Abolition of DEPB Scheme w.e.f. 01.10.2011 - changes in ICES 1.5 - Customs - 18/2011

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS CUSTOMS HOUSE: COCHIN-682009 TRADE FACILITY 18/2011 F.No. C1/08/2011TU Cus. Date: 29.09.2011 Sub: Abolition of DEPB Scheme w.e.f. 01.10.2011 - changes in ICES 1.5 Reference is invited to Board s Circular No. 42/2011 Cus. dated 22.09.2011 wherein it has been indicated that DEPB scheme will be abolished with effect from 01.10.2011 and a new Drawback Schedule incorporating items on which DEPB shall be abolished would be introduced w.e.f. 01.10.2011. Changes in ICES 1.5 Necessary modifications are being made in the India Customs EDI System (ICES 1.5) to give effect to these changes in line with the above Circular. These changes are briefly indicated as follows: (1) From 1st October 2011, DEPB shipping bills will not be accepted in ICES 1.5 either through the Service Centre or RES. (2) Exporters/CHA are to note that Let Export Order (LEO) for DEPB shipping bills will only be enabled upto 30.09.2011 i.e. from 1st October 2011, the EDI system will not process any pending DEPB Shipping Bills for which LEO could not be given for any reason. In all such cases Exporter/CHA are advised to cancel the old DEPB shipping bills and file fresh Shipping Bills. (3) It may be noted that the system will also not handle any shipping bills in which DEPB benefit is claimed in combination with any other scheme w.e.f. 01.10.2011. (4) ICEGATE will only transmit any DEPB shipping bill with LEO date upto 30.09.2011 to DGFT. (5) The EDI System will however, continue to process import under DEPB till validity of DEPB scrip issued by DGFT. (6) In view of the anticipated rush in DEPB Shipping Bills the following officers are additionally posted in the Export Section on 30.09.2011. (i) Shri D. Paul (AO) (ii) Shri Anil Kumar (AO) (iii) Shri S.N. Suresh (AO) No change in Procedure for claiming drawback: There is no change in procedure in claim and sanction and disbursal of drawback amount. The procedure for filing of drawback Shipping Bills as per Public Notices No.24/2008 dated 07.07.2008 and 31/2008 dated 28.10.2008 and other instructions issued by this Custom House shall continue. The salient features on account of the change in Scheme are as follows: a. Exporters who were exporting under DEPB scheme will now file shipping bill under Drawback Scheme. b. There is no need to file any separate drawback claim. EDI Copy of shipping bill itself is treated as drawback claim and processed accordingly. c. Drawback amount under the Indian Customs EDI System (ICES) is disbursed through branch of the authorized bank at each custom location. The drawback amount in respect of individual exporters is credited directly to the bank account of the exporter in authorized bank branch at a custom location or to any core banking enabled bank account of the exporter, in any branch/bank anywhere in the country (through NEFT/RTGS). d. To avail of the procedure at c) the exporter is required to declare to the Customs authorities, the Indian financial Service Code (IFSC) of the bank branch in which he wishes to receive drawback amount, the core banking enabled account number, bank name and address. Without the IFSC Code and bank account number, ICES 1.5 does not allow filing of drawback shipping bill. e. At the time of registration of the bank account with the customs authorities the exporter will be required to produce a certificate from the bank branch, where he aerates his bank account, certifying the correctness of the IFS code and bank account number of the exporter. A copy of the same shall also be submitted to the authorized bank branch at the EDI location through which the drawback amount will be transferred. f. Whenever, there is a change in the exporter s bank account number the above procedure is required to be followed by the exporter for fresh registration of new bank account number at each port of export from where he is exporting goods. g. Exporters can check the status of their drawback claims at www.icegate.gov.in . Any difficulty may be brought to the notice of the undersigned. Sd/- (VIJAY KALSI) COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS