Import from Worldwide through Other Customs Complexes and Ports (Non-attached to 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 other ports (not 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 other ports not attached to the SCZone, are transported by the indirect transit system.
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
Delivery order
Invoices
Packaging list
TCD (original & 2 copies) or electronic form
OGA approval, if any
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
2. The Authority shall approve the declaration stating that the project operates under the economic zones system and that the imported goods are of the items necessary for carrying out the licensed activity inside the SCZone
Customs Procedures at Arrival Port
1- The project or company obtains the ACID number.
2- The project’s representative shall submit the required documents to the customs at the arrival port (any other port not attached to the SCZone) for completing the procedures of transferring goods to the zone under the indirect transit system electronically 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 transit declaration shall be submitted with the stakeholder customs registration number attached with the required customs documents mentioned above
4- 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)
5- The project’s representative and the customs’ representative go to the exit gate, and the data of the TCD is against the packages’ and containers’ numbers and the seals stamped on them. All this is recorded in the incident book of the exit gate
Customs Procedures in the SCZone Customs Complex
- The original and copy of the TCD shall be delivered to the customs officer at the entry gate, where the following is done
1. Entry of goods through the SCZone gate to:
- Ensure the validity of the seals
- Verify the customs seals numbers or the package brand – verify the containers numbers
- Record the time and date of entry in the incident book of the entry gate
- Approve the TCD after validating the seals and the goods shall be transferred to the inspection area where they will be checked through X
2. Inspection procedures are carried out in the inspection area by a joint committee consisting of a SCZone Authority officer, Customs officer, and a representative of the project after issuing an official memo for containers seals removal. The SCZone project owner shall not remove the containers seals before completing the inspection and conformity procedures
3. The SCZone customs department signs its approval on the TCD stub mentioning that there no shortage or notes on goods when arrived, and the department sends the stub of the TCD and the original copy of TCD by fax, terminal, or any other electronic means to the customs at the arrival port. The port shall take the procedures of releasing surety and settling the records
4. The customs committee notifies the Inventory Balancing unit in the SCZone logistics center of the above-mentioned shipment to update the project’s inventory balance
5. The consignment is delivered to the project site to be in the custody of the project’s owner and under their responsibility
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.
