Khaberni - The Director General of Jordanian Customs, Major General Ahmad Al-Akkalik, confirmed that the Customs Department is operating at full capacity to complete the clearance transactions of non-customs vehicles before the cabinet decision comes into effect on November 1st, which stipulates stopping the local clearance of non-conforming vehicles.
Al-Akkalik said on Hala radio today, Wednesday, “Currently, there are about 22 thousand non-customs vehicles in the free zones, especially in Zarqa and Aqaba, a number that changes daily due to new clearance and deposit processes.”
He explained that the decision only covers vehicles included up until November 1st, indicating that “the option is available for traders and citizens to benefit from the decision before it takes effect, without obligating anyone to the clearance process.”
Al-Akkalik revealed that the department had taken exceptional measures to increase the workplace rhythm, including increasing the number of employees, extending working hours, and working on Fridays, emphasizing that “the field teams are operating with a high spirit and shared responsibility among all concerned entities.”
He added that the customs teams had cleared about 40,000 vehicles since the implementation of the decision began at the end of June, and that “about a thousand customs declarations are processed daily, with the ability to double this number when needed.”
Al-Akkalik disclosed that some transactions are completed in just eight minutes thanks to the development of work mechanisms and the electronic integration between the customs, the Licensing Department, the Standards and Metrology Corporation, and the Free Zones Authority.
He said: “We've reached an advanced stage of electronic integration, and more than 80% of the processes have become fully automated, which shortens both time and effort for traders and citizens.”
The Director General of Customs confirmed that the door for vehicle clearances will remain open until twelve midnight of November 1st, adding that “whoever registers their declaration on that day will have a 14-day period to complete the procedures in accordance with customs instructions.”
Regarding the possibility of extending the decision, Al-Akkalik emphasized that the government is serious about executing its decision without extension or exceptions, noting that the past months were sufficient for traders and importers to arrange their affairs.
