Singapore Customs was re-constituted on 1 April 2003, and is a department under the Ministry of Finance (MOF). The process brought together the revenue enforcement and trade documentation functions of the former Customs and Excise Department (CED), the Trade Facilitation Division (TFD) and Statistical Audit Unit (SAU) of IE Singapore. Border control functions at the checkpoints were transferred to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Singapore Customs is the lead agency on trade facilitation and revenue enforcement matters. It is responsible for the implementation of customs and trade enforcement measures including those related to free trade agreements and strategic goods. Singapore Customs mission is to assure the integrity of the trading system and support Singapore as a global trade hub.
A brief description of the principal functions of Singapore Customs are given below:
Since 1989, SC has been administering the TradeNet system, which is the world’s first national single window for trade declaration. This has facilitated trade and documentation processes, making them easy and seamless. SC administers preferential tariffs arising from the many Free Trade Agreements signed by Singapore for the benefit of the trading community. SC consults and engages the trade and industry to understand customers' needs, and offer customised solutions to the business community. We aim to lower their business compliance costs, enhance efficiency and promote business growth in Singapore.
SC maintains an effective and robust regulatory regime that is able to adapt quickly to the ever-changing business landscape. As a key revenue collection agency for Singapore, SC safeguards Government revenue, ensures a fair, competitive and level playing field for traders, as well as takes firm enforcement actions against those who attempt to evade duties and taxes by bringing in contraband goods or fradulent declaration. By adopting principles of risk management, SC enables legitimate traders to trade easily and securely in Singapore.
SC is the lead agency in trade security to secure trade supply chains. Asia’s first supply chain security programme, Secure Trade Partnership (STP) was launched in 2007 by SC. We put in place a voluntary certification programme for companies that seek to adopt robust security measures in their trading operations, contributing to improve the security of the global supply chain. We are also the lead agency for developing the APEC and World Customs Organisation (WCO) Trade Recovery Guidelines to help economies resume normal trading functions quickly in the event that supply chains are disrupted.