The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service has launched the Customs, Shipping and Airline Agents Code of Conduct in a bid to get rid of fraudulent behaviors by some of the Customs Agents.
CEO, Visvanath Das says this Code of Conduct will eliminate such fraudulent behaviors in the future and also avoid customs fines and penalties for non-compliance.
Das says Customs Law has stringent Penalty provision such as 3 times the value of the goods or 10 years’ imprisonment.
Customs, Shipping and Airline Agents license can be penalized for false declarations, undervaluation, incorrect description, incorrect tariff classification, incorrect use of goods origin, double-invoicing and abuse of duty concession for commercial benefits.
Das says the aim of this Code of Conduct is to set business ethics guidelines for Customs, Shipping and Airline Agents establishing principles, values and rules of behavior encouraging them to achieve high standards of professional conduct and to properly perform their duties.
He says the series of standards of diligence, professional competence, integrity and self-discipline outlined will promote honesty, transparency and assist the government to collect correct duties and taxes with less compliance cost.
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