Asocav proposes customs law updates for Venezuela

The Association of Freight and Customs Agencies (Asocav) has proposed updating Venezuela's national customs legislation to better align with modern commercial dynamics, specifically regarding “door-to-door” direct shipments. Gretsy Marín, president of Asocav, stated that current regulations are outdated and need to accommodate e-commerce and the rapid importation of personal goods or emergency medical supplies, such as medicines and prosthetics.

To modernize operations, technical teams are evaluating the use of mobile devices for customs inspectors. These tools would allow for direct physical cargo recognition in port zones, potentially reducing administrative wait times by approximately one and a half days. Implementation of these digital tools is expected between late October and early November.

Additionally, Asocav is seeking a simplified mechanism for customs agents to reactivate their operating licenses. Currently, approximately 800 agents are active in the country, a significant decrease from the nearly 3,000 previously registered. While import volumes have seen modest growth of less than 2% compared to previous years, projections suggest a rise to 3% or 4% if domestic commercial activity increases.