ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has completed pilot phase of Pak-China Electronic Data Exchange (EDE) System and directed all the Customs collectorates to make necessary preparations for its proper implementation.
The notification was issued by FBR Secretary Reforms and Automation Naghma-e-Tehniat in this regard. As per notification, FBR Customs Wing instructed Chief Collector Customs (North) Islamabad Dr Jawwad Uwais Agha, Chief Collector Customs (Central) Lahore Zeba Hai Azhar, Chief Collector Customs (Enforcement) Karachi Manzoor Memon and Chief Collector Customs (Appraisement) Karachi Abdul Rasheed Sheikh to ensure effective utilization of information received from China Customs under Electronic Data Exchange (EDE).
The authority also instructed that customs agents filing import Goods Declaration (GD) will ensure that the requirements of WeBOC like declaring Certification of Origin, number and date issued by China Customs are fulfilled while claiming benefit under SRO related to Pak-China Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA).
The chief collectors have been advised to make sure that the system will cross match Certification of Origin, number and date with the data received from the China Customs and make available the Certification of Origin and export GD through EDE mechanism on Assessment Screen.
The authority also instructed the chief collectors that the assessing officer will be able to view the data for system-based verification of Certification of Origin and proper assessment of GD received electronically from China Customs while result or denial of benefit of FTA by the assessing officer will be electronically communicated to the Chinese side through EDE.
The chief collectors have further been advised that the data of all consignments exported from China after the date of implementation of EDE system will be available in WeBOC.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has made the required changes to give legal cover to the information that it will receive from China and use for valuation of goods. Any information or data obtained may be utilised for the purpose of assessment including valuation, according to an amendment proposed in the Section 25AA of the Customs Act of 1969.
It is important to mention here that the Electronic Data Exchange System was implemented on May 28, 2018 after successful pilot completion.
The original deadline to make the new system operational was April 1, which was rescheduled to April 30 but it was delayed due to different reasons till May 28.
