Expansion of 24x7 Customs Clearance and clarification of le of MOT charges in CFSs attached to 24x7 ports - Customs - PUBLIC NOTICE- 16/2017

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (AIRPORT ADMIN) AIR CARGO. COMPLEX. N.S.C.B.I. AIRPORT, KOLKATA -700052. F. No. S60(Misc.)-95/2017 CCI Date : 11/04/2017 PUBLIC NOTICE- 16/2017 Subject : Expansion of 24x7 Customs Clearance and clarification of le of MOT charges in CFSs attached to 24x7 ports - Reg. Attention of all the stake holders of Air Cargo Complex, N.S.C.B.I Airport, Kolkata, Customs Broker/ Agent, Importers, Exporters and all other concerned is invited to the Board Circular No. 04/2017 -Customs dated 16th February, 2017 on the above subject. CBEC had on a pilot basis introduced 24x7 customs clearance at 4 designated Air Cargo complexes and 4 Sea Ports in respect of facilitated Bills of Entry and factory stuffed containers and goods shipped under free Shipping Bills [Circular No. 22/2012-cus refers]. Subsequently, vide instruction from F. No. 450/25/2009-CusIV dated 31.05.13, the facility of 24x7 clearance (on pilot basis) was simultaneously extended to another 13 Air cargo complexes and to include all Shipping Bills free or otherwise filed at the said Air Cargo complexes. Since the clearances were run on pilot basis, therefore, on 31.12.14 [Circular 19/2014-Customs], CBEC allowed the facility of 24x7 customs clearance for goods covered by facilitated Bills of Entry and specified exports i.e. factory stuffed containers and goods shipped under free Shipping Bills on permanent basis at the designated 18 Sea Port (including the 4 Sea Ports designated earlier). Currently, this facility is available at 19 Sea Ports with Krishnapatnam having been added later. On the airside also this facility was made available on permanent basis for facilitated Bills of Entry and all Shipping Bills at the designated 17 Air Cargo Complex. Providing logistics support like machinery/ cranes for container movement, labour etc. is the primary responsibility of Custodian or the Customs broker/ Importer. CBEC initially restricted the 24x7 to facilitated Bills of Entry only, keeping in view the time needed to be given to all the stakeholders to gear up for 24x7 clearance. More than two years have passed since CBEC has introduced 24x7 clearance. This much lead time should be enough for all the stakeholders to put necessary arrangements in place to enable round the clock clearance of all import cargo and not just facilitated one. Customs is anyways operating 24x7 at designated ports/ airports. Therefore, it has been decided to extend 24x7 customs clearance to all bills of entry and not just facilitated bills of entry. 2. In view of above, it has been decided to extend the facility of round the clock customs clearance of goods covered under all types bills of entry and Shipping Bills for Import and Export at Air Cargo Complex, N.S.C.B.I Airport, Kolkata. 4. To ensure smooth clearances under 24x7 basis, the officers are being re- deployed from within available staff strength on rotation basis round the clock at the specified location by Dy./Asstt. Commissioner of Customs (Admin), ACC, N.S.C.B.I Airport, Kolkata. 5. There will be no time restriction for registration of the cargo in Export and Import Shed. However, the custodians/ service providers shall ensure safe storage and sufficient space for examination of the cargo. 6. The trade is advised that for expeditious clearance of their cargos, they should file the B/ Es and S/ Bs well in advance for Group assessment if required and try not to create heavy traffic in EDI System during rush hours. The trade is advised to avoid last minutes filing of Shipping Bills and Bills of Entry. 7. Mandatory clearance from other agencies as required shall be obtained in advance by all concerned before approaching customs officers at Shed for clearance of their cargo. Out of Charge (O/C) and Let Export Order (LEO) will be given for only those goods in which all necessary documents have been submitted to the officer. However, non-compliant cargo will be dealt with as per law. 8. All service providers in Export and Import Shed of ACC, NSCBI Airport are required to ensure all necessary infrastructure viz, connectivity, availability of printers, logistics support and service staff round the clock for smooth functioning of the 24x7 customs cargo clearance facility. 9. Board has amended the Customs (Fees for Rendering Services by the Customs Officers) Regulations, 1998 to provide that at 24x7 customs ports and airports, no fee i.e. merchant overtime fee (MOT) shall be collected in lieu of the services rendered by the customs officers. Thus, as on date no MOT charges are required to be collected in respect of the services provided by the customs officers at 24x7 customs ports and airports. 9. Any difficulty faced by the Importer/ Exporter/CHA in implementation of 24x7 customs clearance facility may be brought to the notice of the Additional Commissioner of Customs (Airport Admin). (Dr. N. K. SOREN) Commissioner of Customs (Airport Admin) Air Cargo Complex, NSCBI Airport, Kolkata.