Concession in Demurrage charges payable to the Airport Operator/ Cargo Terminal Operator by a Shipper Or Consignee or Carrier or Agent for utilising storage facility at Cargo Terminal for storage Of import cargo, etc. for extended period beyond the stipulated free storage period for clearance or removal from the Airport - Customs - PUBLIC NOTICE No. 08/2020

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (AIR CARGO), CHENNAI - COMMISSIONERATE, NEW CUSTOM HOUSE, MEENAMBAXKAM, CHENNAI -600016. F. No. S.Misc.42/20200Appg.(M)-VII Dated: 03.04.2020 PUBLIC NOTICE No. 08/2020 Subject: Concession in Demurrage charges payable to the Airport Operator/ Cargo Terminal Operator by a Shipper Or Consignee or Carrier or Agent for utilising storage facility at Cargo Terminal for storage Of import cargo, etc. for extended period beyond the stipulated free storage period for clearance or removal from the Airport - regarding. Attention Of the importers, Customs Brokers and all Other stakeholders is invited to the Ministry of Civil Aviation order F. No.AV-29012/41/2020-ER dated 01.04.2020 on the above subject matter. 2. Taking in to consideration of the difficulties faced by the Stake Holders in the clearance of imported goods, during the period Of effect Of COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has come up With various measures so as to facilitate necessary imports Of essential commodities and relief rnaterial, in order to maintain proper supply lines and strengthen the airport operations for their efficient handling. 3. As per the said order, it is felt desirable to encourage the air cargo community to clear the backlog Of imported Cargo, goods, etc. and remove them from the congested major airports in India immediately and this would require airport operators/ cargo terminal operators to extend their support to the air cargo industry . 4. It is firther advised that for all Customs Airports, the following provisions for the treatment of demurrage charges applicable on import air cargo are made herewith. (A) These provisions shall apply on such imported air cargo: (a) which had landed on or after 20-03-2020, but Could not be Cleared and removed from all the customs airports by 23:59 hours on the date of this Order, and for which Bill of Entries were filed with Customs and the imported cargo, goods, etc. are lying with or without Customs Out-of-Charge (OOC) in the Custodian Warehouses. and (b) for any delay in clearance and removal from the airport caused by reasons attributable to the aforesaid lockdown measures for the period up to and until 14 th April 2020. (B) Demurrage charges on such imports shall be waived at 50% by the airport operator/ cargo terminal operator, provided that the cargo, goods, etc. are cleared and removed from the airport by 23:59 hours on 16th April 2020; (C) In case such imported cargo is not cleared and removed within these timelines, normal demurrage charges as applicable would be payable. (D) During this period the airport operators/ cargo terminal operators/ concessionaires shall not impose any other or alternative charge by whatsoever name on the importer or trade agents concerned. (E) This decision is purely a one-time measure to deal with the sudden and unprecedented disruption caused by the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 5. In case of any difficulty, the specific issue may be brought to the notice of ADC / JC, Imports or DC / AC in charge of Imports, Chennai VII Commissionerate. (N. PADMASRI) COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS