Tonga’s Ministry of Customs and Revenue has introduced a groundbreaking policy allowing customers to physically monitor their shipments during clearance.
Customs and Revenue Minister Mateni Tapueluelu announced the trial initiative this evening, acknowledging the challenges of coordinating multiple agencies, including Stevedore, Securities, Wharf Staff, Quarantine, and Customs.
“This was not an easy decision, given the complexity of the clearance process,” Tapueluelu said in Tongan during an interview with RTTI.
He said the action was taken to tackle rising concerns regarding lost or mishandled cargo.
Under the new policy, cargo owners or their authorised representatives can now observe inspections in real time.
This is a significant shift from the traditional process, in which brokers handled paperwork and inspections without direct customer involvement.
The Minister stated that brokers are expected to comply with the new policy, and failure to do so may result in their license being revoked.
Tapueluelu hopes the change will minimise errors, deter malpractice, and ensure smoother cross-border trade.
He said that he has received support for the policy.
He said that the trial would be presented to the Cabinet for legalisation if successful in three weeks.
