Imolementation of Sea Cargo Manifest Transhipment Regulations (SCMTR) - Customs - Public Notice No 03/2020

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS GST BHAVAN, 41/A, SASSOON ROAD, PUNE-411001 F.No.22/Cus/EDI/PN-SO/2020/ Dated: 23/01/2020 Public Notice No 03/2020 Sub: - Imolementation of Sea Cargo Manifest Transhipment Regulations (SCMTR) - reg. Kind reference is invited to Public Notice No.08/2019 dated 05th March 2019 issued by this office regarding New Sea Cargo Manifest Transhipment Regulations (SCMTR) which was to come into force shortly. In continuation with the same, it is brought to the notice of all the Importers/ Exporters, Customs Brokers, Members of Trade, Manufacturers that, vide Notification No 78/2019 - Customs (N.T.) dated 31.10.2019, the date of implementation of the new Sea Cargo Manifest Transhipment Regulations has been fixed as 16th of February, 2020. Initially, registration of only Authorized Sea Carriers (ASC) like Shipping Lines/Agents etc. was operationalized. Over the last few months, registrations of all other stakeholders have also been implemented. 2. While some stakeholders have registered successfully on ICEGATE, many are yet to do it. Consequent to the implementation of the new SCMTR, many of the new messages would be available for testing from the 15th of January 2020. In the interim phase till 15th February, the stakeholders would be required to send the messages/manifests in the new format as well in addition to the existing formats. This would be the testing phase to ensure that the complete switchover to the new formats in February is smooth. 3. It is imperative, therefore, that all the stakeholders register on ICEGATE and apply from within their ICEGATE login to operate under the new SCMTR. Table 1 below gives a matrix of different entity types that are required to register along with the messages/manifests they would be required to file with Customs. Further details on these were given in earlier advisories and is also available on ICEGATE website under the new Sea Cargo Manifest Regulations link (https://www.icegate.gov.in/SeaManifestRegulation.htmi) . With a few exceptions as detailed in column (iv) in the table below, the registration process remains largely the same for all the stakeholders which has been detailed in the Sea Cargo Manifest Transhipment Regulations. TABEL 1 Entity Type (i) Description (ii) Messages/Manifests (iii) Specific Requirements for Registration (iv) Tentative Date to Start Testing ASC - Authorized Sea Carriers Shipping Lines and Shipping Agents SAM, SDM, SEI, SON 25.01.2020 ANC - Other Notified Carriers Freight forwarders, NVOCC CSN National Surety Bond (Bond Code = 'SB') as per Regulation 1A to be registered in System before approval of registration by officer 15.01.2020 ATO - Authorized Terminal Operators Terminal Operators Vessel related messaged (VCN, VESPRO etc.), Container Loading/Landing Reports Auto Approval - No requirement for officer approval. 15.01.2020 ACU - Authorized Custodians CFS/lCD/Port Custodians SF/ST, Actual time Of Arrival/Departure Auto Approval - No requirement for officer approval. Requirement first to onboard ICEGATE MFTP (ref. ICES Advisory 14/2019 dt 12.06.2019). 15.01.2020 ATP - Authorized Transhippers Transhippers executing the TP Bond and responsible for the cargo during transhiment ASR, CM-AR, CIM-DP 25.01.2020 4. If the same entity is executing different roles, they have to apply separately for each of those entity types to be able to file the respective messages. The queries raised by Customs officer while approving the registration can also be answered by the applicants online through their ICEGATE login. In this context, it is clarified that currently there is no option with the applicants to upload additional documents while replying to query. Therefore, if anv additional document is required to be seen by the officer, the same may be done manually and not insisted upon to be submitted electronically. Further, it is clarified that there is no prescribed format for the self-declaration of no pending cases to be submitted along with the application. A self-attested declaration should be accepted unless it is contradictory to any facts on record. Since this is a new registration process even for the stakeholders, queries should be raised only if necessary. By the end of this month, option to amend the registrations would also be made available to the stakeholders on ICEGATE. 5. The email id on which test files can be sent by the stakeholders will also be shared soon. Considering that the testing will begin within a week with actual stakeholders and that the new formats as per the regulations will become effective from 16th February, it is requested that the registration process for everyone is complete by 20th of January, and the test filing of the different messages by the stakeholders begin immediately. Difficulties if any may be brought to the notice of the undersigned. (P K Behera) Commissioner