ID :
75011
Wed, 08/12/2009 - 20:39
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/75011
The shortlink copeid
GREEN LANE FOR NON CRITICAL IRON & STEEL IMPORTS
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) says there will be some flexibility when clearing iron and steel products entering the country.
In liberalising the importation of iron and steel products, the government
implemented the mandatory standards effective Aug 1 for both imported and
locally produced long and flat products to prevent the influx of sub-standard
products into the country.
While the non-critical items would go through a green lane for fast
clearance, a pre-clearance process would be introduced for the critical items,
MITI Secretary General, Abdul Rahman Mamat said.
"The non-critical items are good for fast clearance. The pre-clearance for
critical item is to avoid the cargo being stranded, but they would need to be
checked for standard purposes within a week," he said during a consultation with
the Airfreight Forwarders Association of Malaysia (AFAM) here.
MITI, along with SIRIM, Customs and industry players will come up with a
list of critical and non-critical items to expedite the clearance of cargo into
the country.
The critical items would have to be tested by SIRIM within a week for the
standard requirement.
Abdul Rahman said such standard testing was not new and was practised by
developed and developing countries and that exporters were aware of it.
"The only problem is that we are doing it for the first time, but it would
be healthy for the local manufacturers as well," he said.
Abdul Rahman said the ministry was also not aware of the problems on the
ground until AFAM pointed out that non-critical items were also affected
following the implementation of the revised policy for iron and steel.
He, however urged the private sector to work with the government, saying the
reform will ultimately benefit the industry.
Meanwhile, AFAM chairman Walter Culas told reporters that the list of the
critical items were being discussed and it could take a month before being
finalised.
"Besides dividing the critical and non-critical items, we hope the ministry
can also boost the clearing of cargo online. We hope they can also see to the
decentralisation of cargoes, meaning having respective officials at every port
to check on the items rather than having to go to one centralised clearing
centre," he said.
-- BERNAMA
In liberalising the importation of iron and steel products, the government
implemented the mandatory standards effective Aug 1 for both imported and
locally produced long and flat products to prevent the influx of sub-standard
products into the country.
While the non-critical items would go through a green lane for fast
clearance, a pre-clearance process would be introduced for the critical items,
MITI Secretary General, Abdul Rahman Mamat said.
"The non-critical items are good for fast clearance. The pre-clearance for
critical item is to avoid the cargo being stranded, but they would need to be
checked for standard purposes within a week," he said during a consultation with
the Airfreight Forwarders Association of Malaysia (AFAM) here.
MITI, along with SIRIM, Customs and industry players will come up with a
list of critical and non-critical items to expedite the clearance of cargo into
the country.
The critical items would have to be tested by SIRIM within a week for the
standard requirement.
Abdul Rahman said such standard testing was not new and was practised by
developed and developing countries and that exporters were aware of it.
"The only problem is that we are doing it for the first time, but it would
be healthy for the local manufacturers as well," he said.
Abdul Rahman said the ministry was also not aware of the problems on the
ground until AFAM pointed out that non-critical items were also affected
following the implementation of the revised policy for iron and steel.
He, however urged the private sector to work with the government, saying the
reform will ultimately benefit the industry.
Meanwhile, AFAM chairman Walter Culas told reporters that the list of the
critical items were being discussed and it could take a month before being
finalised.
"Besides dividing the critical and non-critical items, we hope the ministry
can also boost the clearing of cargo online. We hope they can also see to the
decentralisation of cargoes, meaning having respective officials at every port
to check on the items rather than having to go to one centralised clearing
centre," he said.
-- BERNAMA
