Egypt’s Customs Authority proposes legislative amendments to regulate customs clearance agents

LEGISLATION WATCH- Customs Authority considers new Customs Act amendments: The Customs Authority has proposed expanding draft Customs Act amendments that would regulate customs clearance agents, Al Mal reports. The new clauses would require that agents are Egyptian passport holders aged over 21 who have an undergraduate degree and have completed military service. Agents would also be required to pass a “professional eligibility” exam, and have a clean criminal record. The proposed amendments — which would expedite customs clearance, create a “whitelist” of trusted importers, and broaden the authority’s discretion — made it to the House of Representatives at the end of the last legislative cycle which wrapped up in July. The House is set to vote on the amendments in it returns from summer recess in October.