Container Scanning Operations and Examination revised procedures. - Customs - 24/2017

OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (IMPORT-I) NEW CUSTOM HOUSE, BALLARD ESTATE, MUMBAI - 400001 F No: S/43-175/2002PXI CSD/NCH Date : 28.02.2017 Public Notice No. 24/2017 Sub: Container Scanning Operations and Examination revised procedures. Ref: Public Notice no. 42/2015 dt.23.10.2015 issued in regards to installation and commissioning of Customs AXIS X-ray scanner facility at Wadi Bunder, Near Frere Basin, Mumbai Port Road, Mumbai Port-reg. Attention of all the Shipping Lines, Custodians of all CFSs of Mumbai Port and Mumbai Port Officials and other stakeholders concerned with the Port and Customs activities, is invited to the Container Scanning Operations and Examination revised procedures of Container Scanning Division (CSD), headed by The Deputy Commissioner of Customs. The Scanning operations had commenced from 27.11.2015 vide Public Notice no.42/2015 dt.23.10.2015. Some amendments have been made to the procedures for scanning operations this Public Notice is issued in supersession to the earlier Public Notice no. 42/2015. The revised procedure is as under: 1. The containers for Scanning will be selected by IGM based Targeting Module of Risk Management Division (RMD) of Indian Customs Electronic Data Interchange System (ICES). The intimation of selection will be communicated to the registered Shipping lines, Container Agents, Port Officials and other stake holders by automated emails. Hence all the stakeholders are required to provide their authorized e-mail IDs (at least two) to the Indian Customs EDI system, Mumbai, as well as in the office of DC/CSD, Mumbai for receiving automated Scanning lists by e-mails. 2. At present the Import containers in Mumbai Port and its CFSs arrive from Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) either by Sea (by Barges) or by Road Transport under TP procedure. A few import containers arrive at Mumbai Port in vessels also. The procedure for bringing the Import containers selected for scanning, to the scanning site is as below: i. The Import Containers selected for Scanning and arriving by sea (both by Barges and Vessels) after leaving Port Gate shall first directly report to the CSD for Scanning. The MbPT Authorities shall make necessary arrangement to ensure that containers shall be moved from the port on the basis of copy of DOCKS DEPARTMENT CONTAINER GATE PASS. The Custodian i.e. MbPT and/or the Vessel Agent/Shipping line/Transporters will make necessary arrangement for bringing the containers at Scanning site for scanning. The containers should be released strictly on first come first serve basis. ii. The Import Containers selected for Scanning and arriving by Road Transport under TP Procedure and Equipment Interchange Report (EIR) copy from JNPT Port are also required to report directly to CSD for scanning. iii. The MbPT authorities shall make necessary arrangement for monitoring smooth flow of containers that are moving from Mumbai Port or JNPT Port by road to MbPT area upto the Scanner site, so that traffic as such will not be affected adversely. iv. Any container, once selected for scanning by IGM based Targeting Module will not be exempted from scanning. v. If a container is not selected in the first scanning list for a particular IGM but gets selected after reaching the concerned CFS, on the basis of any amendment subsequently filed for that particular IGM, such containers can be cleared through either of the two under mentioned procedures: a. The container can be brought back for Scanning to the Scanner with the seal intact, and prior to giving out of charge; OR b. NOC from Container Scanning Division (CSD) may be obtained which shall ordinarily be granted if IGM amendment has no bearing with the nature, composition quantity of cargo declared in the IGM prior to amendment. 3. When a container, selected for scanning, is brought to the Scanning site, the CSD officer manning the Check-in station will physically verify the container and its seal number with the container number printed on the Equipment Interchange Receipt (EIR) copy or DOCKS DEPARTMENT CONTAINER GATE PASS copy as the case may be, with the actual container number. Thereafter the driver of the vehicle carrying the container will be guided in the scanning tunnel by the Staff (CSD Marshalls) and once the container is parked on the Container Motion System (CMS), the driver and the cleaner, if any, will be guided out of the scanning tunnel by the Marshalls. The Scanning tunnel gates will then be closed by the Customs Control Room officer and the container will be scanned. 4.1 After the successful scanning, the scanned image will be analyzed by the Customs Image Analysis officer. After the analysis, irrespective of the assessment scanning outcome by the CSD officer, the Check-in officer shall affix the stamp 'SCANNED in blue ink on the reverse of EIR copy or DOCKS DEPARTMENT CONTAINER GATE PASS copy, as the case may be. 4.2 The scanning outcome along with the instructions shall be intimated to the DC/Docks, DC and DC/SIIB (Imp), through e-mails for necessary action. In case, email is not received due to some exceptional technical issue, DC/Docks DC/SIIB (Imp) may take the hard copy of the scanning outcome from DC/CSD. The instructions may also include as to whether the examination should be in the supervision of CSD officials. The DC/CSD will decide as to whether the suspicious container would be examined under CSD supervision or not. On the basis of the scanning outcome and the instructions issued by the CSD for each scanned container (other than the containers to be examined under CSD supervision), the DC/Docks shall decide whether the suspicious containers should be examined 100% or otherwise. 