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| 7th Report of Market Access Ombudsman Council (March 18, 2002) |
1. Complainant: Hiroshima Chamber of Commerce and Industry
2. Ministry concerned:Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry: Ministry of Finance
3. Complaint:
We can make an export declaration via JETRAS, but one year after its operation, we still cannot make an import declaration via the system.
At present, we entrust our import declaration procedures to a customs broker, who makes the procedures by using NACCS. However, all private enterprises want to reduce customs clearance expenses as much as possible.
(1) If import declaration via JETRAS is made possible, we could make declarations at our office without entrusting the work to a customs broker. Therefore, we would like import declarations via JETRAS to be made possible by all means.
We are told that preparations are now under way for linking JETRAS with NACCS, based on a cabinet decision. However, for users like us, linkage with NACCS is not so important. What we would like is for import declaration via JETRAS to be made possible as soon as possible.
(2) If the above measure is difficult to take, we want access to NACCS via importers' computer terminals for "import declaration" and "export declaration" to be made possible immediately and the use of NACCS to be free of charge as in the case of JETRAS.
4. Corresponding Policy of the Ministries concerned:
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
JETRAS is a system to process applications for export/import permits or approvals based on "the Foreign Exchange And Foreign Trade Law" (foreign exchange law) with computers.
JETRAS processes only applications for permits or approvals of export/import of controlled items and from controlled areas based on the foreign exchange law and does not process applications for export/import declarations based on the Customs Law.
JETRAS and NACCS are slated to be linked by the end of FY2002. However, the linkage is designed to make it possible for the customs office to conduct its endorsement business electronically to confirm that export/import permits or approvals are based on the foreign exchange law as part of its business to confirm the compliance of export/import declarations with other laws and ordinances.
The linkage of JETRAS and NACCS will make it possible to conduct endorsement business via JETRAS with the same computer terminals that customs brokers use in making export/import declarations via NACCS, and to make export/import declarations without bringing endorsed permits or approvals to the customs office in person.
Ministry of Finance
(1) JETRAS (Japan Electronic open network TRAde control System) is a system to process applications for export/import permits or approvals based on "the Foreign Exchange And Foreign Trade Law" (foreign exchange law) with computers. JETRAS processes only applications for permits or approvals of export/import of controlled items and from controlled areas based on the foreign exchange law and does not process applications for export/import declarations based on the Customs Law.
NACCS (Nippon Automated Cargo Clearance System) is a system to process export/import declarations and other customs clearance procedures and related private business with computers. Therefore, export/import declarations to customs office will be processed by NACCS.
(2) In the past, NACCS used dedicated terminals. But as a result of changes of the Sea-NACCS system in October 1999 and of the Air-NACCS in October 2001, it has become possible to conduct business with general terminals (personal computers) owned by users. We are now studying utilizing the Internet in NACCS.
However, since the operation expenses for NACCS are paid with user fees collected from customs and private users, it is difficult to make the use of the system via the Internet free, although the fee may be reduced by slashing network costs.
5. Remarks
The complainant accepted this policy.