The Singapore Customs has updated the Fourth and Fifth Schedules of the Strategic Goods (Control) Regulations (SGCR). The changes affect the list of items needing mandatory transhipment and transit permits. The changes will apply from 1 May 2019.
Strategic goods permits are also needed if the goods in transit are not listed under the Fourth and Fifth Schedules of the SGCR but are known, suspected or that operators have been informed that they are intended or likely to be used, wholly or in part, for or in connection with the production or development of Weapons of Mass Destruction.
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In addition, operators need to observe any other controls and prohibitions made under other domestic legislations including the prohibitions made under the Regulation of Imports and Exports Regulations that gives effect to the United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
Moreover, under Regulation 3 of the SGCR, the person who transfers the strategic goods or issues the through bill of lading or through air waybill, or the person acting on his behalf, must make sure that a permit application is submitted at least 5 working days before the shipment date (from Singapore) for single-use permit and at least 2 months in advance for bulk permits with a complete set of supporting documents for the transfer of strategic goods. This would allow enough time for assessment by Singapore Customs and avoid last minute shipment delays.
Exemptions will apply to the transhipment of any goods listed in Parts 1 and 2 of the Schedule to the SG Order, other than those specified in the Fourth Schedule:
- If the goods are taken into one or more free trade zones immediately after they have been brought into Singapore;
- The goods remain at all times in a free trade zone, or remain in 2 or more free trade zones except when the goods are being transferred from one free trade zone to another, before they are brought out of Singapore;
- The total period in which they remain in the free trade zone or free trade zones is no more than (A) 45 days if they are brought into Singapore by water; or (B) 21 days if they are brought into Singapore by air.
- The bringing in transit of any goods listed in Parts 1 and 2 of the Schedule to the SG Order, other than those specified in the Fifth Schedule, if the period in which the goods remain in transit is no more than – (i) 45 days if they are brought into Singapore by water; or 21 days if they are brought into Singapore by air.