Customs get sharper teeth

Dubai: The UAE's Federal Customs Authority has been empowered to lay down a plan to combat commercial fraud and counterfeit products, protect intellectual property while monitoring the implementation of the unified customs law.

The UAE is likely to sign customs agreements with 12 countries including Pakistan and Turkey who have sought its assistance.

Saeed Al Merri, the authority's deputy director, said it had also approved a proposal to host the Regional Centre for Customs Competence, an affiliate of the World Customs Organisation.

These decisions were taken at a board meeting of the authority chaired by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry, yesterday.

During the meeting, which was attended by Dr Mohammad Khalfan Bin Kharbash, Minister of State for Financial and Industrial Affairs, the authority's Dh16 million 2006 budget was also discussed. The budget includes Dh11 million assistance from the government and Dh5 million expected income.

They also discussed issues related to the UAE-Oman panel and the list of goods to be exempted by Oman. The board has recommended the setting up of a panel to unify administrative and service fees.

Al Merri said agreements with Pakistan and Turkey was in their final phases.