The Customs Department says it will start accepting a single administrative document for several import entries from customs brokers starting this Thursday.

According to Acting Commissioner of Customs Viris Page Gardner, the decision to fully implement the Form C87 – which will consolidate a number of manual entries now being used by the department – was taken after a successful phased introduction of the form starting in October last year.

“Currently, there are over 35 customs brokers accessing the C87 system,” said Page Gardner. “We thank the brokers who volunteered to participate in the phased implementation of the C87 and look forward to their full co-operation as the department continues to modernise and improve its systems.”

In the initial phase, the C87 will replace the Deposit Entry (C24), Entry for Temporary Importation (C25) and the Commercial Import Entry C78, the Customs Department said. The Form C87 will accommodate the other entry types at a later date.

“The C87, which is compatible with other shipping and trade systems, offers several new features such as the ability to e-mail all types of Customs entries, the ability for electronic communication, both locally and regionally, and space for multiple licences/permits,” said Customs. “The form is proposed to be used throughout the English-speaking Caribbean and will assist the governments of the region to integrate more fully into the Caricom Single Market.”