Entry of goods into Seychelles under Customs Management Act 2011 |01 June 2012

In Seychelles, there are two main points of entry (designated places) for the unloading and loading of importing and exporting goods – the international airport and seaport. Under the Custom Management Act (CMA) 2011, an aircraft or vessel arriving in Seychelles is not permitted to land or dock at any other place except in cases of emergencies.

Goods imported into Seychelles are subject to customs supervision and control. Imports must meet the legal requirements for instance where the imports are prohibited and restricted in nature.  Importers must follow all customs clearance formalities when importing goods.  Any good brought into Seychelles must be covered by a summary declaration. 

What is a summary declaration?
A summary declaration is a written statement providing customs with advance information necessary for risk profiling. A summary declaration can be in hard copy or/electronic format.

For goods arriving by sea the summary declaration must be submitted to the customs office (New Port) within 24 hours, excluding weekends or public holidays, before the arrival of the goods.  In cases where goods are arriving by aircraft the summary declaration must be submitted to the customs’ office airport cargo immediately after the aircraft departs for Seychelles.

Who are responsible to lodge the summary declaration to customs?
The summary declaration may be lodged by:

• the person who brings the goods or who assumes responsibility for the transportation of the goods, example: ship handlers and cargo handling;

• the importer or consignee or the person authorised to represent the importer, example: clearing agents, importers or representatives;

• Any person who presents the goods or has them presented at customs, example an individual for non-commercial importation.

What are the obligations of a master of vessel and commander of an aircraft?
Clearance inward:
1. Vessels and aircraft arriving in Seychelles are required by law to:
• produce all documents related to their voyages, stores, crew and passengers.  Example:  crew effects list, cargo declaration including transportation documents, passengers list and crew list.
• answer all questions concerning cargo, baggage, crew and passengers;
 
2. Before any goods are discharged and three hours after docking or 24 hours after landing an inward report must be lodged to customs by the master of a vessel or commander of  an aircraft. Cargo will not be unloaded until an inward report is submitted, and an explanation must be given to customs where:              
• the bulk of the cargo has been broken;
• any alteration has been made in the storage of any goods carried or;
• part of any goods is staved, destroyed or thrown overboard or any container is opened;
• there are missing cargo.

What are the obligations of a person who brings or imports goods into the country?
Any person who brings goods into Seychelles must submit a declaration to customs as required without delay.  The person must lodge a cargo manifest in an acceptable form when goods are presented to customs or prior to the arrival of the goods.

Any person who claims responsibility for importing goods must comply with all of customs procedures for the entry of goods in Seychelles. It is the obligation of that person to make a declaration accompanied with appropriate and proper documents to customs that correspond to the entry of the goods under customs control. It is entirely the responsibility of the importer to abide to the procedures for importation and to submit to customs an import permit for any restricted import.

For more information
You can contact Seychelles Revenue Commission on 4293737 or email us at commissioner@src.gov.sc  for more information about the CMA 2011. The Act is available on the Seychelles Revenue Commission website (www.src.gov.sc). Note that the Customs Management Act (CMA) 2011 will be implemented in June 2012.

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