Improving Ease of Doing Business, Issuance of Electronic Delivery Orders - Customs - PUBLIC NOTICE No. 59/2016

OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS [IMPORT] CHENNAI III COMMISSIONERATE, CUSTOM HOUSE, 60, RAJAJI SALAI, CHENNAI - 600 001. F. No. S.Misc. 107/2015 - Imports. Date: 24.02.2016. PUBLIC NOTICE No. 59/2016 Sub: Improving Ease of Doing Business, Issuance of Electronic Delivery Orders - reg. Attention of all the Importers, Customs Brokers and the Members of the Trade is invited towards Board Circular No. 24/2015 Customs dated 14.10.2015 regarding introduction of electronic messaging for issue of Delivery Order instead of paper based Delivery Order which will result in considerable simplification in the Customs Clearance process, and can demonstrably reduce transaction costs and time taken in the clearance of Cargo. 2. As an important trade facilitation measure for improving Ease of Doing Business introduction of electronic messaging for issue of Delivery Order instead of a paper based Delivery Order will result in considerable simplification in the Customs Clearance process, and can demonstrably reduce transaction costs and the dwell time. 3. In this context a meeting of all the Stake Holders was convened on 13.12.2015 All present agreed that the issue of e-delivery order will meet the stated Purposes. Hence, this Public Notice is being issued to sensitise the importing community about the existence of this facility. All present had also agreed to have inter and intra association deliberations to bring about incremental improvements, stand at-dise the procedures and further establish trust based systems to achieve the stated goals. 4. During implementation of the electronic Delivery Order System, as a pre-Requisite, the Custodian shall have the technical capability to implement an electronic messaging system for the receipt of electronic Delivery Order. Shipping Lines and Consol Agents should have the capacity to generate electronic Delivery Order in the required format. 5. Apart from the above pre-requisites, it facilitate trade if Shipping Lines and Consol Agents can adopt a system of electronic invoicing of all charges a-long the facility to conclude the payment process using e-Payment facilities. It is only then that the Importer or his Custom's Broker can avoid the mandatory personal visit to the office/ counter of the Shipping Line or Consol Agent. 6. The introduction of electronic Delivery Order or electronic Payment of DO. Charges do not change any of the current Customs procedures. Besides, all other procedures followed by the Custodians. i.e. due diligence involved in the verification of the Delivery Orders, obtaining 'Out of Charge' from Customs, and issuance of 'Gate Pass', etc will continue. 7. In respect of some categories of imports, namely - unaccompanied baggage, Direct Delivery', and one-time individual importers, the Shipping Line may retain manual (i.e. paper copy) of the Delivery Order, if desired. Further, if for technical reasons, in case of any failure of the system of electronic transfer of Delivery Order, the concerned Shipping Line or Consol Agent may issue manual Delivery Order, as a purely temporary measure, in order to avoid any difficulty or delay in clearance of imported goods. 7. Difficulties faced and suggestions, if any, may be brought to the notice of undersigned. (PRANAB KUMAR DAS) PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS CHENNAI III COMMISSIONER-ATE