The Finance Committee of the House of Representatives on Friday, January 3, began deliberating on the Bill to Amend and Integrate the Customs Law, 2080.
Representatives from the Nepal Overseas Exporters Association, Nepal Transit and Warehousing Company Limited, and Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee participated in discussions on the bill.
The proposed legislation aims to streamline and modernize the customs clearance process by making it more systematic, transparent, and accountable, in line with the Revised Kyoto Convention.
Stakeholders raised concerns that certain provisions in the bill, particularly those related to customs charges, could impose additional economic burdens on entrepreneurs and put pressure on their cash flow, reported state-owned news agency RSS.
One of the key points of contention was the provision requiring an additional 50% deposit on duties and customs charges for inspecting goods outside customs areas. The Nepal Overseas Exporters Association, which objected to this provision, called for its amendment, describing it as financially burdensome for entrepreneurs.
Stakeholders advocated for the removal of the value reference book used during customs clearance and for aligning goods classification and coding with the 'harmonized code' within 15 days.
They also sought clarity on the legal provisions regarding the agency responsible for granting permission to operate warehouses, with a preference for public companies to be prioritized in issuing such permits.
Furthermore, Nepal Transit and Warehousing Company Limited suggested including a provision to set a 90-day deadline for the Customs Valuation Review Committee to make decisions. If the committee fails to meet the deadline, applicants should be able to appeal to the Revenue Tribunal.
Anil Kumar Agrawal, Vice-President of the Nepal Overseas Exporters Association, emphasized the importance of establishing clear deadlines for finalizing files under administrative review.
Nepal is a signatory to both the Kyoto Convention and the World Trade Organization's Trade Facilitation Agreement, which require the general provisions of the Revised Kyoto Convention to be implemented within three years and transitional standards within five years.
RSS
