Constitution of Centralised Export Assessment Cell in JNCH, Mumbai Zone-II; reg. - Customs - 64/2017

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (NS-IV), MUMBAI ZONE-II, JAWAHARLAL NEHRU CUSTOM HOUSE, NHAVA SHEVA, TALUKA: URAN, DISTRICT: RAIGAD, MAHARASHTRA-400707 F. No. S/12-Gen-50/2016-17/AM(X) Date: 22.05.2017 PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 64/2017 Sub: Constitution of Centralised Export Assessment Cell in JNCH, Mumbai Zone-II; reg. Attention of the Importers, Exporters, General Trade, Port Terminal Operator, Shipping Lines/Shipping Agents, CFSs coming under the jurisdiction of JNCH, Nhava Sheva and all other stakeholders is invited to various Public Notices issued from time in relation to assessment, examination clearance of export consignments. 2. In tune with the Government of India initiative Ease of Doing Business , the procedure for Export Assessment is being streamlined further to facilitate export clearances. In order to have uniformity in assessment a Centralised Export Assessment Cell (CEAC) is being created at Speedy Multimode Ltd CFS Jawaharlal Nehru Port Navi Mumbai under the jurisdiction of Commissioner of Customs NS-II. The CEAC will consists of 05 Deputy/Assistant Commissioners, 10 Appraisers/Superintendents and 02 STAs/TAs and supervised by Additional/Joint Commissioner incharge of NS-II. Out of 05 Deputy/Assistant Commissioners, one Deputy/Assistant Commissioner will be designated as Deputy/Assistant Commissioner (Admin) for administration, co-ordination and management of CEAC. The officers to CEAC would be posted from the Commissionerates NS-I to NS-V. VERIFICATION OF SELF-ASSESSMENT OF ALL NON FACILITATED SHIPPING BILLS 2.1 Generally non facilitated shipping bills go directly to Appraiser/Superintendents (Export) screen for the purpose of verification of self-assessment done by exporter in terms of Section 17 of Customs Act, 1962 and after having verified by Appraiser/Superintendents, either they go to Shed for examination or go to AC/DC (Export) screen for passing. Having passed by AC/DC (Export), it is routed to shed for examination. It has been decided that consequent to issue of this Public Notice (from the effective date), the verification of self-assessment of all non facilitated shipping Bills filed within the jurisdiction of JNCH will be done by officers of CEAC (except as provided in Para 8 of this Public Notice). CONSTITUTION OF EXPORT GROUPS BASED ON CTH: 2.2. In order to ensure smooth work flow, it has been decided that initially, there would be 5 Groups for verification of self assessment . The distribution of work among these 5 Groups would be as under: Sr No GROUP No Chapters of Customs Tariff Act, 1975 1 A 1-38 2 B 39-54 3 C 55-61 4 D 62-63 5 E 64-98 Remark: 1. In case, shipping bill covers goods under various Chapters, the maximum value should be criteria to decide the Group . In case of any doubt, DC/AC, CEAC may be contacted. Aforesaid division of work is applicable even if goods are cleared under Export Promotion Schemes (Like EPCG, Advance Authorization, DFIA or MEIS scrips etc.) 2. Additional/Joint Commissioner in charge of Export Assessment Cell may reconstitute/allot different chapters to aforesaid groups depending on workload and other criteria. Number of such groups would be based on the principle of equal distribution of workload among officers so as to ensure efficiency and speed. 3. For the purpose of verification of assessment/re-assessment, the present practice of presentation of hard copy of Checklist of Shipping Bills by the Customs Broker/Custom House Agents/Exporters before officers of Customs is hereby discontinued with immediate effect. 