Import from Worldwide through Main Ports (Attached) to the SCZone
Description and Purpose of Process
These procedures apply to the SCZone projects, its employees, or agents authorized by the validity of a bank signature in favor of the project to finalize the procedures of importing from countries of the world through the main ports attached to the SCZone. All information related to the import process and the necessary procedures are provided for the SCZone projects to comply with when submitting the inbound form for SCZone Authority approval on importing goods from abroad. Goods imported to the SCZone from abroad, under the Economic Zones of Special Nature system through its attached ports, are transported by the direct transit system using another means of transport under the carrier’s liability to the inspection area in the customs complex of the SCZone customs logistic center, without being stored during the delivery and receipt process. (Goods enter the SCZone through the Fast Track Gate as a service provided to the SCZone projects only in case of import from SCZone attached ports)
Process Diagram
Key Steps of Work Procedures
Starting the registration process of the project in the SCZone, and submitting an inbound form for the SCZone Authority approval on import from abroad using the official forms to initiate and start the customs procedures.
Submitting a request for getting the ACID number from the Customs Authority
Completing the standard procedures in the Central Manifest department and submitting the customs declaration
Transporting goods to the Economic Zone and completing the inspection procedures
Releasing and delivery of goods to the project, in addition to updating the project’s inventory balance
Regulatory Requirements and Controls
1
A valid commercial register
2
A valid operating license or permit to practice the project activity
3
Tax card
4
The company is registered at the Customs Stakeholder Unit, by virtue of a letter submitted by the SCZone Authority
5
The quantity within the limits of the annual production capacity and of the goods needed to practice the activity (in the case of industrial projects)
Shipping and Commercial Supporting Documents
Two copies of the cargo manifest
Delivery order
Invoice
Packaging list
Surety approved by Customs
SCZone Authority Procedures
1. The project shall submit to the SCZone Authority an original and copy of the declaration using the specific form, indicating that the goods are imported under the Economic Zones system attached with a detailed initial invoice listing the goods items to be imported, so that the Authority can verify that they are necessary to carry out the project’s activity before shipping them, or if there are any restrictions thereon
2. The Authority shall approve the declaration stating that the project operates under the economic zones system and that the goods mentioned in the declaration are of the items necessary for carrying out the licensed activity inside the SCZone
SCZone Procedures
1- The project or company obtains the ACID number
2- The shipping agent starts the shipping procedures from abroad by submitting the shipping documents electronically to the customs department in the SCZone customs complex through one of the following ways :-
- EDI system
- XML
- Direct submission by the external offices of the shipping agencies or their representatives
- Online submission through the official portal of the Economic Zone for customs services
- Direct submission by the employee of the customs logistics center in SCZone
3- The shipping agent, stakeholder, or their representative shall submit a request to the Central Manifest department to complete the transport procedures to the project site through the direct transit system and shall attach to it the above mentioned shipping and commercial documents
4- The Central Manifest department reviews these extracts against the original shipping documents
5- The Central Manifest department sends a copy of the extracts to the Traffic department in the inspection area located in the customs department of the SCZone customs complex – in the developed customs logistics center – with its approval to transfer goods. The Central Manifest department keeps the original documents
6- The goods shall be transferred to the inspection area by virtue of a customs transfer document attached with a copy of the invoice and packing list, in addition to submission of one of the accepted sureties to Customs with the value of duties and taxes. The customs seals number shall be clarified on the transfer document and the Authority’s permit
7- The means of transportation or the containers shall be stamped with the customs seal or SMART-LOCK (if available), and tracked by a GPS tracking device (if available) and this is all proven in the Transfer Control Document (TCD)
8- When the shipment arrives at the entry gate of the inspection area, the validity of seals is checked and their numbers shown on the Authority’s permit are verified. The shipment is checked through X-RAY devices for conformity
9- Inspection procedures are carried out by a joint committee consisting of a SCZone Authority officer, Customs officer, and a representative of the project (who is authorized to have a valid signature from the legal representative of the company). After the seals are removed by an official memo, the actual shipment is checked against the provided documents, and the shipment is delivered to the project’s site to be in the custody of the project’s owner and under their responsibility
10- The customs committee sends a copy of the approved extract to the customs manifest to settle its records
11- The customs committee notifies the Inventory Balancing unit of the data of the actual imported goods to update the project’s balance
Operational Requirements and Controls
- The containers or packages shall not be opened at the port unless the seals are being tampered, containers/packages are non-conforming or they are being suspected, considering the exceptional circumstances of the country where security checks take place (after taking the approval of the executive director of the SCZone customs on the verification reasons).
- If the seals of containers and trucks are invalid, or the packages arrive in an apparently improper condition, a detailed inventory of the consignment shall be made with an inspection report.
- In case of short landed or different goods, a memorandum is issued and attached to the original TCD stub and is sent by the customs representative to the SCZone customs to take the necessary action before releasing the sureties. The SCZone is notified with that.
Related Important References and Resources
- Article 26 of the executive regulations of the Economic Zones of a Special Nature Law No. 83 of 2002
Explanatory Questions and Answers
The project can obtain approvals on importing initial quantities for the purpose of trial operation until the completion of operational licenses issuance.
Yes, a request can be submitted in the event of upgrading production lines or increasing equipment and devices in order to increase the permitted annual production capacity.
The principle is to comply with the allowed production capacity, and in states of necessity, the SCZone has many projects that provide logistics services for storing goods, and approval can be obtained to deposit it in a public customs warehouse.
