and are currently involved in transporting a metal moulding machine from the US to SA.”
