The National Revenue Authority (NRA) on 1st February 2024, successfully went live with the Product Tracing System (PTS) at Manufacturing Companies in Freetown. According to the implementation plan, it is expected that importers, distributors and retailers of tobacco, wine, spiritous and other alcoholic beverages will follow the trail. βThe Go-Live is a groundbreaking revenue protection initiative and state-of-the-art product tracing system meant to guarantee the authenticity of products, combat illicit trade and generate more revenue. I am proud of this significant milestone that will ensure transparency and accountability. Our effort is aligned with infrastructure, technology and innovation as part of the Big Five Game Changers of the recently launched Medium Term National Development 2024 – 2030β, said Commissioner General- Mrs. Jeneba J. Bangura._
The system is a track-and-trace solution from production/importation to distribution, ensuring transparency and accountability. βThe implementation of this cutting-edge technology by the NRA can now effectively trace the movement of goods from their point of production and/or origin to their destination. This will not only help in preventing smuggling and tax evasion but also enable the authority to identify and address any potential loopholes in the systemβ_ reaffirmed Senior Commissioner ofΒ theΒ Domestic Tax Department of NRA, Mr Ibrahim Sorie Kamara. The system will equally help in tracking contraband entering the country.Β
The PTS utilizes a combination of advanced technologies such as barcode scanning, GPS tracking, and data analytics, enabling the Authority to gather accurate and up-to-date information about the movement of goods, ensuring that all transactions are properly documented, leading to enhanced domestic revenue mobilization. _βIt is good to be a law-abiding citizen, and as a company, we welcome the reform and also hope our customers will do the same to collaboratively help in tracking products in the country; where a product is not stamped or marked that product would be regarded to have been smuggled into the countryβ_, cautioned Mr. Khalil Farhat Hidjazi, Managing Director of one of the beverage companies that will interface with the system.
As the system goes live, it is anticipated that it will serve as a model in inspiring other beverage producers and importers to abide by the Excise Stamps and Other Markings Regulations 2022.
