Theoretical discussion on Customs Bill begins

Kathmandu, Dec 31: Theoretical discussion has begun on the ‘Bill to amend and integrate the customs laws, 2080’ in the finance committee of the House of Representatives.     

In today's meeting of the committee, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel said that the government has brought this bill as it is necessary to amend the Customs Act to make the customs clearance process more tech-friendly and easy and make it compatible with the Kyoto Convention where Nepal is a party country.     

"Nepal is a party to the revised Kyoto Convention and the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. According to these agreements, the general provisions of the amended Kyoto Convention should be implemented within three years and the transitional standards within five years after becoming a member”.     

Finance Minister Paudel said, "The bill has been brought as some customs-related provisions of the Trade Facilitation Agreement have to be addressed through the Customs Act and regulations."     

He further stressed the need to amend the Customs Act in order to maintain harmony between the Kyoto Convention and Nepal's customs law.     

The minister said that the customs act is being amended accordingly as it would not be necessary to maintain uniformity between the provisions of the Trade Facilitation Agreement and the amended Kyoto Convention.     

Revenue Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Dinesh Kumar Ghimire said the bill has been brought to further refine the customs clearance process. "This bill has made the duties, responsibilities and rights of the officials involved in the customs process more systematic and made them responsible and accountable. Provisions have been made in the bill that if the customs clearance process is not satisfied, it can go to the higher authority for review and it should be disposed of within the stipulated time," he said, adding, "Provisions have been made in the bill to simplify the screening process, reduce the cost of the industry, declare the goods within seven days of arrival at the customs yard, and follow the risk-based inspection process.".     

Lawmakers Prakash Sharan Mahat, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Dr Swarnim Wagle, Surya Bahadur Thapa Chhetri, Gyanendra Bahadur Shahi and Narayani Sharma among others stressed the need of making the customs clearance process easy, tech-friendly and transparent.(RSS)