Extension of e-Sanchit Application and Pilot Implementation of Paperless Processing under SWIFT - Uploading of Supporting Documents at ACC, KolKata - Customs - PUBLIC NOTICE NO: 17/2018

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA OFFICE OF THE PR. COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (AIRPORT ADMIN) AIR CARGO COMPLEX, NSCI31 AIRPORT, KOLKATA 7000052 F. No. S60(MisC)-281/16 CCI Date: 22.02.2018 PUBLIC NOTICE NO: 17/2018 Sub: Extension of e-Sanchit Application and Pilot Implementation of Paperless Processing under SWIFT - Uploading of Supporting Documents at ACC, KolKata - reg. Attention of all concerned is invited to Board's Circular No. 40/2017-Customs dated 13th October. 2017 and 10/2016-Customs dated 15 th March, 2016 on Pilot implementation of paperless processing under Single Window Interface for Facilitation of Trade (SWIFT) - uploading of supporting documents electronically (e-Sanchit). In order to reduce physical interface between Customs and the Trade to increase the speed of clearance at Air Cargo Complex, Kolkata, a facility to upload digitally signed supporting documents electronically is being introduced on voluntary basis using e-SANCHIT application, this would be gradually made mandatory for all transactions at Air Cargo Complex, NSCBI Airport, Kolkata Customs. The trade should slake adequate preparations to upload documents online through ICEGATE accordingly. At this stage, e- SANCHIT is being made available on voluntary basis. 'Step by step procedure to electronically upload supporting documents with digital signatures at e-SANCHIT' and a list of 'Frequently Asked Questions' have already been published at https://www.icegatc.gov.in/e-Sanchit on the ICEGATE website and are annexed herewith as 'Annexure A' and 'Annexure B' respectively. 2. Under CBEC Circular No. 10/2015-Customs dated March 31, 2015 and Circular No. 26/2015-Customs dated November 23, 2015 , Bills of Entry are required to be submitted by authorized persons on ICEGATE after affixing their digital signatures. Now, under this Pilot, the authorized persons (Customs Broker/ Importers) would be required to submit all supporting documents online on ICEGATE after affixing digital signatures. The facility to upload supporting documents on ICEGATE would be available from 15.03.2018. After 15 days of the launch of the facility. a review will be carried out, and thereafter, it may be introduced as a mandatory requirement. For this Pilot, the following procedure will apply 2.1 Uploading supporting documents 2.1.1. For uploading supporting documents on ICEGA'I F. the authorized person must Open ICEGATE URL https://www.icegate.gov.in/ , Click on Login/Signup button for login into ICEGATE by using his/her access credentials and then click on e-SANCHIT link provided in left vertical menu to redirect on e-SANCHIT. The 'Step-by-step procedure for upload of supporting documents' (Annexure-'A') and a list of 'Frequently Asked Questions' have already been published at https://www.icegate.gov.in/ e-SANCHIT.html on the ICEGATE website and are annexed herewith as 'Annexure A' and 'Annexure B' respectively. While preparing a job for submission on ICEGATE in their respective Remote EDI Systems (RES), the authorised persons must ensure that they have uploaded all the necessary supporting documents. A facility has also been provided on ICEGATE to the authorized persons to access and view the documents uploaded by them. 2.1.2. In case the authorised person seeks to provide a document after the generation of the Bill of Entry number, he/she may first upload the document on ICEGA I'E, obtain a unique ID Image Reference Number, (IRN) for the document and link that document with corresponding Bill of Entry by submitting an amendment at the Service Centre. This procedure will also apply when the authorised persons submits a document in response to a query raised by Customs for a Bill of Entry. 2.2 Assessment Document Verification 2.2.1. Once a Bill of Entry has been filed, Customs officers will be able to access the uploaded electronic versions of supporting documents while viewing or assessing the Bill of Entry on ICES. During assessment, ICES provides for a query to be raised in order to call for additional documents or information. In response to a query, supporting documents can also be uploaded online by following the procedure described Para 2.1 above. All documents required for the purposes of assessment would be viewed online. In due course, the facility to view supporting documents will also be extended to officers of the participating Government Agencies (PGAs). 2.2.2. Post Clearance Compliance Verification (PCCV) will be carried out online based on the electronic versions or supporting documents instead of hardcopy dockets of the Bills of Entry. 2.3. Goods Registration Examination Clearance 2.3.1. After filing of the Bill off-Wry, the authorized person (Importer/Customs Broker) may, with his sell-assessed copy of the Bill of Entry, approach the designated place (Import Shed, Air Cargo Complex, NSCBI Airport, Kolkata 700052) for goods registration, document verification and clearance. In case goods are to be examined, the officer examining goods will record the results of inspection / examination online in ICES. 2.3.2. 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 of such relevant documents at the time of the registration of goods at the Import Shed, Air Cargo Complex NSCBI Airport, Kolkata 700052. 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 Shou1Id ensure that the Correct unique reference numbers (IRN) are mentioned in the Bills of Entry. 2.4. Mainfest Closure With the submission 0f supporting documents online, the Manifest Closure Department of Customs at Air Cargo Complex. Kolkata will not receive hardcopies of' dockets. Officers shall rely on the electronic records maintained on ICES to carry out activities in relation to manifest closure. 3. Other features to be pilot-tested In consultation with the stakeholders, in course of the Pilot, the following features will be taken up for pilot-testing (a) Upload of supporting documents for Bills of Entry tiled through the Service Centers. (b) On a test-basis, handheld devices would be used by Examining Officers and Shed Superintendents Appraisers to record inspection/examination reports on the spot (c) Presently, electronic copies of Out of Charge orders and assessed copies of Bills of Entry are delivered online to the Custodians and authorized persons. In the course of the Pilot, digital signatures will be applied on these messages and not copies of Bills of Entry. 4. The Bill of Entry (Electronic Integrated Declaration) Regulation. 2011 was placed on the CBEC website since August 4, 2017 for public feedback. Based on the feedback, the Regulations are being finalized. The updated draft Regulations provide for the authorized persons to submit digitally signed electronic integrated declarations (Bills of Entry) and supporting documents and dispenses with the need for trade to submit the corresponding hardcopies. The draft Regulations also provide that the authorized person shall retain, for a period of years from the (late of acceptance of the Bill of Entry, all supporting documents in original, which were used or relied upon by hill) in submitting the electronic integrated declaration, and shall produce them before Customs or other Government agencies in connection with any action or proceedings under the Customs Act, 1962 or any other law for the time being in force. 5. Difficulties laced. if any, in implementation of this new facility may be brought to notice Of the Deputy Commissioner of Customs, Import Group. Air Cargo Complex, N.S.C.B.I Airport Kolkata - 70002 (R. P. Singh) Commissioner of Custom Airport R: Administration Kolkata