RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/PSI/WP/W/5
13June1997
ORGANIZATION(97-2438)
Original: Spanish Working Party onPreshipment Inspection
NATIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE AGREEMENT ONPRESHIPMENT INSPECTION
Submission byPeru
Thefollowingcommunication,dated4June1997,hasbeenreceivedfromthePermanentMission
ofPeru.
_______________
ThePeruvian inspection system ("Sistema deSupervisión") hasbeeninforce bygovernment
mandate, since March 1992 forgoods subject totheimportation and/or warehousing procedures.
Theinspection entity regulations, approved bySupreme Decree No.038-92-EF, statethatthe
aimofthesystem istoprevent theundervaluation ofimports, forwhich purpose theinspection entities
determine thef.o.b. value ofthegoods which isusedasthebasis fordetermining thecustoms value.
Atpresent, therequirement ofacertificate ofinspection, intheportoforigin orshipment of
thegood, applies togoods whose f.o.b. value isgreater thanUS$5,000.00 (Decree LawNo.25713
asamended bySupreme Decree No.015-97-EF).
Domestic importers contract fortheservices oftheinspection entities forwhich theimporter
paysafeeequivalent to1percentofthef.o.b. value ofthegood inspected. Accordingly, inPeru,
theuserofthesystem andtheonedirectly affected byfaulty service istheimporter.
Against thisbackground, in1995, Peruadopted theWTO Agreement onPreshipment Inspection
approved intheUruguay Round, which establishes inspection asaprerequisite forthepayment of
international tradetransactions, while imposing obligations onthepreshipment inspection entities and
usermembers (countries).
Since inPerutheusers ofthesystem arethedomestic importers, theexporters arenotinformed
oftheresults ofthephysical inspection, thedelay inissuing acertificate ofinspection ortheresults
ofprice verification, since these details aresupplied tothedomestic importers.
Itisimportant tonotethatthePreshipment Inspection Agreement establishes priceverification
asoneofthefunctions oftheinspection entities. However, inPeru, theycarry outcustoms valuation,
asindicated inthelegislation listed below:
1. Legislative Decree No.659
Article 4.Theinspection entities shalldetermine thevalue ofthegoods inaccordance with
therules ofcustoms valuation contained intherelevant national legislation.G/PSI/WP/W/5
Page2
2. Supreme Decree No.265-91-EF
Article 5.Theinspection ofthegood bytheinspection entity shallconsist intheverification
ofthequantity, quality andprice, withaviewtoestablishing:
(...)
(b) Thevalue onwhich import duties arebased. Forthispurpose theinspection entity
shallapply thevaluation rules contained intherelevant national legislation.
With respect tothemeasures taken bythePeruvian Government toensure thefulfilment of
theobligations assumed under theWTO Preshipment Inspection Agreement, itshould bepointed out
thatthese obligations arebeing conscientiously fulfilled bytheinspection entities. Inthisconnection,
thePeruvian legislation laysdown thefollowing:
1. Non-discrimination
Theprocedures andcriteria employed forpreshipment inspection areestablished inthePeruvian
legislation (Legislative Decree No.659, Supreme Decree No.265-91-EF andSupreme Decree
No.038-92-EF) without specifying differential treatment foranyparticular userorcountry.
Theagency responsible forsupervising compliance withtheprocedures laiddown inthis
legislation istheNational Customs Administration, forwhich purpose itapplies theregulations on
offences andpenalties adopted bySupreme Decree No.005-96-EF.
2. Transparency
Theimporters arefullyaware oftheinformation necessary tocomply withtheinspection
requirements, sincethelatter havebeenincorporated intothenational legislation andtobeenforceable
must bepublished intheOfficial Journal "ElPeruano", asisthecase.
3. Confidentiality oftheinformation
Theresultsobtainedbytheinspectionentityasaconsequenceofprovidingitsinspectionservices
arecommunicated onlytocustoms.
Theinspection entities maynotcommunicate theinformation toother institutions (Supreme
Decree No.038-92-EF, section I,paragraph 11).
4. Conflicts ofinterest
Oneoftherequirements imposed ontheinspection entities, withrespect totheprovision of
inspection services, isthattheymaynothaveaninterest inenterprises engaged ininternational trade
ingoods.
5. Delays
Article 3and4ofSupreme Decree No.265-91-EF establish time-limits fortheinspection
procedure.G/PSI/WP/W/5
Page3
Supreme Decree No.038-92-EF stipulates, insection I,paragraph 3.4,thattheinspection entity
shallissueacertificate ofinspection within aperiod ofatmostthree(3)working daysfollowing receipt
ofthefinaldocuments.
6. Appeals procedure
Supreme Decree No.067-95-EF provides fortheestablishment ofasub-commission toassess
claims deriving fromthecontractual non-fulfilment ofobligations assumed byinspection entities with
respect toimporters.
Theinspection applications, which importers usetorequest theservices ofoneoftheinspection
entities, include aclause requiring disputes tobesubjected tonational arbitration procedures.