Mohamed Maait, Minister of Finance, said that in order to facilitate the customs system’s dealers, the trial period for the pre-registration of shipments "ACI" system in airfreight has been extended until December 31, provided that the mandatory application begins on January 1, 2023, instead of October 1, 2022.
This came after the approval of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly to give importers, customs extractors, air freight agents, companies exporting to Egypt and international multinational companies additional time to regularise their situations and register on the new system, thus expanding the pre-customs release of goods before they reach the ports, reducing the cost of goods and services, and banning the entry of inferior goods into the market.
Maait added that the ministry is keen on providing a longer period of time for all foreign companies and exporters to complete their preparations to deal with the new system in order to ensure benefiting from the facilities offered by this system, reaching the highest levels of governance for commodity imports at Egyptian ports, and adhering to quality standards for imported commodities.
Al-Shahat Ghatouri, the head of the customs authority, emphasised the continual need to remove any barriers standing in the way of importers and their agents, customs brokers and airfreight agents, and to give them all means of technical support to make it easier for them to join the pre-registration of shipments (ACI) system. Training sessions are held at the ministry's headquarters or "online" for all parties to the customs system, whether the business community or individuals.
He added that it is possible to join the ACI system of pre-registration of shipments through the electronic portal of the "Nafeza" platform: www.nafeza.gov.eg, and to benefit from the facilities provided by the new system, explaining that importers and their agents or customs brokers should submit all shipment documents before shipment of goods at air ports and obtain the customs registration number "ACID".
