Customs department implements manual procedures following technical failure at Limassol port

The Cyprus Customs Department has introduced manual processing procedures following a persistent technical failure in its accounting subsystem and the Automated Import System (AIS) at Limassol port. The malfunction, which reportedly began as early as last Thursday or Friday, has prevented the electronic processing of customs declarations and tax payments for approximately 1,000 to 1,200 shipping containers. Customs official Giorgos Konstantinou confirmed the issue and stated that despite weekend repair efforts, the problem remains unresolved, causing daily delays of one to two days. To ensure operational continuity, importers and customs agents are instructed to pay duties via cash or check with a GL18 receipt, bank transfer, or credit card, which requires manual verification by the accounting department. For payment deferment, stakeholders must contact the Customs Headquarters at 22 601708 for specific instructions. While the department is working on a permanent fix, reports from customs agents suggest ongoing instability with the electronic systems. The department has apologized for the inconvenience caused by these disruptions to the supply chain.