Removal of compulsory pre-shipment inspection of export commodities - Customs - F. No. 458/54/91-Cus. IV

Removal of compulsory pre-shipment inspection of export commodities F. No. 458/54/91-Cus. IV Dated 19-10-1992 Government of India Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) Central Board of Excise Customs, New Delhi Subject : Removal of compulsory pre-shipment inspection of export commodities - Regarding. Reference to Ministry's letter of even number dated 28-2-1992, forwarding therewith copies of three notifications issued by the Commerce Ministry, on the above subject, and to say that certain doubts have been expressed by some of the field formations regarding the exact scope of the aforesaid instructions in so far as they relate to export of agricultural and food products. It has been pointed out by some of the Collectors that the aforesaid three notifications would apply only to such of the agricultural and food products which are covered by the Export (Quality Control Inspection) Act, 1968. The items which are not covered would, therefore, continue to be subjected to compulsory pre-shipment inspection. 2. In this context, it is clarified that presently pre-shipment inspection is required to be carried out in terms of the Export (Quality Control Inspection) Act, 1963, as also in terms of the notifications issued under the Sea Customs Act, 1978 or the Customs Act, 1962. It has been decided by the Government that in respect of agricultural and food products which are covered by any of the aforesaid legislations for pre-shipment inspection, the compulsory pre-shipment inspection will not be required in the following cases :- (a) where the exporter has a firm letter from the overseas buyer stating that the overseas buyer does not want pre-shipment inspection from any official Indian inspection agency and the said letter is filed by the exporter before the Customs authorities; or (b) the exports of such items are effected by any star trading house, trading house or export house recognised by the Central Government. subject to the fulfilment of the aforesaid conditions, the Export Inspection Certification need not be insisted upon not only in respect of items covered by the Export (Quality Control Inspection) Act, 1963 but also in respect of other items for which condition of inspection has been prescribed in terms of any Customs notification. Separately, action is being taken to amend the relevant legal provisions to bring them to line with the aforesaid instructions.