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Amendment of the Executive Regulati

Amendment of the Executive Regulations of the Customs Law
Egyptian Customs Law No. 66 of 1963[1] has been issued and completed, two years ago, half a century (the "Law"). The Law was amended several times to cope with economic and social changes witnessed by Egypt during that period. Many ministerial decrees have been issued organizing the application of the Law so as to allow the inclusion of effects of international agreements to liberalize trade in goods and services and to directly guarantee that the law is in line with reality and changes. The decision of the Minister of Finance No. 10 of 2006[2]  enacting the executive regulations of the Customs Law No. 66 of 1963 has been issued to unify the legal basis organizing customs in the Egyptian economy, as well as decision No. 256 of 2015[3]  which has been issued with minor amendments that contribute to facilitating imports and exports in light of the awareness of the Egyptian government of the importance of international trade (the "Decision").
The Amendment
The Decision has been issued to amend and simplify Articles 63 and 64 of the executive regulations of the Customs Law. The amendment has reduced the required documents to be provided for imported goods in Article 63 and for exported ones in Article 64. In the case of imported goods the following documents are now required:
  • Delivery receipt and bill of lading with the exception of prior custom clearance. These documents shall be delivered electronically with a grace period of three months in which hardcopies are allowed.
  • The detailed commercial invoice, which, in case it includes the detailed information of the package, suffices and the package statement is no longer required.
  • Document proving the origin in case of claiming customs exemptions or preferential treatment.
Thus, the amendment has exempted importers from providing a customs card, the approval of the competent regulatory or security authority, and the package statement in case of attaching a detailed invoice. As for exported goods, the following documents shall be submitted:
  • A detailed commercial invoice, which, in case it includes the detailed information of the package, suffices and the package statement is no longer required.
  • The approval of the competent regulatory authority on the goods within its scope of authority.
  • The bill of lading (if available), which shall be delivered electronically.
Thus, the amendment has exempted exporters from providing a customs card and the package statement in case of attaching a detailed invoice.
Conclusion
The present Decision has been issued in line with the Egyptian government's obligations under the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Kyoto Convention) which Egypt has adhered to pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 334 of 2007[4]. This step of reducing the number of required documents for exports and imports is considered strong evidence of the Government’s trend to implement the convention.   [1] Customs Law No. 66/1963, Official Gazette, Issue No. 142, 26 June 1963. [2] Minister of Finance's Decision No. 10/2006 enacting the Executive Regulations of the Customs Law, Official Gazette, Issue No. 9 (cont.) (a), 16 January 2006. [3] Minister of Finance's Decision No. 256/2015 amending certain provisions of the Executive Regulations of the Customs Law, Official Gazette, Issue No. 113 (cont.) (a), 18 May 2015. [4] Presidential Decree No. 334/2007 approving the adherence of Egypt to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs procedures (Kyoto Convention), amended version signed in Kyoto on 18 May 18 1973 and amended on 26 June 1999, Official Gazette, Issue No. 9 (bis), 2 March 2008.
Egyptian Customs Law No. 66 of 1963[1] has been issued and completed, two years ago, half a century (the "Law"). The Law was amended several times to cope with economic and social changes witnessed by Egypt during that period. Many ministerial decrees have been issued organizing the application of the Law so as to allow the inclusion of effects of international agreements to liberalize trade in goods and services and to directly guarantee that the law is in line with reality and changes. The decision of the Minister of Finance No. 10 of 2006[2]  enacting the executive regulations of the Customs Law No. 66 of 1963 has been issued to unify the legal basis organizing customs in the Egyptian economy, as well as decision No. 256 of 2015[3]  which has been issued with minor amendments that contribute to facilitating imports and exports in light of the awareness of the Egyptian government of the importance of international trade (the "Decision").
The Amendment
The Decision has been issued to amend and simplify Articles 63 and 64 of the executive regulations of the Customs Law. The amendment has reduced the required documents to be provided for imported goods in Article 63 and for exported ones in Article 64. In the case of imported goods the following documents are now required:
  • Delivery receipt and bill of lading with the exception of prior custom clearance. These documents shall be delivered electronically with a grace period of three months in which hardcopies are allowed.
  • The detailed commercial invoice, which, in case it includes the detailed information of the package, suffices and the package statement is no longer required.
  • Document proving the origin in case of claiming customs exemptions or preferential treatment.
Thus, the amendment has exempted importers from providing a customs card, the approval of the competent regulatory or security authority, and the package statement in case of attaching a detailed invoice. As for exported goods, the following documents shall be submitted:
  • A detailed commercial invoice, which, in case it includes the detailed information of the package, suffices and the package statement is no longer required.
  • The approval of the competent regulatory authority on the goods within its scope of authority.
  • The bill of lading (if available), which shall be delivered electronically.
Thus, the amendment has exempted exporters from providing a customs card and the package statement in case of attaching a detailed invoice.
Conclusion
The present Decision has been issued in line with the Egyptian government's obligations under the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Kyoto Convention) which Egypt has adhered to pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 334 of 2007[4]. This step of reducing the number of required documents for exports and imports is considered strong evidence of the Government’s trend to implement the convention.   [1] Customs Law No. 66/1963, Official Gazette, Issue No. 142, 26 June 1963. [2] Minister of Finance's Decision No. 10/2006 enacting the Executive Regulations of the Customs Law, Official Gazette, Issue No. 9 (cont.) (a), 16 January 2006. [3] Minister of Finance's Decision No. 256/2015 amending certain provisions of the Executive Regulations of the Customs Law, Official Gazette, Issue No. 113 (cont.) (a), 18 May 2015. [4] Presidential Decree No. 334/2007 approving the adherence of Egypt to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs procedures (Kyoto Convention), amended version signed in Kyoto on 18 May 18 1973 and amended on 26 June 1999, Official Gazette, Issue No. 9 (bis), 2 March 2008.