4.3. The scanning outcome shall not be intimated by CSD to anyone other than the DC/Docks and DC/SIIB (Imp), till the importer/Customs Broker files the Bill of Entry and presents the BE first copy for clearance procedures. 5. All Odd-Dimensional Containers (ODC) shall directly report to the earmarked CFSs of Mumbai Port. The Customs Gate officer posted at such CFS will verify and endorse the EIR copy or DOCKS DEPARTMENT CONTAINER GATE PASS copy with remark VERIFIED, ODC CONTAINER . The said endorsed copy shall then be produced before the Customs Check-in officer at CSD Scanning site who will then enter the said container number in the system and thereafter affix the stamp NOT SCANNED DUE TO ODC/OVER WEIGHT. 6. The Reefer (refrigerated) containers, shall be scanned on priority basis. The driver of the said vehicle may report to the Customs Check-in Officer out of turn for priority scanning. 7. Ordinarily, the Scanning operations will be conducted only during the office hours i.e. between 10.30 am to 5.30 pm from Monday-Saturday. 8. In case of breakdown/non-functioning of scanners or any other reason because of which scanning is not possible for more than 4 hours, the Customs Superintendent manning the Scanner will release the containers without scanning (except those containing Scrap and the containers coming from Pakistan Ports) endorsing on the reverse of the EIR copy or DOCKS DEPARTMENT CONTAINER GATE PASS copy of each such container with stamp 'NOT SCANNED DUE TO (reasons) . Each and every released container must be entered into the system by the CSD officer on duty so as to facilitate re-conciliation of containers. All such containers shall be subjected to examination by the Docks Examining Officer under DC/Docks supervision. 9. After the Scanning, the container will be allowed to move to respective CFS. No container shall be examined/detained at the Scanning site without the permission of Additional Commissioner/CSD. 10.1 All the containers selected for scanning and scanned containers shall be deemed as suspicious till the Bill of Entry is filed for each consignment. 10.2 The CFS will not allow any seal cutting or clearance of any containers without the DC/Docks written permission. 10.3 For all scanned containers the Importers/Custom Brokers would first approach the concerned DC/Docks for Seal Cutting permission with the Seal Cutting letter/document. 10.4 In cases where a scanned container is selected for detailed examination either under DC/Docks or DC/CSD's supervision, the following procedures shall be followed: a. DC/Docks Examination- The importers/Custom Brokers shall approach DC/Docks with the printout of the BE first copy and Seal Cutting Permission letter/document to take necessary instructions regarding the examination of the said container(s) on the printout of the BE first copy. The Seal Cutting would be allowed only after this. NOC from CSD will not be required in such cases. b. Examination under CSD supervision- The DC/Docks will instruct the Importer/Customs Brokers, to approach CSD office at scanning site along with BE first Copy printout. The Superintendent i/c CSD will then depute an officer under whose supervision the container will be examined by the Docks officers. On examination, if the goods are found as per the declaration, the Docks Examining officer will write an examination report on hard copy of the Bill of Entry and the same will be countersigned by the CSD officer deputed for supervising the examination of the container. This will be treated as NOC for clearance from CSD. c. Examination report- In case any discrepancy is found during Docks or CSD examination, a detailed examination report with discrepancy note will be prepared by the Docks Examining officers and will then be put up to DC/Docks who then will put up the file to ADC/Docks for necessary orders. After following the procedures such as investigation and adjudication (if any), the goods will be released or otherwise dealt with as per the orders therein. Before clearance, the file will be marked to DC/CSD for a final NOC. 11. No requests for amendments in IGM would be allowed for containers selected for scanning/scanned containers unless final NOC is given by DC/CSD. 12. The CFSs shall have to provide the scanning status of each Import container to the respective docks examination/clearance officer or DC/Docks, by endorsing specific comments viz. NOT SELECTED/SELECTED for SCANNING/SCANNED on the Seal cutting document of respective container/consignment. The officers posted at CFSs for examination/clearance of import cargo shall ensure that the Scanning status of each container, as above, is furnished to them before the examination/verification of seal (when examination is not prescribed) of each container/consignment. 13. Any difficulty encountered in the course of the implementation of this Public Notice may immediately be brought to the notice of the Additional Commissioner in charge of Container Scanning Division. (RAJEEV TANDON) Principal Commissioner of Customs (Import-I) New Custom House, Mumbai