Seychelles is set to become a contracting party to the ATA Carnet System of Temporary Admission Carnet System.
The ATA Carnet allows for free movements of goods across frontiers and their temporary admission into a Customs Territory with relief from the duties and taxes. Essentially, the goods are covered by a single document known as the ATA Carnet that is secured by an international guarantee system.
In an effort to create awareness on the issue, the Department of Trade in collaboration with the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC) is conducting various meetings with stakeholders, mainly Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) of the Government, State Owned Enterprises (SOE’s), the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) and members from the Private Sector.
The meetings serve as platforms to impart information to the stakeholders present, on its domestication, implementation and application and allows stakeholders to seek clarification.
The Department for Trade in collaboration with the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC), conducted its first dissemination meeting in the presence of various principal stakeholders on Friday 16th June 2023 held at the National Tender Board. Primarily, pertaining to the ATA Carnet System and Seychelles’ intention in becoming a contracting party.
Furthermore, during the session the officials from the Department and the SRC also took the liberty to address questions, queries and concerns raised by the participants on the potential benefits and concerns of the system, as a mechanism to facilitate temporary cross border trade and reduction of Customs administrative processes.
What is the ATA Carnet System?
The ATA system or the ATA Convention and Istanbul Convention is a system allowing the free movements of goods across frontiers and their temporary admission into a Customs Territory with relief from the duties and taxes. Essentially, the goods are covered by a single document known as the ATA Carnet that is secured by an international guarantee system.
In practice, the document is currently widely used by the business community internationally for international operations for admission of goods. At present the ATA Carnet is used in 87 countries and territories in Europe, North & South America, Africa and Oceania.
Benefits to signatories of the ATA system?
The system’s cross cutting application is beneficial to all parties; Customs, traders and travelers.
The ATA Carnet guarantees any duties and taxes that may become due merely by presentation of the carnet and acceptance by Customs offices without the need to cash deposits or other forms of security.
The system shall aid to supersede the Customs formalities of requisition, submission and completion of Bills of Entry, Temporary Admission Forms solely for checked baggage/luggages.
It caters for transport of goods in Customs transit whilst en route to or return from a country of temporary importation.
Allows for re-exportation of goods laid down within a given period, with the flexibility granted by Customs to extend the initial period.
The Way forward
In conclusion of the session, the hosts expressed their sincere appreciation and compliments to the stakeholders for eagerly participating to the event, being the opening activity in the 1st phase of the implementation processes.
The Department for Trade and the SRC also re-iterated emphasis on the continued active involvement between the principal stakeholders for smooth coordination and successful application of the system.
In the interim, additional dissemination meetings will be scheduled by the hosts in the future as the project progresses as to maintain and reinforce the mutual collaboration among all parties.