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These procedures have been taken out of

However, it’s advisable that a reader gets these documents for a comprehensive understanding of the existing proclamations and regulations.

Declaration, Examination and Release of Goods

• Lodgment of Customs declaration
• Supporting Documents of Customs Declaration
• Verification of Documents and Examination of Goods
• Examination at the request of Importer
• Delivery of Goods

Lodgment of Customs Declaration

• Except exempted by directives all goods entered in accordance with Article 17 of the proclamation shall forthwith lodged for clearance in aspect copies of customs declaration.
• Goods exempted form clearance shall be determined by directives issued by the Customs Board
• Where customs clearing agent applies for hold function and fulfils supporting documents pre lodgment of customs declaration may be allowed for and five days before the arrival of the goods at customs port. However, if the goods do not arrive within the five days, a new declaration shall be lodged at the time of arrival of the goods.
• The Authority may allow goods to be cleared urgently due to their nature or the reason they are required for. The details and the reasons that justify this procedure shall be prescribed in the directives issued by the authority.
• All information supplied in the customs declaration shall be filled and signed by the customs clearing agent.
• Any imported goods registered for home consumption shall be identified and declared in Customs declaration.
• Goods entered for an out right exports or temporary export shall be declared in Customs declaration.
• Customs declaration accepted by the entry reception shall immediately be registered for the accomplishment of customs formalities.
• Customs declaration may be lodged orally, by bodily action or electronically. The ministry may issue directives as to the goods and conditions of lodging Customs declaration orally, by bodily action or electronically.

Supporting Documents of Customs Declaration

• On the lodgment of customs declaration and declaration of facts the following original documents in support shall be supplied to customs in a number of copies fixed by the Authority:
  • Transportation document
  • Price document (commercial invoice)
  • Bank permit
  • Packing list
  • Certificate of origin, and
  • Other necessary documents to be prescribed in the directives issued by the Authority
• Transportation document that is required in support of export goods shall be a document that is used as evidence for the transpiration of goods up to the customs port of exit.
• The Authority may require any document to be presented in an Amharic translation made by official translators.
• Customs declaration shall be acceptable where the necessary documents which are prescribed under this Article are presented and approved by the customs officer.

Verification of Documents and Examination of Goods

• The proper customs officer shall verify documents and examine goods to assure the accuracy of information supplied in the document.
• The owner of the goods or his authorized agent shall attend during examination of the goods. Where the owner or his agent fails to appear at the time of examination, the proper Customs Officer shall open and examine the goods in the presence of relevant officials.
• Procedure of goods examination shall be prescribed by directives issued by the Authority.

Examination at the request of Importer

• If any importer or his agent believes that the goods have suffered damage, short or pilfered in route may request for prior examination of the goods before the lodgment of goods declaration.
• Where the request made in accordance with list no. 1 above and its reason are justified by the Authority; goods examination may be carried out upon payment of service charge. Customs declaration shall, therefore, be filled in accordance with the examination report.
• Service charges for prior examination of goods shall be prescribed by directives issued by the Authority

Delivery of Goods

• All goods listed in customs declaration shall be removed from the warehouse by the owner or his agent immediately upon the accomplishment of customs formalities.
• Goods which are not removed from the warehouse with in the period specified in sub-Article (3) of Article 43 of the proclamation shall be sold or disposed otherwise as deemed abandoned to the customs.