1

Responsibilities

The Customs Department - Thailand has involved the collection of national revenues. However, in today’s modern and global economy, its responsibilities are changing as revenue collected by Customs is no longer the primary source of government income. Customs administrations are faced with increasing volumes of international trade without corresponding increases in resources and greater expectations from business for faster clearance times. At the same time, the governments and society expect Customs to facilitate global trade and provide an effective control on imports, exports and transit goods. A well - functioning, modern Customs in today’s global economy is essential. Customs current role, in particular relating to global trade facilitation, control of the movement of goods, and supply chain security ensures that traders and stakeholder expectations are met.

1

2

Recently, Computer techniques are increasingly used by Thai Customs to support a wide range of Customs operations.“e - Customs” was implemented on 1 January 2007, comprising of e - Import, e - Export, e - Manifest, e - Payment, and e - Warehouse. It provides business operators such as exporters, importers, Customs brokers, shipping companies and freight forwarders with a paperless environment and a one stop service.

The “ e – Customs ” system is the comprehensive system developed by Thai Customs to facilitate and process all commercial goods imported into Thailand. It is widely recognized as one of the most sophisticated and integrated business – oriented systems. The e - Customs system significantly cuts costs, and reduces paperwork requirements for both Customs and relevant trading community.

2

3

• Register to use paperless Customs at the Customs Head quaters or any Customs offices/Customs-houses (no cost).

• Register with any agency who issues Certificate Authority for obtaining digital signature (500 Bath/year) in case of self-submitting data to the Customs system.

3

4

When the goods imported into Thailand, importers are required to file a Goods Declaration and supporting documents for the imports via the e - import system. Imported cargo are not legally entered Thailand until after the shipment has arrived within the port of entry, delivery of the merchandise has been authorized by Customs, and applicable taxes and duties have been paid. It is the responsibility of an importer to arrange for examination and release of the imported cargo.

In addition, depending on the nature of the imports, and regardless of value, the importers may need to obtain a permit to facilitate clearance of the imports. The importers can send the information of Import Declaration via the e – Import system for automatic audit and pass through the green line, but in case of red line (high risk shipment), the minimum documents required to be submitted to the Customs for the clearance of imports consists of:

* Import Declaration * Bill of Lading (B/L) or Air Waybill * Invoice * Packing List * Import License (if applicable) * Certificates of Origin (if applicable) * Other relevant documents such as catalogue, product ingredients, etc.

5

e – Import Procedure

6

Customs role in the exportation of goods is to ensure that all goods being exported from Thailand are reported as required; and administer controls on behalf of permit issuing agencies on the export of restricted goods. In addition, Customs also gather information regarding the nature and volume of exports to assist government and industry in policy and decision - making.

Unless specifically exempt, goods may not be loaded on a ship or aircraft for export unless they have been entered for export in the Customs system and Customs has given approval to export. Most applications for an Export Declaration are submitted electronically via the e-Export system.

In order that, most of the exportation has not been audited through the green line, but if it is wondered the prohibited and restricted item, it will beaudited in the red line by the Customs officials.

6

7

DOCUMENTSIn case of red line (high risk shipment), the minimum documents

required to be submitted to the Customs for the clearance of export consists of: * Export Declaration Data* Invoice * Export License (if applicable) * Other relevant documents such as catalogue, product ingredients, etc.

7

8

e – Export Procedure

9

In the importation and exportation process, some, not all, of the goods requiring permit, and the relevant permit issuing agencies, should be contacted prior to the importation. Currently, the traders must require the allowance of

importation and exportation under the act over 90 issues from more 30 government agencies. Some government agencies have not had the paperless system, moreover the traders waste time and expenses for making, filling and sending of the import and export documents.

Therefore, the Customs Department has developed the connection of information to the relevant government agencies for audit of the allowance licenses and certificates of import and export by electronic system which has called the e – Customs system or Paperless Customs. It has controlled the importation and exportation by connection with the e – Licensing / e – Certificate system that will continue to develop to National Single Window (NSW). It is service for the trade facilitation, reducing cost, faster trade document processing, efficient management of importers and exporters, including increase international standardize and the traders make to require for applying to the system via the internet.

e – Licensing

9

10

Recently, the Customs Department has cosigned the MOU of Agreement of Connection for the allowance license and certificate with 16 government agencies; Department of Industrial Works, Department of Foreign Trade, Department of Mineral Fuels, Department of Energy Business, Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, The Thai Board of Investment (BOI), Department of Land Transport, Department of Fisheries, Department of Livestock Development, Department of Agriculture, The Excise Department, Department of Primary Industries and Mines, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, The Office of the Cane and Sugar Board, Food and Drug Administration andNational Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards.

Furthermore, the Customs Department will finish to cosign the mentioned MOU with another 16 government agencies; Department of Internal Trade, Department of Provincial Administration, Department of Mineral Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, The Fine Arts Department, National Telecommunication Commission of Thailand, Office of Atoms for Peace, Department of Foreign Trade, AOT Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited, Office of National Museums and Electrical and Electronics Institute within 2010. 10

e – Licensing

11

e – Licensing Paperless Service

12

Establishment

The National Single Window (NSW) is the policy of Thailand for reducing cost, increasing competitiveness and supporting international trade as integration. Thailand is a member of ASEAN and has made Agreement to Establish and Implement the ASEAN Single Window by the ASEAN EconomicMinisters, cosigned the mentioned agreement on 9 December 2005 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the National Trade Facilitation. In order that, six countries member of ASEAN such as Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand established NSW within 2008.

The NSW is an electronic system that enables secured, safe and efficient electronic exchange of trade - related documents through a single point of entryin order to fulfill all import, export and transit-related regulatory requirements and to expedite the smooth flow of information of goods either for import, export or transit.In addition, it is a single submission of data and information, synchronous processing of data and information and decision - making for standardized and integrated environment of Customs release and cargo clearance.

National Single Window - NSW

12

13

NSW System

14

•

For Service

Business operators or travelers are invited to directly consult Customs officials from 8.30 am. to 16.30 pm. Customs Clinic acts as a contact point which provides a preliminary consulting and coordinates with other relevant customs offices or other government agencies and then communicate to the consultant about the solutions withintime limitation. Moreover, Customs Clinic regularly informs the Director-General about the Clinic’s performance, listed problems or barriers in the next first day of the week, in addition to reporting, Customs Clinic provides those problem discriminations as the resolutions by publicizing to every sectors concerned, for the purpose of the establishment of customs operation standard.

ContactCustoms Clinic, The Customs Department (Thailand) 1 st Floor, 120 Year – BuildingSunthornkosa Rd., Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110 Tel : 0-2667-7880 – 4Fax : 0-2667-7885 e – mail : customs_clinic@customs.go.thWebsite : www.customs.go.th

Customs Clinic

14

15

Customs ClinicService Process

Communicative Channel

By e – mail : customs_clinic@customs.go.th

By Telephone Tel : 02 – 667 – 7880 – 4

Fax : 02 – 667 - 7885

To walk in for consultant at Customs Official

(08.30 am.– 16.30 pm. )

1. To walk-in consultant shall be responded by the officials within 3 working days, depends on their queries (such as customs procedure, permission license procedure)

2. To take the relevant document requirement for consideration, the official will directly reply to the consultant within 60 working days such as;

- Advance Customs tariff ruling- Customs Valuation methods guidance

3. In order to settle the queries of inconsistent operation of each Customs’s bureaus and divisions will figure out those problems and inform the consultant within 5 working days such as the dissimilar in tariff application or in the duty drawback discrimination.

15