Customs-Transhipment of procedure between Bangalore International Air Port at Devanahalli, Bangalore to any other Customs Airport-Reg. - Customs - 1/2011

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS C.R.BUILDINGS, QUEEN'S ROAD, BANGALORE-560 001 PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 1/2011 Date: 24.01.2011 Sub:- Customs-Transhipment of procedure between Bangalore International Air Port at Devanahalli, Bangalore to any other Customs Airport-Reg. Attention of the trade, Importers, Exporters, CHAs, Airlines, Freight forwarders and all other concerned is drawn to the Circular No. 06/2007-Cus dated 22nd January, 2007, issued under file F.No.450/96/2006-Cus.IV by the Central Board of Excise Customs, New Delhi, wherein, the procedure for Transhipment of imported cargo facility from one Airport to another Airport are laid down. The import Transhipment facility of cargo imported at BIAL Air Cargo Complex, Bangalore are governed by the provisions of Goods Imported (Conditions of Transhipment) Regulations, 1995 which inter alia provides that imported cargo can be transshipped to any customs station on permission being given by the jurisdictional Commissioner of Customs. 2. Several representations have been received from Airlines like Singapore Airlines, Air India, Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways, Etihad, who have requested for allowing Transhipment of import cargo on regular basis since there is a business requirement. This has also been repeatedly been raised in the Scope Air Meeting as a demand for introducing Transhipment at Bangalore Air Cargo Complex. At Air Cargo Complex, Bangalore, both custodians i.e., M/s Air India SATS Air Freight Terminal and M/s Menzies Bobba Cargo Terminal have earmarked space for handling/storing cargo meant for Transhipment. Therefore, it has been decided to introduce Transhipment of import cargo at Bangalore Air Cargo Complex with effect from 01.02.2011 subject to following of the under mentioned uniform procedure prescribed by the Board: i. On arrival of flight, the Transhipment cargo should be segregated in Custodian s premises i.e., premises of M/s Menzies Bobba or M/s Air India SATS, as the case may be; ii. For Transhipment of cargo, the carrier/console agent is required to file an application for Transhipment of cargo, consigned to another airport as indicated in House Airway Bill (HAWB). Cargo Transfer Manifest (CTM) prepared by the carrier/console agent, as the case may be, may itself be treated as application for Transhipment. Separate CTMs may be prepared destination wise. Such Transhipment should be approved by the proper officer(Superintendent of Customs in charge of Transhipment); iii. The cargo mentioned in the CTM need to be escorted by the Customs Officer (Inspector) from the warehouse of the Custodian to the warehouse of receiving airlines which acknowledges the same. The concerned airlines/Custodian warehouse should have double locking arrangement, one key of which will be with the Airlines/Custodian and the other with Customs, for storage of Transhipment cargo. No physical examination needs to be conducted, except on specific intelligence, for allowing Transhipment and only marks and number of cargo need to be verified; iv. The receiving airlines should prepare its cargo manifest and Transhipment be allowed under Customs supervision. The value of transhipped cargo should be debited from the Transhipment Bond to be submitted by the Airlines; v. Customs at destination airport will acknowledge the receipt of the cargo and send back the acknowledgement manifest through the carrier. The carrier should produce such acknowledgement at the originating airport within 10 days of Transhipment. On the basis of such acknowledgement the Transhipment Bond would be re-credited; vi. The usual procedure for Customs clearance of cargo shall be adopted at the destination airport for ultimate clearance of cargo. 3. For movement of imported cargo in Bonded Truck from Airport/ACCs to ICDs/CFSs/Airports/ACCs, detailed instructions have been issued vide Boards s Circular No. 69/99-Cus dated 6/10/1999. It is clarified that the circular No.69/99 Cus dt.6.10.1999 is applicable for movement of imported cargo both by containers and trucks. 4. For international transshipped cargo (Foreign to Foreign), the following procedure shall be adopted, i. On the arrival of flight at BIAL, the Transhipment cargo meant for destination abroad should be segregated in the Custodian s premises; ii. The carrier is required to file application for Transhipment of cargo; iii. CTM prepared by the airlines itself be treated as application for Transhipment. Such Transhipment should be approved by the proper officer; iv. Cargo mentioned in CTM need to be escorted by the Customs Officer from the warehouse of Custodian to the Export terminal. No physical examination needs to be conducted, except on specific intelligence, and only marks and numbers of cargo need to be verified. Such cargo may be exported with other export cargo. 5. The export cargo tendered at BIAL airport for export from another Customs airport may be done in following manner: i. Shipping Bill should be filed at the originating Customs station (BIAL) and Let Export Order should be given by the Customs at the same station. Transhipment Permit (TP) should be prepared by the airlines/carrier and approved by the proper officer. TP should be sent along with the cargo. Transhipment bond should be debited for the value of cargo; ii. On arrival at the gateway airport, the cargo should be taken to the warehouse of the domestic airlines/Custodian in a clearly identified area. The concerned Airlines/Custodian warehouse should have double locking arrangement, one key of which will be with the Airlines/custodian and the other with Customs, for storage of Transhipment cargo. The Customs officers in charge of warehouse should verify the details of the packages with the TP, Airway Bill, etc. The domestic airlines may prepare the CTM airlines-wise which is certified by the Export Freight Officer (EFO); iii. Cargo should be shifted to the Transhipment warehouse in the export terminal of Custodian and acknowledgement obtained. No examination of such cargo should normally be done at gateway airport, except on credible intelligence or information; iv. When the aircraft is ready for loading, the airlines should seek permission from the EFO for loading. The load plan prepared by the airlines should be signed by the Airlines, EFO and the custodian; v. Cargo should be loaded in the aircraft under Customs supervision; vi. Copy of manifest signed by the EFO AWB along with copy of Shipping Bill should be sent by the airlines to the originating station within 30 days of Transhipment. Transhipment bond should be re-credited at originating airport; vii. In case the Transhipment is by bonded truck, the marks and numbers of the packages be verified with the details in the Transhipment permission and the bonded truck be sealed with bottle seal in the presence of Preventive Officer. 6. If Transhipment of cargo is also desired at some intermediate Customs airport, carrier/airlines should give advance intimation to intermediary airport. Customs at intermediary airport would supervise the movement of cargo and endorse the same on Transhipment Permit. The concerned Airlines/Custodian warehouse should have double locking arrangement, one key of which will be with the Airlines/custodian and the other with Customs, for storage of Transhipment cargo. The loading of such cargo again would be under the supervision of Customs officer. 7. If the cargo transhipped under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 is not unloaded at the place of destination in India, or if the quantity unloaded is short of the quantity to be unloaded at that destination, and if the failure to unload or the deficiency is not accounted for, then the person-in-charge of the conveyance shall be liable for penal action as per the provisions of Customs Act, 1962. Sd/- (B. BHATTACHARYA) COMMISSIONER