Revised Instructions for stuffing and sealing of reefer containers issued vide Board Circular No. 13/2018 Customs - Customs - 16/2018

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS CUSTOM HOUSE, WILLINGDON ISLAND, COCHIN-682009 F.No.C1/03/2016 TU. Gus. Dated: 11.06.2018 TRADE FACILITY NO. 16/2018 Sub:- Revised Instructions for stuffing and sealing of reefer containers issued vide Board Circular No. 13/2018 Customs-Reg. Kind attention of all Exporters, Customs Brokers, Steamer Agents and all other stakeholders is drawn to the CBIC Circular No.13/2018 -Customs dated 30.05.2018 , vide which revised instructions have been issued in respect of the stuffing and sealing of reefer containers. 2. In this regard, attention is also drawn towards the procedure of introducing and implementing electronic sealing for containers by exporters under self sealing procedure prescribed vide Board Notification No.26/2017-Customs dated 01.07.2017 and Circular No.36/2017-Customs dated 28.08.2017 . 3 It was observed that the exporters of perishable cargo in reefer containers are facing difficulties consequent to the introduction of the aforementioned self sealing procedure owing to the lack of sterile and temperature controlled storage facility for examination of such cargo selected by RMS. 3. In order to address these issues, Board has, vide the subject Circular, decided to allow factory stuffing and sealing of reefer containers with perishable/ temperature sensitive export goods in the presence of Customs Officials. 4. The above procedure shall be implemented as under: (i) The exporter wanting to avail supervised stuffing shall apply to the Commissioner of Customs along with the list of export goods and its nature, at least 24 hours prior to the proposed stuffing. (ii) The Commissioner of Customs, on being satisfied that the export goods are sensitive to temperature and that no sterile, temperature controlled examination facilities are available at the port, shall permit supervised stuffing and sealing in respect of such goods and depute officers to supervise the same. The permission so granted shall not be withdrawn unless any non-compliance to law, rules or regulations is noticed. (iii) The Officers so deputed would ensure that the reefer containers are stuffed with only such export goods as are sensitive to temperature and in accordance with the details of the export goods list furnished by the exporter. The containers would be sealed with RFID e-Seals procured by the exporter and data as required shall be uploaded by the exporter as per the prescribed procedure. MOT charges wherever applicable shall be paid at the prescribed rates. (iv) The details of exporters who have been permitted such facility along with the indicative list of export goods shall be sent to RMCC and the port of export by the Commissioner of Customs. RMCC shall ensure that such reefer containers sealed under supervision are not subjected to examination at the port. (iv) The jurisdictional Commissionerate shall inform the RMCC, on a monthly basis, the exporter wise container details, who in turn, shall verify the same and inform the Commissionerate in case of any discrepancy. If any discrepancy is reported, the Commissioner shall review the permission granted for supervised stuffing and sealing. 5. The above procedure shall be observed only at the request of the exporter in respect of reefer cargo. In respect of other types of sensitive cargo, the Commissioner of Customs may exercise suitable discretion to override the RMS instructions for valid reasons which shall be communicated to the RMCC. 6. Notwithstanding the above relaxation, the reefer containers may be selected for scanning/ examination on specific information/ intelligence or occasional random basis or where it has come to notice that the RFID seal has been tampered with after being sealed in the presence of the Customs officer. 7. Copy of the subject CBIC Circular No.13/2018 -Cus dated 30.05.2018 is enclosed herewith for reference. 8. All stakeholders are directed to take cognisance of the above Instructions. Difficulties if any may be brought to the notice of the undersigned. (SUMIT KUMAR) COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS