BOC to brokers: Apply or lose accreditation

MANILA, Philippines - After July 31, importers and customs brokers who were not accredited by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) would no longer be entertained, BOC Commissioner John Philip Sevilla said yesterday.

He said if the brokers fail to register with the BOC by July 31, they would no longer be able to import and transact business with the agency.

“July 31 was already an extension from the original deadline last June 30,” he said.

According to a tally made by the BOC-Account Management Office, out of the 14,995 accredited brokers and importers, only 34 percent or 5,039 have applied for accreditation as of July 14.

All brokers and importers who would like to import goods into the Philippines must be accredited with the BOC. This means they must be registered in the Client Profile Registration System (CPRS) so they can file import entries.

The new rules of accreditation aim to close the loopholes in importation procedures as part of the government’s efforts to stop smuggling.