24x7 customs clearance facility for factory stuffed containers, facilitated Bills of Entry and free Shipping Bills at M/s. CONCOR CFS, Tuticorin - Customs - 02/2015

Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue Office of the Commissioner of Customs Custom House, New Harbour Estate, 628004/Tuticorin 628004 Tel: 0461 2352655, 2352633 Fax 0461 2352019 PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 02/2015 Attention to all Importers/Exporters/Custom House Brokers is invited to Board Circular No. 19/2014-Customs dated 31.12.2014 on the subject of 24x7 customs clearance facility at specified sea ports and air cargo complexes for identified categories of import and export goods. 2. In the past, factory stuffed containers have been cleared after verifying container numbers and seal numbers by Export Examination officers inside the Docks area of VOC Port Trust, Tuticorin. After rolling out of RMS in the exports, a few factory stuffed containers are being selected by the RMS for physical examination by customs. Examination could not be done in the docks by officers due to non availability of adequate place in port area for examination. VOC Port authorities were requested to provide buffer examination area within port premises or near Blue gate of Port Trust for carrying out examination of export containers which were picked for RMS selected examination and they expressed their inability to provide space. 3. Due to non availability of Buffer area inside the Docks area of Port Trust, Tuticorin, a procedure was introduced for clearance/examination of factory stuffed cargo/ containers in various CFSs/ICD, Tuticorin vide Facility Intimation No.13/2013 dated 12.12.2013. This facility of clearance of factory stuffed container from CFSs/ICD, however, is causing traffic congestion at the entry point of the Port and inside the port as the export cargo/containers started from all the CFS/ICD rushing to enter port at the same time. 4. With the introduction of 24x7 customs clearance facility vide Board Circular No. 19/2014 dated 31.12.2014 , at the Tuticorin Port for customs clearance of goods covered by facilitated Bills of Entry, Factory stuffed containers and goods exported under free Shipping Bills, a 24x7 cell is created in the M/s. CONCOR CFS, Tuticorin for 24x7 clearance of all factory stuffed containers and clearance of free Shipping Bills and facilitated Bills of Entry beyond normal working hours. The possibility of allowing factory stuffed containers to be taken to any CFS/ICD during normal working hours and to CONCOR CFS after normal working hours was examined and discussed with the Port Trust. It was felt that this will not solve the problem of congestion at the Port Gate and hence factory stuffed containers should move in a single file from one CFS only. Therefore, all factory stuffed export cargo/containers shall henceforth be taken only to M/s. CONCOR CFS, Tuticorin for clearance on 24x7 basis. Other CFS/ICD will not process or clear factory stuffed cargo/containers. Export cargo/containers stuffed in the supervision of PRO, Custom House, Tuticorin will also be cleared on 24x7 basis at M/s. CONCOR CFS, Tuticorin. In a way, this is a restoration of the process of the method earlier being followed in the docks for clearing factory stuffed container with the process being undertaken instead of at Blue Gate at CONCOR CFS where containers can be examined, if required by the RMS or otherwise. 5. In respect of Free Shipping Bills and facilitated Bills of Entry, the examination and clearance process will be carried out in all CFS/ICD during normal working hours and at M/s. CONCOR CFS, Tuticorin beyond working hours at 24x7 basis. Exporters/ Importers/ Customs Brokers wishing to clear such Shipping Bills or Bills on Entry can utilize the facility for clearance on 24x7 basis at M/s. CONCOR CFS, Tuticorin beyond normal working hours. 6. Any difficulties faced in the implementation of 24x7 facility, may be brought to the notice of the Assistant Commissioner (CFS), Custom House, Tuticorin. (Issued from File C.No.VIII/48/358/2014-Cus.Pol dated 09.01.2015) Sd/- (P. V. SUBBA RAO) COMMISSIONER