Setting up of 'Customs Clearance Facilitation Committee' (CCFC) - reg. - Customs - 04/2016

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (PREVENTIVE) 5TH Floor, Central Revenue Building, Bir Chand Patel Path, Patna-800001 C. No VIII(48)5-16/CUS/TECH/Public Notice/2011 Date:- 17.05.2016 PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 04/2016 Subject: Setting up of 'Customs Clearance Facilitation Committee' (CCFC) - reg. The Government has in recent times taken a number of measures to create an environment for ease of doing business and trade facilitation. The measures include the simplification of Customs procedures, reduction of documents, message exchange between Government agencies engaged in Customs clearance, and use of digital signature for electronic submission of Customs process documents. Continuing in this direction, it has now been decided with the approval of the Cabinet Secretary to establish a high-level administrative body at Land Customs Station Airports with the responsibility of ensuring expeditious Customs clearance of import and export goods. 2. In this regard it is seen that in terms of the Customs Act, 1962 read with the relevant rules and regulations, import and export of goods are subjected to certain legal and procedural formalities before being permitted clearance by Customs. These requirements include the submission of prescribed documents and adherence to laid down procedures before an appropriate legal order is given by the Customs officer permitting the importer/exporter to clear the goods for the intended purpose. If provisions of other Allied Acts are attracted in respect of the import/export of goods, permission to clear the goods is given by the Customs only after getting the suitable clearance/response/NOC from the Government Department/agency concerned. Some of the major Departments/agencies that are involved in Customs clearance process are as follows: (i) Food Safety and standard Authority of India, (FSAAI), Extension Counter, at Raxaul (ii) Plant Quarantine Authorities (iii) Animal Quarantine Authorities (iv) Drug Controller, Kolkata of India (CDSO) (v) CONCOR 3. In addition, Airport Authority and Railways play a critical role in the Customs clearance process by providing the required infrastructure and facilities. Other local agencies concerned with logistics, manpower etc. which operate at airports and LCSs also facilitate the Customs clearance process. 4. Since the aforementioned regulatory agencies are critical contributors to the Customs clearance process of import and export of goods, a delay in receipt of a clearance from one regulatory agency holds up the Customs clearance of the said goods, Lack of adequate infrastructure at airport, LCSs or testing laboratories etc. also contribute to delay in the clearance of imported and export goods. Any other deficiency on account of other stakeholders also enhances the dwell time of cargo as well as the overall turnaround time of carriers. Another important reason for the delay is the improper coordination or absence of efficient coordination amongst Government agencies and other stakeholders involved in the Customs clearance process. Therefore, a view has emerged that these deficiencies can be best removed by institutionalizing an administrative mechanism with responsibility of expeditious Customs clearance of imported and export goods and for resolving related trade grievances in a time bound manner. 5. Accordingly, it has been decided to set up a Customs Clearance Facilitation Committee (CCFC) in Customs (prev.) Commissionerate, Patna with immediate effect. The CCFC would be headed by the Commissioner of Customs, Patna. Its membership would include the senior functionary of the following departments/agencies/stakeholder operation under this Commissionerate: (i) FSSAI, Extension Counter, at Raxaul (ii) Plant Quarantine Authorities, Raxaul/Jogbani (iii) Regional Office, Animal Quarantine and certification Service, Kolkata (iv) Drug Controller Kolkata of India (CDSO) (v) Airport Authority of India, Gaya/Patna (vi) Railways/CONCOR (vii) Pollution Control Board (viii) Bihar/Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce, Patna/Ranchi (ix) Bihar/Jharkhand Industry association Patna, Patna/Ranchi (x) CHA Association, Raxaul. (xi) Transport Association, Raxaul/Jogbani, (xii) Chamber of Commerce, Birganj/Morang, Biratnagar. (xiii) Morang Chamber Trade, Morang, Biratnagar (xiv) Any other Department/Agency/stakeholder to be co-opted on need basis. 6. Terms of Reference for the CCFC are as follows: (i) Ensuring and monitoring expeditious clearance of imported and export goods in accordance with the timeline specified by the parent ministry/Department concerned; (ii) Identifying and resolving bottlenecks, if any, in the clearance procedure of imported and export goods; (iii) Initiating Time Release Studies for improvement in the clearance time of imported and export goods; (iv) Having internal consultations to speed up the clearance process of imported and export goods and recommending best practices thereto; and (v) Resolving grievances of members of the trade and industry in regard to clearance process of imported and export goods. The CCFC shall meet quarterly or more frequently, if considered necessary by the chair. However, the members of CCFC shall meet locally once a month or more frequently, if considered necessary by the Deputy/Assistant Commissioner of the concerned LCS or Airport. The first meeting of the CCFC would take place very soon and members will be informed in time. It is expected from all stake holders to submit their grievances/issues well before the date of meeting (at least one week in advance) for including the same in the meeting of CCFC for due deliberating and resolution. 7. A periodically review of the working of the CCFC and its impact on reducing delays in the Customs clearance time of imported and export goods and in resolving related trade grievances will also been done and forwarded to higher formation. 8. Any difficulty noticed in this regard may be immediately brought to the notice of the Chairman/Commissioner, Customs (P), Patna. (V.C. Gupta) Commissioner Customs (P), Patna