Guidelines to Importers/ Custom Brokers for facilitating faster and efficient clearance of imported goods - Customs - 12/2018

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS CUSTOM HOUSE, WILLINGDON ISLAND, COCHIN-682009 F.No.S32/ 125/ 2018 AP(I). Cus. Dated: 07.05.2018 TRADE FACILITY NO. 12/2018 Sub: Guidelines to Importers/ Custom Brokers for facilitating faster and efficient clearance of imported goods Reg. Attention of all Importers, Custom Brokers, the Trading public, stake holders and others is invited to the Boards Circular No. 09/2010 dated 08.04.2010 , Cochin Customs Trade Facility Nos. 09/2010 dated 23.12.2010 and 11/2018 dated 27.04.2018 regarding the guidelines for filing the Bill of Entry for the clearance of Import Consignments. 2. It has been noticed that importers/ Custom Brokers are opting for First Check assessment for clearance of their consignment in many Bills of Entry, which has significantly increased the Dwell Time for the clearance of goods. In view of the same, all concerned are directed to opt for First Check only in cases where it is absolutely necessary, so as to enable better facilitation of Trade. 3. Further, in respect of Bills of Entry in which Duty exemptions are claimed, the importer/Custom Broker is to ensure that all the required supporting documents including the original certificate issued under the respective preferential Trade agreements are in receipt, and the authenticity of the same is verified. All the supporting documents submitted should be authenticated and attested by the authorised person of the Importer/ Custom Broker. It is to be ensured that the name and designation of the signatory is clearly mentioned in the documents and details mentioned therein are not overwritten. It is also informed that Colour/Scanned copies of the Country of Origin Certificate will not suffice and in such cases the importers will have to forego the exemption benefits. Original documents are to be submitted at the time of out of charge and the same is to be uploaded in e-Sanchit as well. It is also to be ensured that ADD notifications, wherever applicable, should be mentioned against the concerned item while filing the Bill of Entry. 4. In respect of the Country of Origin Certificates, the importer/Custom Broker is to ensure that the description of the imported goods as mentioned there should match with the description in the other documents submitted. Further, the authenticity of the signature appearing on the Country of Origin Certificate is to be verified against the authorized signature list available in Sections like Appraising, SIIB etc, before submission of the same. 5.3 In view of the observation that the importer/ Custom Brokers are filing the Bills of Entries/ Shipping Bills with insufficient/ incorrect description, CTH, UQC and other parameters, all concerned are directed to ensure that the declaration are proper and as per requirements. The description should be the generic name of the product followed by other required specifications, the items should be classified in the appropriate CTH, the UQC mentioned should match with the corresponding CTH and should contain all the relevant details required for assessment. 6. It is seen that the importer/ Custom Brokers are not furnishing the Technical Literature, analysis Report, Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) etc., which is required in the case of imports of Chemicals, Mechanical/ electrical apparatus, Machinery etc. As the same is required for conducting tests and analysis on the samples at the Customs Laboratory and also to define the correct classification, these documents are also to be submitted. 7. Further, it has also come to the notice that the packages in the imported consignments are not numbered which is posing difficulty in random selection at the time of examination, compelling the officers to open more packages than required thus delaying clearance. Therefore, it is to be ensured that the packages are serially numbered and properly marked to facilitate efficient and speedy examination of the goods. 8. Attention of all concerned is also drawn to the Section 46(3) of the Customs Act which allows filing of Bill of Entry up to thirty days before the Entry Inward date, but it appears that this facility is not being availed by most of the stakeholders. Therefore, the Importer/Custom Brokers are directed to make use of this facility for speedy clearance of their imported goods and to avoid demurrage charges and last minute rush in case any clarification is required at the time of assessment. 9. The Importer/Custom Brokers are directed to take cognisance of the above and comply with the same. Any violation of the same will be viewed seriously and proceedings as laid out in the Custom Brokers Licensing Regulations will be initiated as and when deemed necessary. Guidelines mentioned above are aimed at facilitating trade with compliance of law and to ensure ease of doing business and therefore compliance with the same is solicited from all the stakeholders. Any difficulty in complying with the same may be intimated to the undersigned. Sd/- (SUMIT KUMAR) COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS