Simplification of Shipping Customs procedure to make a uniformity across all ports / customs stations. - Customs - 20/2014-15

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (IMPORT) I II NEW CUSTOM HOUSE, BALLARD ESTATE, MUMBAI-400 001. F.No. S/26-78/2014-15 A (G) Dated: 01.04.2015 PUBLIC NOTICE NO.: 20/2014-15 Subject: Simplification of Customs procedure for Shipping reg. It has been observed that there is no uniformity regarding Customs procedure adopted at some ports/ Customs stations which increases transaction cost and time of clearance. This also results in major constraints in making Indian ports international transhipment hubs. The Committee was setup by Ministry of Shipping for simplification of Shipping Customs procedure. Board has examined the recommendations of committee in consultation with identified Chief Commissioners of Customs. The following decisions have been taken to streamline the extent procedures at various ports. (i) At present 7 (seven) hardcopies of IGM are submitted by the shipping agent to various departments and for record with themselves. Board, has noted that the Customs is already receiving the IGM electronically as well. The requirement of large number of hard copies of this document leads to unnecessary escalation of compliance cost. Therefore, taking into account the requirement of Customs as well the fact that an electronic version of IGM is already available. Board has decided that henceforth the number of hard copies of IGM required to be submitted by shipping lines / steamer agents at a Customs House shall be restricted to 2 (two) only. (ii) The port clearance requires submission of numerous documents on behalf of other agencies Lighthouse Dues Certificate, NOC for Immigration, Port Health Certificate, etc. At present, the port clearance is given on the strength of a bond and a guarantee which are given each time a vessel enters. As a measure of simplification, Board has decided to give an option to the steamer agent to (a) give a continuity bond and (b) merge the guarantee with the continuity bond. This would reduce the number required documents from 2 (two) to 1 (one) and periodicity (of submission) would also get reduced drastically. (iii) At present, in case of transhipped cargo,shipping lines send multiple hard copies of Sub Manifest Transhipment Permit (SMTP) to the destination ICD despite the same also being transmitted electronically. However, there may be situations warranting hard copy of the document such as when amendments have to be made. Recognizing the need for reducing number of copies of SMTP, Board has decided that only 1 (one) copy of SMTP would be sufficient and Customs at ICD should not insist on more number of hard copies of SMTP. (iv) Currently, separate permissions are required whenever the mode of transport of transhipment containers changes from train to road or vice versa. The view is that this may be dispensed with since the carrier has already executed a bond for safe carriage of the goods to the destination port / ICD. With a view to boost inter-modal transportation of transhipped cargo and simplify the procedure, Board has decided that henceforth no separate permission is required from jurisdictional Customs in case of change of mode of transhipment under the Goods imports (Conditions of Transhipment) Regulation 1995. However, the carrier is required to intimate the change to the jurisdictional Commissioner of Customs who will ensure the bond covers both modes of transport. Except for the modification mentioned above, all other provisions of earlier Public Notices inter alia pertaining to filing of IGM, amendment of IGM, SMTP, etc. on the above subjects shall remain unchanged. Difficulties, if any, in implementation of these instructions may be immediately brought to the notice of undersigned. Sd/- (ASHUTOSH BARANWAL) Commissioner of Customs (Imp-I II) Mumbai.