Pilot implementation of paperless processing under SWIFT — Uploading of supporting documents regarding -Reg. - Customs - 83/2018

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (NS-III) MUMBAI ZONE-II, JAWAHARLAL NEHRU CUSTOM HOUSE, NHAVA SHEVA, TALUKA: URAN, DISTRICT: RAIGAD, MAHARASHTRA-400707. F. No. S/22-Gen-04/2017-18/ AM (I)/JNCH Dated. 17.05.2018 PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 83/2018 Subject: - Pilot implementation of paperless processing under SWIFT - Uploading of supporting documents regarding -Reg. Attention of all the Importer, Exporters, Customs Brokers, other stake holders and members of the trade is invited to CBEC Circular No. 40/2017‐Customs, dated 13th October, 2017 (issued from F.No.450/148/2015-Cus.IV) regarding uploading of supporting documents. With the objective of reducing physical interface between Customs, other regulatory agencies and the trade, and to further enhance the speed of clearance of import cargo, a facility to upload digitally signed supporting documents has already been introduced at JNCH. Please refer to Public Notice No 162/2017, dated 29.12.2017 and Public Notice No 54/2018, dated 31.03.2018 issued by JNCH. 2. Under this facility (uploading digitally signed supporting documents), the authorized persons (Customs Brokers/ Importers) are also required to submit all the supporting documents online on ICEGATE after affixing digital signatures. The detailed procedure for uploading the supporting documents has been explained in the Public Notice No 162/2017, dated 29.12.2017. 3. It has been noticed that in certain situation, law provides for submission of Original Certificates / NOCs by Importers e.g. in order to claim benefit of preferential rate of duty, Country of Origin (COO) Certificates are to be produced in Original. Further, there is also a requirement for verifying genuineness of such Certificates by Customs. 4. Para 8 of the Public Notice No 162/2017, dated 29.12.2017 also mentioned that: 8. Some types of supporting documents are required to be presented in original (as specified in the respective notifications) for verification of seal/signature etc., for defacement and for the debit of quantities/value. Trade should present hardcopy at the time of the registration of goods or at a place specified by the Commissioner of Customs. It may however be noted that all supporting documents shall be uploaded digitally, including those documents that must be presented in hardcopy. For supporting documents, where a debit of quantity/value is required to be made on hardcopy, for every subsequent Bill of Entry filed for import, the latest debit sheet shall be uploaded. The authorized person filing the Bill of Entry should pay attention while linking supporting documents with Bills of Entry and should ensure that the correct unique reference numbers (IRNs) are mentioned in the Bills of Entry. 5. In order to assist the importer to get these Original Certificates / NOCs verified/debited/defaced, etc., it has been decided to create a Central Original Document Verification Cell at JNCH. [ All such Certificates / NOCs required to be verified or debited and submitted in Original are being referred to as Certificates in this Public Notice.] 6. It has already been provided that in case the authorized person seeks to provide a document after the generation of the Bill of Entry number, he/she may first upload the document on ICEGATE, obtain a unique ID Image Reference number )IRN( for the document and link that document with the corresponding Bill of Entry by submitting an amendment at the Service Center. This procedure also applies when the authorized person submits a document in response to a query raised by Customs for a Bill of Entry. For the purpose of verification and uploading of said Certificates , similar procedure is to be adopted. 7. Following procedure is required to be followed for verification, uploading and tagging these documents so that there is no need to produce / submit these original documents (e.g. Certificate of Origin, PSIC, Exemption Certificate, conformity certificate, BIS Certificate, RCMC, etc.) at the time of verification of self-assessment or registration or Out of Charge . i. Importer or authorized representative or Customs Broker will approach Central Original Document Verification Cell alongwith original copy of such Certificates . ii. Appraising Officer / superintendent at Central Original Document Verification Cell will check genuineness / authenticity of such Certificates as per standard procedure (i.e. checking /matching signature from authenticated signature list or online or any other mode, as prescribed from time to time) and debit/deface such certificates . Thereafter, the said certificate will be handed over to the Importer or authorized representative or Customs Broker; iii. Importer or authorized representative or Customs Broker will upload the said verified/debited/defaced certificates on ICEGATE and obtain a unique ID Image Reference number (IRN). iv. Using the above mentioned IRN, the Customs Broker will link that document with the corresponding Bill of Entry by submitting an amendment at the Service Center (by following the same procedure as applicable for uploading a document after the generation of the Bill of Entry number). 8. Central Original Document Verification Cell will function from Room No 701, C Wing, 7th Floor of JNCH with effect from 01.06.2018. 9. To facilitate smooth functioning of this facility of uploading the supporting documents, the feedback, queries/difficulties, in implementation of this Public Notice, if any, shall be brought to the notice of the undersigned or may be addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of Customs (EDI), JNCH, Nhava Sheva by email to [email protected] or Deputy/Assistant Commissioner in charge of Appraising Main (Import), NS-III (email address: [email protected] ) 10. Action to be taken in terms of decisions taken in this Public Notice should be considered as standing order for the purpose of officers and staff. Sd/- (SUBHASH AGRAWAL) Commissioner of Customs (NS-III)