FCA Launches Information Exchange System for Seizures

The Federal Customs Authority (FCA) launched a new system to exchange information about seizures in all customs outlets across the state. This step is aimed at protecting the security of society and building a database that contributes to taking right decisions and procedures against inappropriate customs practices. Khalid Ali Al Bustani, Acting Director-General of the FCA said that exchanging information about seizures is one of the basic instruments directed to attaining the strategic goals of the Federal government and the FCA, namely protecting the security of society and facilitating trade and cooperation with the outside world. This system is a new and major part of the advanced electronic systems, which the FCA aims to apply in customs across the state, so as to improve customs performance and enhance monitoring in different outlets. Al Bustani added that the FCA had earlier applied the automated clearing and statistic systems in this regard, in addition to the electronic monitoring of commodity prices.

The new system contributes to protecting the security of society and enhancing the ability of the state's customs outlets to detect violations through establishing an electronic database that is regularly fed with the data and images of the seizures detected by customs officials and competent authorities in land, sea and air outlets. He went on to say: "The details of all seizures are collected through an electronic network that connects all departments competent with seizures in local customs and the appropriate authorities. The network is supervised by the FCA which helps customs officials and competent authorities to realize the latest methods and techniques of committing violations. This move will increase awareness and enhance the ability to detect and combat customs violations by some traders and importers".

Al-Bustani highlighted that exchanging information about customs seizures is aimed at unifying this information across all customs departments in the UAE. It also helps in facilitating coordination among these departments during investigations, provides accurate information about seizures in the state and bolsters cooperation with international institutions in this regard, especially the World Customs Organization (WCO).

He added that the application of the new system helps in developing and unifying customs procedures and policies across the state, through the actual information it provides about the type of seizures, the manner of committing violations and the latest methods adopted in this respect. Al-Bustani pointed out that the FCA will supervise applying the system in cooperation with a committee of local customs departments and competent authorities in order to follow up implementing the system, studying its outputs, propose work polices and mechanisms to control violations and refer them to appropriate authorities to take the necessary decisions. Al-Bustani said that the system includes a data classification conforming to international standards adopted by the WCO. Seizures are classified in 13 categories, namely drugs, tobacco, extinct animals and plants (CITES), alcohol and alcoholic drinks, intellectual property rights, violation of taxes and fees, currencies, precursors, pornographic materials, hazardous materials, prohibited materials, etc.

The UAE is seeking to apply the best systems in the GCC and MENA regions to protect consumers against inappropriate customs practices, which in turn emphasizes its pioneering role in developing customs activities so as to serve the best interest of the state and nationals, Al-Bustani added. He stressed that the new system offers the highest degree of confidentiality, privacy and data protection. No one is permitted to review such data unless he obtains a prior approval from the FCA. Tracing the experience of developed countries, particularly Singapore, in this regard, the UAE established this system pursuant to the WCO standards. The FCA was keen to raise full awareness of the system importance and the method to deal with it among a large number of officials in local customs departments and other competent authorities. Accordingly, it organized several meetings, workshops and training sessions to receive participants' remarks and suggestions and introduce enhancements to this system, Al-Bustani concluded.