Per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 5 March 2020 between the General Agency for Specialized inspections (GASI) and the project, assistance with a program of risk management-based inspections began in March. Mr. Jorge Montoya, an international expert who has been leading similar project efforts to assist Customs in this area, worked with GASI to assess the agency readiness to introduce risk management and the preparation of an initial action plan.
Through the introduction of Risk Management (RM), GASI intends to find a better balance between control and trade facilitation and move away from the current 100-percent inspection of consignments. With the new RM system, GASI will perform stricter inspections on specific consignments identified through risk profiles. To advance these goals, GASI recently created and assigned initial staff to a Risk Assessment, Management and Regulation Department (RAMRD) at its Border Inspection Department.
During 14-20 March, the project provided training for two GASI Departments; the new RAMRD and the Airport State Inspection Branches.
Among the twenty-two participants were GASI Department Heads, Senior Inspectors, and Heads of Branch Offices. The training focused on RM implementation cycles and the roles of respective GASI departments throughout the cycle as well as roles and functions of regional and district branches. The session focused on the five major elements necessary for implementation of RM including: investigation, profiling, criteria identification, analysis and feedback, and selectivity. Such implementation will require ongoing efforts from all stakeholders, including all GASI departments, private traders, and inspectors from the Customs General Administration.
Consistent with the action plan, GASI is currently reviewing product codes of all imports to determine which products it will inspect and clear and for which products GASI will accept Customs inspections to avoid duplication of inspections. Customs and GASI have signed a joint resolution to establish a working group to manage the integration of their inspection processes. Mr. Montoya, who has been assisting Customs with the introduction and implementation of its risk-based inspections program, is scheduled to return in May to assist both agencies with the integration of their inspection processes as a main step towards achieving integrated border management.
Through the introduction of Risk Management (RM), GASI intends to find a better balance between control and trade facilitation and move away from the current 100-percent inspection of consignments. With the new RM system, GASI will perform stricter inspections on specific consignments identified through risk profiles. To advance these goals, GASI recently created and assigned initial staff to a Risk Assessment, Management and Regulation Department (RAMRD) at its Border Inspection Department. During 14-20 March, the project provided training for two GASI Departments; the new RAMRD and the Airport State Inspection Branches.
Among the twenty-two participants were GASI Department Heads, Senior Inspectors, and Heads of Branch Offices. The training focused on RM implementation cycles and the roles of respective GASI departments throughout the cycle as well as roles and functions of regional and district branches. The session focused on the five major elements necessary for implementation of RM including: investigation, profiling, criteria identification, analysis and feedback, and selectivity. Such implementation will require ongoing efforts from all stakeholders, including all GASI departments, private traders, and inspectors from the Customs General Administration.Consistent with the action plan, GASI is currently reviewing product codes of all imports to determine which products it will inspect and clear and for which products GASI will accept Customs inspections to avoid duplication of inspections. Customs and GASI have signed a joint resolution to establish a working group to manage the integration of their inspection processes. Mr. Montoya, who has been assisting Customs with the introduction and implementation of its risk-based inspections program, is scheduled to return in May to assist both agencies with the integration of their inspection processes as a main step towards achieving integrated border management.