AEO programme digitization - Ease of doing business - Development of web-based application for AEO-T1 - Customs - PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 32/2018

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS CUSTOM HOUSE, NEW HARBOUR ESTATE, THOOTHUKUDI - 628004. C.No.VIII/48/90/2018-Cus poi. Date: 28.12.2018 PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 32/2018 Subject: - AEO programme digitization - Ease of doing business - Development of web-based application for AEO-T1- reg. Attention of the Importers, Exporters, Officers of Customs, Custom Brokers and all other stakeholders is invited to CBIC Circular No. 33/2016-Cus, dated 22.07.2016, as amended vide Circular No. 03/2018-cus, dated 10.08.2018 and 26/2018-Cus, dated 10.08.2018 issued from time in relation to introduction and implementation of AEO Programme of Government of India. 2) Reference of all concerned is drawn to the Circular No. 26/2018- Customs, dated 10.08.2018 wherein it was stated that The Online processing of AEO Tl application will commence as soon as the necessary digital infrastructure is in place. Keeping in line with the target of digitization, an online AEO website has been developed for online filing and processing of AEO TI applications. The AEO website (domain name: aeoindia.gov.in) was launched by the Chairman, CBIC on 30.11.2018 and subsequently the access to the website was made available to both the applicant, for filing of AEO Tl application, and Customs officials, for processing and delivery of digitized AEO Certificate online for newly filed applications. CBIC vide Circular No. 51/2018-Customs. dated 07.12.2018 announced commencement of the web based application for AEO T I. 3) Further, for ensuring seamless transition to the online web-application, it has been decided to concurrently continue with the manual filing and processing of AEO Tl applications up to The trade and field formations respectively would have the liberty to file and process the application manually up to the prescribed transition time limit, i.e. up to 31.03.2019 so as to obviate any delay In time-bound processing Of the applications. However, both trade and field formations should make earnest effort to use this online mode as much as possible. 4) References is also drawn to Para 3 (viii) of the Circular No. 03/2018- Customs, dated 17.01.2018 regarding amendment in the AEO Programme whereby the validity of AEO Certificate of Tl T2 were extended to 3 years uniformly. Accordingly, in order to synchronize validity with review and OSPCA of AEO-TI certified entities, their intervals are also being extended to 3 years from existing 2 years, by modifying the following Pars of Master Circular No. 33/2016- Customs dated 22.07.2016 as below: - 1.1 Para 1.5(viii) They will not be subjected to regular transactional PCA, instead of that onsite PCA will be conducted once in three years only. 1.2 Para 5.4.1 The AEO Programme Team will review AEO status periodically to ensure continued adherence to the conditions and standards of grant of certificate of AEO Status. Thus, it is recommended that the AEO status holder should continue to re-assess its compliance with the conditions of certification and act upon any identified problems as soon as they arise. The frequency of such review will be three years in case of AEO-TI AEO-T2 and five years in case of AEO-T3 AEO-LO. As far as possible, the review and the onsite PCA, if applicable , will be conducted simultaneously 5) However, Directorate of International Customs, Delhi, entrusted with the Indian AEO Programme, may initiate review of any entity at any point of time if there are reasons to believe, to the satisfaction of the AEO Programme Manager, that the adherence to the conditions and standards of AEO status is compromised or affected. 6) Difficulty, if any in the implementation of said Circular may be brought to the notice of this office immediately. (K. V. V. G. DIWARKAR) COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS