Head of the customs authority has reiterated that customs evasion is practically impossible in light of constant surveillance by the department.

Mr. Galal Abul Fetouh also added that customs cuts ...

Head of the customs authority has reiterated that customs evasion is practically impossible in light of constant surveillance by the department.   Mr. Galal Abul Fetouh also added that customs cuts on imported fabrics is part of efforts to eradicate inadequate rules.  He noted that complaints by local textile manufacturers are an empty pretext for their basic problems.  He noted that textile manufacturers have problems with their aging machines which need to be modernized, as well as lack of investments over long periods of time, the accumulation of stored goods in producing companies, the soaring prices in long stapled cotton and attempts to by some importers to over inflate the market with locally produced clothes that enter the country through illegal means which have been aborted by the customs employees. Mr. Abul Fetouh reiterated that an extensively researched plan to combat tax evasion has been set  including a comprehensive tariff reform plan and eradicate the loopholes to reiterate that evasion is more costly than paying dues.  An amendment on fees on 114 brands have introduced including a tariff cut making the highest fee set at 30% excluding vehicles.  Streamlining tariff procedures and reducing the time line on  goods stored in customs warehouses have been arranged using a risk and post monitoring department; in addition to early release through customs outlets.  The reforms have shifted customs outlets into passage gates for goods instead of the traditional view of outlets as storehouses. Advanced equipment have been introduced into the customs zone for electronic detection. Electronic monitoring throughout the outlets is currently manifest in collaboration with revenue and monitoring departments. Employees with areas of expertise will be asked to rotate among the leadership positions in ports and outlets, train human resources and sharpen punishments on tax evasion.   Monitoring will be equally tightened on transit commerce and transferred goods using state-of-the-art technology such as customs locks on containers shipping goods from one port to the next.  The steps have been taken in the wake of arraignments of several cases of smuggling of transit goods to the local market.   A number of agreements have been signed with a number of countries and which have commercial operations with Egypt to combat smuggling.  As an initiative, an agreement has been signed with the Chinese customs agency to stop the smuggling of Chinese goods into Egypt; in addition to the formation of a committee at the Industries Federation to combat smuggling and to define some of the areas which have suffered most from illegal entries of foreign goods.  Other affirmative action has included an update of the laboratories at the general authority monitoring exports and imports. (source: Al-Akhbar)