CUSTOMS officers of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) last Saturday supervised the installation of Excise Stamps on approximately three thousand bottles of imported liquor during an exercise at Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast.

Some of the said products were detained following a recent enforcement exercise but subsequently released after the duties and taxes were paid. The undertaking is in keeping with the Customs Act and Provisions under Section 212 (1) of the Regulations, which makes it mandatory for Excise Stamps to be affixed on every package or unit of alcoholic products and every package or unit of tobacco and other manufactured tobacco products and substitutes.

According to a release by the GRA, the affixing of the excise stamps on units of imported alcohol and tobacco products is an anti-smuggling measure that will aid in enhancing revenue for the country and curtail the illicit trade of these high duty goods. The programme was launched in early November, followed by a countrywide exercise by the GRA , to ensure every retail stock of alcohol and/or cigarettes is enlisted and stamped.

In the process, businesses and persons selling alcohol and tobacco will be required to present documents and supporting evidence to validate the legality of the imports and that the full duties and taxes are paid. They will also be required to complete the registration and inventory forms and submit to the Excise Stamp and Environmental Levy Section, Customs, Excise & Trade Operations of the GRA. Thereafter, officers will supervise the affixing of stamps on each unit of such products.

While conducting the exercise on Saturday, the team from the GRA’s Excise Stamp and Environmental Levy Unit also sought to register wholesalers and importers in Essequibo. Training for staff at the Anna Regina, Integrated Regional Tax Office (IRTO) was also provided.