Streamlining the Procedures for Clearance of Import/ Export Goods - Customs - 054/97

Circular No. 54/ 97-Cus. dated 23/ 10/ 97 F.No. 450/ 50/ 97-Cus. IV Government of India, Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) Central Board of Excise Customs, New Delhi Subject : Dwell time of import cargo in Air Cargo Complex - Steps for improvement regarding. The issues streamlining the procedures for clearance of Air Cargo Complex in order to reduce congestion and to ensure faster clearance of import as well as export goods from Air Cargo Complexes have been considered by Export Promotion Board recently and the following further decision have been taken by Board for immediate compliance: (1) In terms of section 48 of the Customs Act, 1962, if any goods brought into india from a place outside India are not cleared for home consumption for warehouse or transshipped within 30 days from the date of unloading then the custodian of such goods may dispose off same after giving notice to the importer and with a permission of the proper officer. In terms of section 111 of the Customs Act, 1962, the goods imported into India in violation of any one of the provisions are liable to confiscation. It has been decided that the imported cargo which is in negative list of import/ export policy or liable to confiscation under any other provision of the Customs Act 1962, may be confiscated by the customs authorities. After the confiscation the same may be shifted from Ports / Airports to custom godowns. In case the goods are not likely to fetch any value or can not be disposed off due to any reason, the same, may be destroyed. (2) The Customs House and the custodians or Air Cargo Complexes would work out a procedure for running the import cargo sheds in two shifts from 10 AM to 10 PM every day. (3) In case of export cargo to ease congestion in the examination area only a part of consignment which is selected on random basis for examination, shall be held in examination area; the remaining part of consignment may be allowed to be moved into the bonded area as soon as it is received in the examination area. (4) The licence fees for the space occupied by customs authorities in passenger and cargo complex would continue to be 50% of the normal licence fees till the final decisions are taken in this regard. Kindly acknowledge the receipt of the circulars and take appropriate action to implement it. Sd /- (S.C.Choudhury) Director (Customs)