Customs Clearing Done for You

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Customs Clearing Done for You

Macro Clearing is a privately owned South African Customs clearing and freight forwarding agent. We work with cargo from across the world and help with the export of goods from South Africa to various countries. We are familiar with customs clearing regulations in all these countries so that you don’t have to be. We do it all for you to take the worry out of the import or export process.

What exactly is Customs Clearing?

Customs brokerage is a process that involves the clearing of goods for importers or exporters through various customs barriers. For this reason, it’s more commonly known as Customs clearing. Whenever goods have to cross borders, whether over land, sea or air, it has to be cleared by customs. Even before you start loading your goods into a container, you need to get us involved to make the Customs clearing process go as smooth as possible. The work required for Customs clearing involves the following:

As customs clearing agents we take all this on us to get it done for you. Because we know the customs clearing laws and regulations in each country that we deal with, we can help you avoid any delays or penalties because you didn’t follow the correct processes.

What do the Customs officers do?

It is important not to get confused by the difference between Customs clearing agents and Customs officers. Customs clearing agents such as Macro Clearing help you get your goods and documentation ready to be inspected by Customs officers, as described above. Customs officers on the other hand, are employed by the governments of the various countries and their duties are as follows:

  • accepting and checking the goods declaration against the documents produced (invoice, bill of lading, certificate of origin, permits, etc.),
  • examination of the goods if necessary,
  • assessment and collection of all taxes, duties and excise.

You should note that Customs may require additional information and may also request samples.

Customs may also detain goods for other Government departments. The relevant Government department will then ensure compliance with their applicable laws, regulations and rules.

Customs clearing in South Africa

Goods arrive in South Africa by land, sea, rail or air. Anyone importing anything to South Africa, has to declare it to Customs. This safeguards any revenue due to the State and ensures that it is in compliance with legislation. If something is prohibited by law, then you will not be able to get it cleared by Customs and therefore you won’t be able to bring it into the country. There is a long list of goods restricted or completely prohibited in South Africa. So it is important that you check with us before deciding to just go ahead and import something.

Once you have imported goods, you have 7 days in which to clear it through Customs. 14 days is given for loose or break bulk cargo and goods imported by sea, air or rail. In the case of goods in a container depot, you have to clear it within 28 days from the time it landed in South Africa. If goods haven’t passed Customs clearing on time, it will be removed and detained in a State Warehouse. We do it all for you so it can be done on time.

Customs clearing in other countries

When you export goods to other countries, we help prepare and submit documentation to notify all the relevant agencies. We obtain clearance on your behalf from government agencies such as the relevant food and drug administrations, departments of agriculture or any other relevant authority. We can also help with arranging delivery of your goods once it has been cleared by the relevant country’s Customs.

Our experience in negotiating Customs clearing is of great value to our customers. We undertake the clearing of cargo through all Customs procedures, acquiring authorizations and arranging payment of duties and taxes on behalf of importers and exporters. Call us today for a quote.