Setting up of "Customs Clearance Facilitation Committee (CCFC)" - Customs - PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 89/2015(CCO)

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS CUSTOM HOUSE, No.60, RAJAJI SALAI, CHENNAI - 600 001. F .No. 62/109/2015-CCO (Prev. Tech) Dated: 28/04/2015 PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 89/2015(CCO) Sub: Setting up of Customs Clearance Facilitation Committee (CCFC) - reg. Attention of all concerned is invited to the directions of Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, vide their Circular No. 13/2015 - Customs Dated 13.04.2015. (Availabie at website - http://www.cbec.gov.in/customs/cs-circulars/cs-circ15/circ-13-2015cs.htm) 2. The Government has in recent times taken a number of measures to create an environment for ease of doing business and trade facilitation. The measures include the simplification of Customs procedures, reduction of documents, message exchange between Government agencies engaged in Customs clearance, and use of digital signature for electronic submission of Customs process documents. Continuing in this direction, it has now been decided with the approval of the Cabinet Secretary to establish a high-level administrative body at each seaport and airport with the responsibility of ensuring expeditious Customs clearance of imported and export goods. 3. In this regard it is seen that in terms of the Customs Act, 1962 read with the relevant rules and regulations, imported and export goods are subjected to certain legal and procedural formalities before being permitted clearance by Customs. These requirements include the submission of prescribed documents and adherence to laid down procedures before an appropriate legal order is given by the Customs officer permitting the importer/exporter to clear the goods for the intended purpose. If provisions of other Allied Acts are attracted in respect of the imported/export goods, permission to clear the goods is given by the Customs only after getting the suitable clearance/response/NOC from the Government Department/agency concerned. Some of the major Departments/agencies that are involved in Customs clearance process are as follows: (i) Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAl)/Port Health Officer (PHD) (ii) Plant Quarantine Authorities (iii) Animal Quarantine Authorities (iv) Drug Controller of India (CDSO) (v) Textile Commissioner (vi) Wild Life Authorities 4. In addition, the Port Trusts/Airport Authority/Custodians and Railways play a critical role in the Customs clearance process by providing the required infrastructure and facilities. Other local agencies concerned with logistics, manpower etc. which operate in the seaports and airports also facilitate the Customs clearance process. 5. Since the aforementioned regulatory agencies are critical contributors to the Customs clearance process of imported and export goods, a delay in receipt of a clearance from one regulatory agency holds up the Customs clearance of the said goods. Lack of adequate infrastructure in the seaport or airport or testing laboratories etc. also contribute to delay in the clearance of imported and export goods. Any other deficiency on account of other stakeholders also enhances the dwell time of cargo as well as the overall turnaround time of carriers. Another important reason for the delay is the improper coordination or absence of efficient coordination amongst Government agencies and other stakeholders involved in the Customs clearance process. Therefore, a view has emerged that these deficiencies can be best removed by institutionalizing at each seaport and airport an administrative mechanism with responsibility of expeditious Customs clearance of imported and export goods and for resolving related trade grievances in a time bound manner. 6. Hence, in order to facilitate expeditious Customs clearance of imported and export goods, and also for resolving related trade grievances in a time bound manner in respect of Chennai Customs Zone, the Customs Clearance Facilitation Committee is constituted with immediate effect, headed by the Chief Commissioner of Customs, Chennai, with the membership from the following departments / agencies. (i) Food Safety Standards Authority of India/Port Health Officer (PHO) (ii) Plant Quarantine Authorities (iii) Animal Quarantine Authorities (iv) Drug Controller of India (CDSO) (v) Textile Committee (vi) Port Trust / Airport Authority of India / Custodians (vii) Wild Life Authorities (viii) Railways/CONCOR (ix) Pollution Control Board (x) Any other Department / Agency / stakeholder to be co-opted on need basis. 7. The terms of reference for the CCFC are as follows: (i) Ensuring and monitoring expeditious clearance of imported and export goods in accordance with the timeline specified by the parent ministry/Department concerned; (ii) Identifying and resolving bottlenecks, if any, in the clearance procedure of imported and export goods; (iii) Initiating Time Release Studies for improvement in the clearance time of imported and export goods; (iv) Having internal consultations to speed up the clearance process of imported and export goods and recommending best practices thereto for consideration of CBEC / Departments / Agencies concerned; and (v) Resolving grievances of members of the trade and industry in regard to clearance process of imported and export goods. The CCFC shall meet once a week or more frequently, if considered necessary by the chair. 8. The periodicity of the meeting and the structure / modalities for creating an effective administrative body for expeditious customs clearance of imported and export goods and for resolving related trade grievances in a time bound manner, will be discussed and finalised after deliberation with all the stake holders in this regard. 9. The Chairman of the CCFC is Shri. S. Ramesh, Chief Commissioner of Customs, Chennai Customs Zone. His contact number is 044-25268925, Office Fax No. 044-25222548 and office e-mail ID: [email protected] 10. It has been decided that Shri. S. Sathianarayanan, Assistant Commissioner, Customs, Chennai-III Commissionerate will be the NODAL OFFICER for the CCFC. His contact details are: 044-25263097, Office Fax No. 044-25222548 and office e-mail ID: [email protected] CHIEF COMMISSIONER CHENNAI CUSTOMS ZONE