READYMADE garment manufacturing groups with multiple companies but one tax identification number are facing troubles in getting registration numbers required for the units for enabling automated certification system for European Union GSP due to an EU regulation. Export might be hampered in the EU as only one registered exporter (REX) number was given against each taxpayer identification number but many of the companies were running one more entity against a TIN number. There is no scope for providing more than one registration number against a TIN number as the IT system of EU allowed one registration against a unique number. The government, as per the instruction from the EU, introduced REX for the country’s exporters who made their shipment to the European Union in July last year through giving registration numbers to 10 exporters. The Commerce Ministry had asked all the exporters to get registered with a database by the Export Promotion Bureau by December last year to get a unique registration number to avail the GSP facilitates in the EU market. Till date, the EPB has registered some 1,904 local exporters with the majority from textile and RMG sectors.
Under the system, Bangladeshi exporters would make self-certification of the country of origin to avail the generalised system of preference in the EU market. Currently, the EPB manually issues country of origin certificate to the exporters for the GSP facility in the EU market. Recently, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association has sent a letter to the EPB to provide REX number to all units under a company against a TIN number. The trade body fears that if more than one REX number is not provided against a TIN number, the activities of many units would be halted and labour unrest would take place in the country. The BGMEA urged the EPB to provide REX number in favour of all units of four garment industries against their TIN numbers.
Considering the present complexities in getting REX number against all entities the EU extended its time frame up to June 30 this year so that exporters could get separate TIN for a separate entity. The government should ease the GSP registration process for reopening the EU market.
