Moldova & IMF IMF Activities Publications Press Releases


PROBLEMS WHEN INSPECTING GOODS PRIOR TO DELIVERY 
MUST BE SETTLED BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND SGS, 
SAYS HASSAN AL-ATRASH

Chisinau-14.02.2002/11:31:01/(BASA-economic) The International
Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked for the introduction by the Moldovan
Government of pre-shipment inspection and for the company that
will perform this inspection to be selected via an open,
competitive tender. The technical modalities and possible problems
that could emerge during the process should be resolved
bilaterally between the Government and the provider of the
services, declared to the press the Resident Representative of the
IMF in Chisinau, Hassan Al-Atrash.

The official said that he received phone calls from business
people who were complaining about pre-shipment inspection
services, rendered by the SGS company. "If there are technical
problems with this inspection, it is important for the Government
to work with the provider of services to address them", said
Al-Atrash.

According to him, IMF recommended pre-shipment inspection in order
to address the problem of smuggling, which diverts resources from
the budget. "No one wants to see any disruptions of trade - this
is contrary to what the IMF stands."

On October 27, 2001, Swiss company Societe Generale de Surveillance
signed with the Moldovan government a contract, saying that
starting December 1, 2001 the SGS carried out the inspection of
goods prior to delivery. The importers have to pay for the services
of inspection prior to delivery a tax of 0.8 percent of the value
of the kit of goods imported, while for the oil products 0.5
percent of the value of imports.