4. After filing of EDI Shipping Bills, the EDI system automatically marks the shipping bill to the queue of Appraisers/Superintendents and/or DC/AC, as the case may be (in cases, where the verification of self-assessment is found to be necessary). Once the shipping bill is in the queue of Appraisers/Superintendents and/or DC/AC, the officer concerned will verify the self-assessment made by exporter on the basis of information provided through the EDI. The officers are required to check all aspects like CTH, valuation, drawback, benefit of any Export Promotion Scheme and its eligibility, exportability of the goods in terms of Foreign Trade Policy and any other law in force as prescribed in the Customs Appraising Manual and various instructions/Circulars issued from time to time. The officer will strictly follow Standing Order No 07/2016, dated 03.02.2016 to ensure that correct and complete description of export goods are declared. Therefore, exporters are requested to ensure that correct and complete description of export goods and its value is declared in the shipping bill so as to avoid any delay. QUERY DURING VERIFICATION OF ASSESSMENT: 5. It is re-iterated that in case any clarification is required for proper verification of self-assessment of the shipping bills, the officer concerned shall raise specific and precise query through EDI system and only with the approval of concerned DC/AC. The officers have been asked not to raise queries in piecemeal manner and to ensure that consolidated queries are raised at the first instance itself. Once the reply to the query is found in order, the Shipping Bills should be processed without any delay. Therefore, if export goods are declared correctly (description, classification, drawback Sr. No., value etc.), time required for verification of self assessment would be minimum. SAMPLES 6. Ordinarily, there should not be any requirement to call samples of export goods during assessment. However, if there is specific need/requirement, samples of export goods may be called (during verification of assessment) only in exceptional cases, (after giving/citing reasons) with the approval of ADC/JC. SHIPPING BILLS WHICH ARE NOT PRESENTED FOR EXAMINATION AND ARE PURGED AFTER 15 DAYS 7. The cases where shipping bills which are not presented for so that and are purged after 15 days from the date of filling would be examined by CEAC. Exporters are requested to submit details of cases within 3 days (after expiry of 15 days) where shipping bills are filed but goods could not be exported to CEAC along with reasons suomoto so as to avoid further enquiries. ASESSMENT FUNCTION/ROLE TO OFFICERS IN PARKING PLAZA ON HOLIDAYS WEEKENDS: 8. JNCH vide Public Notice no. 163/2016 dated 01.12.2016 have commenced operation (issuing Let Export Order) in document processing area of all three terminals (JNPCT, GTI NSICT/NSIGT) from 5th December 2016. These Plazas have been made operational on 24 X 7 basis. There has been continuous request from trade industry for Export Assessment on holidays, even if it is limited to one location, so that export trade does not suffer. Considering the above, it has been decided to give Assessment function (in respect of shipping bills, which are marked by EDI system to the queue of Appraisers/Superintendents) to Appraisers/Superintendent posted at Parking Plazas in respect of consignments cleared through Parking Plaza on holidays/weekends. For ensuring that verification of shipping bills in the competency of DC/AC, Additional/Joint Commissioner incharge of CEAC will ensure one of the AC/DC is specifically assigned such role on holidays and weekends to ensure smooth flow of trade on 24 X 7 basis. Further, in respect of shipping bills, which are not facilitated for assessment but facilitated for examination can also be dealt by Appraisers/Superintendent posted at Parking Plazas. However, the date-wise details of such shipping Bills are required to be maintained in each Parking Plazas (both in respect of verification of assessment by Appraisers/Superintendents and also AC/DC). In this regard, ADC/JC incharge will prescribe a format of Register and ensure its compliance. EFFECTIVE DATE 9.This Public Notice shall come into force with effect from 01.06.2017. 10. Difficulty, if any may also be brought to the notice of Deputy/Assistant Commissioner in charge of Appraising Main (Export) through email/phones (email address: [email protected], Phone No : 022-27244959). The specific issue, if any, may be brought to the notice of Additional Commissioner/Joint Commissioner in charge of in-charge of CEAC for remedial action. 11. This, issues with approval of the Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai Zone-II, JNCH. Sd/- (SUBHASH AGRAWAL) COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (NS-IV).