Doha: The General Authority of Customs (GAC) statistics have disclosed that the Authority recorded 327,411 released data in April — a telling increase from March and February, which stood at 301,449 and 249,646, respectively.
The Customs Administration of Air Cargo and Private Airports processed 302,776 data, while the Maritime Customs Administration released 21,239 completed data. According to the statistics, 98 percent of the data were released within an hour, ensuring GAC’s efficiency towards their duties and responsibility. The GAC also transferred 27,015 data to other government agencies.
In April, the United States remained the top importing country after claiming the position from China in March. India extends its hold as the leading exporting country. The Fisheries Department at the Ministry of Municipality displaced the Animal Resources Department to emerge as the Best Government Entity in Release Time, averaging 0.72 hour to release processed data.
The Authority recorded 156 seizures in April, with a 5kg hashish bust as the largest.
Also in the newsletter, Ali Mohammad Al Marri, Head of the Exemptions and Suspension status of Fees Department at the General Authority of Customs (GAC), has stressed the importance of the department in facilitating exemption of customs duties and taxes for goods and imports that fall in that category.
Customs exemptions apply to all imports and particular goods for a specific entity or purpose to achieve economic, political, social or security objectives, whether the exemption includes exemption in whole or in part or is limited to postponing customs tax payment.
Al Marri was quoted by the GAC newsletter disclosing that diplomatic, military exemptions, personal baggage, used household items imported to the country, personal effects and gifts brought with travellers, charitable societies, and returned goods all fall under customs exemptions criteria. However, he stressed charities must not engage in any political activity.
Those applying for personal exemption require a copy of the ID card, passport or residence visa, invoice or document for the new items, approval of the regulatory authorities, air or sea delivery permit and waybill, and cargo manifest in the case of land import or by ships, and a list of the items.
