MOF And Singapore Customs Invite The Public To Give Feedback On Changes To The Customs Act

The Ministry of Finance and Singapore Customs are conducting a public consultation on the draft Customs (Amendment) Bill 2011. The public consultation will run from 2 September to 23 September 2011.

Proposed Amendments

2. Some of the main amendments being considered for the Customs (Amendment) Bill 2011 are as follows:

a) Changes to enhance the customs enforcement regime:

• Enhance penalties for contraband tobacco offenders to increase deterrence; and

• Extend liability to the person who furnishes incorrect information to another person for making customs declarations.

b) Changes to facilitate the sharing of information among domestic public agencies:

• Allow disclosure of information collected under the Customs Act to domestic public agencies for the investigation and prosecution of offences under domestic laws and to safeguard national security, public health and safety.

c) Changes arising from ongoing reviews of the customs regime that seek to improve customs administration or to clarify existing customs legislation:

• Introduce a summons system for minor customs offences;

• Allow the appointment of agents for the recovery of duties to reduce administrative costs and aid timely recovery;

• Allow retention of trade documents in image systems instead of retaining paper documents; and

• Miscellaneous changes to give greater legal clarity and to align provisions within the Customs Act with current operations.

Consultation Details

3. The public can access the consultation documents together with the explanations for the draft Customs (Amendment) Bill 2011 on the Ministry of Finance website (www.mof.gov.sg) and the REACH consultation portal (www.reach.gov.sg). Respondents may send their comments to the Ministry of Finance directly via the website, email, fax or post.

Issued by Ministry of Finance and Singapore Customs