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By Channa Kasturisinghe

The Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) will review its import inspection operation scheme in order to reduce delays and unnecessary expenses in clearing import cargo.

SLSI Chairman Armyne Wirasinghe who held discussions with the Sri Lanka Shippers Council (SLSC) and the Association of Clearing and Forwarding Agents (ACFA) recently had assured that SLSI would rationalise operation of the Import Inspection Scheme to facilitate the trade.

The meeting with the SLSI had been a part of a joint program initiated by the SLSC and ACFA in obtaining the maximum support of all the role players in the cargo clearing procedure to expedite clearance, ACFA Chairman M.S.M. Niyas told the Daily News.

"This joint exercise to proactively interact and exchange views of all parties and discuss the problems faced by each other has shown positive results.

We brought to the attention of the SLSI the difficulties the trade experiences in the exercise of the reverse pattern of import shipment sampling, which causes delays at clearance. Although, a large number of shipments do not need extensive sampling, the SLSI has increased the frequency of sampling and this has resulted in considerable delays," Mr. Niyas said.

Mr. Niyas said, the SLSI should consider operating an office closer to the Port.

"The SLSI Import Inspection Unit is at Narahnenpita, a fair distance away from the Port. It is one of the main causes of delays in cargo clearance. It has become an exhausting exercise for importers when they have to make a number of visits to the SLSI.

The SLSI Import Inspection Scheme is over 12 years in existance. At present, 84 import commodities such as milk powder, canned fish, palm oil, construction steel, margarine and butter require SLSI compulsory Import Inspection. Steel and electrical items constitute the bulk of the other cargo falling under this scheme.

About 15,000 notifications are processed at SLSI annually under this scheme. There is no time target for processing a notification handed over to the SLSI. Sometimes it ranges from one to one and half days," Mr. Niyas said.

He said as a result of the discussion the SLSI has agreed to set up a representative office close to the SLPA, minimise the frequency of sampling, process a notification within three hours and to directly release to the warehouse shipments supported by quality certificates. 

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