Eligibility Criteria for availing of DPD Scheme by Importers - Customs - PUBLIC NOTICE No. 38/2019

OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS CUSTOM HOUSE : PORT AREA : VISAKHAPATNAM - 530 035 F. No. P3/12/2019-Stats Date: 06.09.2019 PUBLIC NOTICE No. 38/2019 Subject: Eligibility Criteria for availing of DPD Scheme by Importers reg. Attention of all the Importers, Trade and .Stake holders is drawn to the CBIC Circular 29/2019 dated 05.09.2019 and this office. Public Notices 08/2018 dated 16.02.2018 and 01/2018 dated 11.01.2018 on the above subject. CBIC has taken various steps which have had the impact of reducing the dwell time as well as bringing down the logistics cost of EXIM clearances. One of the flagship initiatives in this regard has been the Direct Port Delivery (DPD) of containers to the importers thus obviating the need of routing the clearance through the Container Freight Stations (CFSs). The initiative was first launched at JNPT and thereafter extended to other ports. This one single reform alone has played a , critical role in improving our ranking in the Doing Business Report 2019. Not surprising, therefore, has been the wide appreciation for this step amongst the importers and its acknowledgement by World Bank. 2. Although this initiative is in operation at all the ports , however, Board has felt the need for providing general guidelines / eligibility criteria so that reach of DPD could be made maximized. Importers who have so far not availed the benefit of DPD for reasons including lack of awareness, may now join this program with certainty. 3. Ideally, any fully facilitated Bill of Entry (BoE) filed at the gateway port ought to get the DPD benefit. However, feedback from the field has suggested that factors like non-receipt of original documents from abroad and consequent delay in issuance of Delivery Order, financial and credit woes, delay in settlement of dues of shipping lines, opening PD Account with the terminals are some of the reasons inhibiting a larger section of importers to opt for PD. CBIC by promoting DPD has raised the bar of efficiency. It is, therefore, but natural that other players in the EXIM logistics chain get their act together so that this successful reform measure could be made even more widespread. 4. Taking all the factors into consideration, following guidelines are being prescribed for implementation of DPD across all the formations (i) Inclusions: The following categories of importers may opt for facility of DPD: (a) importers who have already been accorded either AEO Tier I, II or III status; (b) importers with a clear track record of compliance and an import volume of 25 Full Container Load (FCL) TEUs through a particular port or otherwise in the preceding financial year; Importers falling under the said categories shall furnish information prescribed in application format i.e. Annexure-A (copy enclosed). While the criterion at (b) is desirable, Chief Commissioner may, however, in deserving cases of importers, relax the TEU benchmark. Such importers could be the ones whose imports have enjoyed a consistent pattern of customs risk facilitation / who provide an assurance that they would be in a position to pick up containers directly from the terminal. This dispensation may be particularly considered for the MSME sector. (ii) Exclusions: The following categories of importers however would be excluded from facility of DPD: - (a) importers against whom a case of mis-declaration of description of goods or of concealment / diversion of imported goods / evasion of duty has been made in the preceding five years; (b) importers facing prosecution proceedings in a matter under the Customs Act, 1962; (c) those importing goods that are subjected to 100% examination in terms of extant policy; (d) importers importing mostly LCL consignments. (iii) Conditions: The facility of DPD shall only be extended only to such consignments (a) which have either been fully facilitated or not subjected to examination; and (b) importers open a PD account with the terminals and arrange for their own transport to take delivery of containers from the terminal; and (c) any other procedural formality prescribed by the zone for better administration of DPD scheme 5. In order to monitor the DPD percentages, all customs formation incharge of gateway ports shall publish the monthly percentage data related to DPD on their websites. Each zone shall also send a consolidated month/ port wise report of DPD percentage every quarter to the Board at [email protected] and [email protected]. 6. Action to be taken in terms of decisions taken in this Public Notice should be considered as Standing Order for the purpose of officers and staff. 7. Difficulties, if any, may be brought to the knowledge of the undersigned. (Dr. D. K. Srinivas) Pr. Commissioner of Customs