Digital Devices to Be Used to Locate and Track the Whereabouts of Goods under the Authorities of the Customs Department
Digital devices can be used to transmit information on the whereabouts of shipments of goods under the control of the Customs Department. GPS technology, for example, can be used to accurately track the shipment’s position in real-time, allowing for precise updates that can be monitored from a remote location. This technology provides customs officials with more efficient tracking capabilities and can reduce the physical time and labor associated with tracking shipments. Furthermore, digital devices can be used to manage customs paperwork and store valuable data that can be accessed for future reference. This enables customs officials to quickly process documents and identify discrepancies that could delay shipment clearance. Several countries are using blockchain technology. For example, the United Arab Emirates is using blockchain to track international shipments and China has started using blockchain-powered technology.
As for Thailand, for the first time, the Ministry of Finance has recently issued a ministerial regulation regarding controlling the transportation of goods held in customs custody which will affect cross-border transportation, transportation to the bonded warehouse or duty-free zone, transportation of goods between ports and depots, multimodal transportation and other types of transportation as prescribed by the Director of Customs Department.
The control of this ministerial regulation was divided into two types, namely controlling the transportation of goods with a specific device such as GPS and controlling the transportation of goods with digital technology such as blockchain, which can be explained below.
Controlling the transportation of goods with a specific device is about using equipment indicated on the package or cargo or using other equipment which may be different according to the container or vehicle of transportation. Meanwhile, controlling the transportation of goods with digital technology is about using technology equipment to control, follow and verify the transportation of goods in customs custody. During transporting of goods, a customer has a right to access the information in order to track the status of transportation.
For using these services, a customer such as an importer needs to declare the intention of using this service and pay a service fee before customs clearance. Furthermore, this ministerial regulation was issued to control and monitor the transportation of goods in customs custody and also prevent avoidance of payment by modern technology.
Author: Panisa Suwanmatajarn – Managing Partner, The Legal Co., Ltd.