The Customs Authority Creates a Dat

In line with the government’s recent efforts towards integrating information and communication technologies (ICT) in its various operations and transactions, the Egyptian Customs Authority (“ECA”) announced that it completed the creation of a nationwide database of importers and exporters that is to be regularly updated and shared across all customs ports to streamline current procedures and practices, including facilitating the release of goods, particularly authorized imports, and subsequently increasing their supply in the Egyptian economy.[1] According to ECA’s statement, such data integration also allows for addressing violations. Indeed, the ECA also announced that it formed a blacklist of importers, whether individuals or legal persons, with final sentences issued against them, to be used in airports and other customs ports throughout the country with the aim of reducing customs evasion and preventing the illegal entry of goods that are prohibited from being imported into Egypt.   [1] Egyptian Customs Authority, “The Egyptian Customs Authority list of customs evaders”, 16 January 2019, available through this link (in Arabic).