KYC Norms for the Shipping lines, Shipping line Agents/Sub-agents, Container lines, Container line agents/Sub-agent, freight forwarders etc. regarding. - Customs - 02/2012

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CENTRAL EXCISE, CUSTOMS SERVICE TAX N-5, TOWN CENTRE, CIDCO, AURANGABAD- 431003 F.No. VIII(CUS)264/CHA/09 Date : 26-11-2012 PUBLIC NOTICE No. 02/2012 Subject :- KYC Norms for the Shipping lines, Shipping line Agents/Sub-agents, Container lines, Container line agents/Sub-agent, freight forwarders etc. regarding. Attention of all the Shipping lines, Shipping line Agents/Sub-agents, Container lines, Container line agents/Sub-agent, freight forwarders etc. who give the containers on lease/rent for stuffing of export cargo, is invited to the recent spate of cases, wherein subsequently it is found that contraband/prohibited goods were exported/attempted to be exported. Investigations have revealed that the containers for stuffing these goods had been booked by some unscrupulous elements through email/fax or over mobile phone, resulting in actual perpetrator of the crime getting scot-free. In such cases, there is not only loss of threatened Flora and Fauna but shipping lines/container lines also have to face prolonged investigations and consequent loss of business. 2. To Curb the menace of smuggling of prohibited goods, it is decided that all shipping lines agents/sub-agents, Container lines, Container line agents/Sub-agents, freight forwarders etc. should follow Know Your Customer (KYC) norms and must keep the following self attested copies of the documents listed below in their records from exporter(s)/person(s) seeking the container for stuffing of export cargo. i) Photo IDs of authorized person of exporter seeking to book the container (PAN Card or Driving Licence or Election ID Card or Passport). ii) Address proof of the exporter - Telephone Bill (Landline or Postpaid Mobile) or Electricity Bill or Passport. iii) Import Export Code of the exporter. iv) A Certificate from their Bankers (with whom the Bank Account is being maintained for the purpose of remittance of foreign exchangelto the effect that account is being maintained in a satisfactory manner. 'If the bank account is less than 6 months old, details of other bank accounts held by the eXporter must be insisted upon. v) PAN Card Copy of the Income Tax Returns/VAT or Sales Tax Returns filed in the previous year and should be submitted every year. vi) VAT/Sales Tax Registration/Exemption Certificate in case of merchant exporter. 3. The freight forwarder/shipping line agent should check up the details of the IEC holder by way of email or phone before delivery of the empty container. The payment for the containers must be received through A/c payee cheques or through internet banking. 4.. The containers initially booked in the name of one exporter should not be transferred for export of consignment in the name of another exporter. If, it has to be done due to unavoidable circumstances, the change of exporter/goods/destination should be allowed only with the permission of the Assistant Commissioner of Customs after due verification and on the basis of proper documents. 5. Any shipping line, shipping line agents/sub-agents, Container lines, Container line agents/Sub-agents, freight forwarders etc. found violating the provision of this Public Notice shall also be held responsible for any export/attempt to export of prohibited goods stuffed in the containers leased out/rented out by them and will be liable for penal consequences under the Customs Act,1962. 6. Any difficulty faced by the trade in this regard may be brought to the notice of the undersigned. 7. The website of Aurangabad Commissionerate www.centralexciseaurangabad.gov.in may please be visited for further updates/details. (Kumar Santosh) Commissioner Central Excise, Customs Service Tax Aurangabad.