Implementation of Trade Facilitation Agreement - Customs - PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 04/2018

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (IMPORT) INLAND CONTAINER DEPOT: TUGHLAKABAD: NEW DELHI-110020 C. No. VIII/ICD/TKD/ Tech/125/2017 Dated: -19.03.2018 PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 04/2018 Subject: Implementation of Trade Facilitation Agreement-regarding. Attention of the trade, industry, importers and CHAs' is invited to the fact that Government of India is a signatory to WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and is committed to trade facilitation. 2. To ensure compliance with the implementation of the commitments required for Ease of Doing Business, support of all other stakeholders involved in the flow of goods in supply chain particularly trade is indispensable. Government of India is committed to substantially improve ranking in the ease of doing business for which role of this port is also very important. The very first effort to help our country in achieving the goal is to reduce dwell time of imported cargo. ICD Tughlakabad is fully committed to reduce the dwell time pertaining to the activities performed by the Customs viz. assessment examination. This will not be possible without full cooperation from the trade. Since the time related to assessment for the consignments marked to the Appraising Group is also dependent upon clarity in the Bills of Entry, it is critical for the importers/ Customs Brokers to furnish complete, precise and clear description of the items, in order that there is no need for the Appraising Group to raise queries regarding clarification of items, Further, in case queries are made, it is important that they are replied early to complete the verification of the self-assessment. 3. However, it has been experienced that trade which is an equal partner in the endeavour is found to be wanting in replying to relevant queries within time. It has also been observed that in case of Bills of Entry on First Check basis and where RSS is called for, often the trade takes more than a week to present examination report/ RSS before concerned Appraising Group for final assessment. 4. With a view to speed up the process of assessment, cooperation of the Customs Brokers/ Importers is solicited in ensuring that the replies to queries and presentation of Representative Sealed Samples (RSS) to the Appraising Group is done latest within 1 (one) working day. 5. Difficulties, if any, may be brought to the notice of the Additional Commissioner (Technical). (Rajesh Nandan Srivastava) Commissioner of Customs (Import)