Nicosia, Cyprus. The customs agents association said on Tuesday that the automated import system (AIS) continues to experience technical problems ten months after its launch, resulting in longer clearance times, added costs and supply chain disruptions.
Reported operational issues
Association head Christos Akaros said earlier concerns about the system had been confirmed by recurring technical malfunctions, outages and delays.
He said the problems had delayed customs clearances, increased storage costs, postponed deliveries and caused losses in productive working hours, while placing pressure on the wider supply chain. According to Akaros, customs clearance times have tripled.
System design and implementation
Akaros said poor planning, incorrect priorities and inadequate project management before the system’s final implementation in September 2025 had created an “electronic maze” for the customs office.
He said customs agents, shipping agents, freight forwarders and, indirectly, importers had been affected, with importers waiting days to receive cargoes.
Akaros attributed the difficulties to software and design issues, as well as programming and project management. While the system complies with applicable legislation, he said it has not produced workable results.
Staffing and user involvement
He said those responsible for setting the system’s specifications should have considered staff shortages affecting the customs department and the wider public sector.
Under the new system, customs agents enter 85 per cent of the information volume, while shipping agents and freight forwarders enter 10 per cent and the customs department enters 5 per cent, according to Akaros. The customs department carries out the relevant checks.
Akaros said the association was not asked to contribute to the development of the system’s specifications or workflow. He said the lack of meaningful involvement by primary users and front-line operators had resulted in issues emerging during implementation that were more costly, difficult and time-consuming to address.
Recommendations submitted
The association submitted a detailed list of technical and practical issues, together with recommendations for corrections and improvements, in October 2025, Akaros said. He added that most of the problems remain unresolved.
