Introduction of 24×7 Customs clearance facility at Specified Sea Ports and Air Cargo Complexes

CA Bimal Jain

CBDT vide Circular No. 19/2014-Customs dated December 31, 2014 has introduced at 18 Sea Ports, the facility of 24×7 Customs clearance for specified imports i.e. goods covered by ‘facilitated’ Bills of Entry and specified export i.e. factory stuffed containers and goods exported under free Shipping Bills, effective from December 31, 2014.

Furthermore, the Board has also decided to provide the facility of 24×7 Customs clearance facility at 17 Air Cargo Complexes for specified imports i.e. goods covered by facilitated Bills of Entry and all exports i.e. goods covered by all Shipping Bills.

The Specified Ports and Complexes are mentioned in the Circular.

Circular No. 19/2014-Customs

Dated 31.12.2014

Subject: 24×7 Customs clearance – regarding

Attention is invited to Board Circular No. 22/2012-Customs, dated 07.08.2012 and subsequent Instruction No.3, dated 31.05.2013 on the subject of 24×7 Customs clearance facility at specified sea ports and air cargo complexes for identified categories of import and export goods.

2. Finance Minister has in the Budget Speech for 2014-15 announced that the 24×7 Customs clearance facility would be deepened and extended. Thus, the existing 24×7 Customs clearance facility would be made available to 13 more airports in respect of all export goods and to 14 more sea ports in respect of specified import and export goods.

3. Board has undertaken detailed inter-ministerial consultations to ensure stakeholder participation in making available the 24×7 Customs clearance facility, as per the aforementioned Budget announcement. The objective is to ensure that besides the Customs, the officers of all agencies concerned with the import/export process including custodians, Customs Brokers etc. proactively participate in making this facility a success. As a result, all agencies are now committed to work hand in hand with the Customs to make available this facility. Related issues such as availability of required personnel, keeping open the delivery gates 24×7 at air cargo complexes etc. have also been resolved. Board has also advised the Chief Commissioners of Customs concerned to closely monitor this facility and resolve outstanding issues, if any, through interaction with stakeholders at the field level. It is expected that an effective 24×7 Customs clearance facility will greatly facilitate trade and reduce transaction cost.

4.  Board has decided that with effect from 31.12.2014 the facility of 24×7 Customs clearance for specified imports viz. goods covered by ‘facilitated’ Bills of Entry and specified exports viz. factory stuffed containers and goods exported under free Shipping Bills will be made available, at the following 18 sea ports:

5. Board has also decided that with effect from 31.12.2014 the facility of 24×7 Customs clearance for specified imports viz. goods covered by facilitated Bills of Entry and all exports viz. goods covered by all Shipping Bills will be made available, at the following 17 air cargo complexes:

6. Chief Commissioners of Customs are directed to deploy sufficient number of officers on 24×7 basis at the specified locations and give wide publicity to this trade facilitation measure. Their active and effective involvement in making the 24×7 Customs clearance facility a success will be closely monitored by the Board.

7. Suitable Public Notice/Standing Order may be issued for the benefit of all stakeholders and Departmental officers.

8. Difficulty faced, if any, may be brought to the notice of the Board.

F. No. 450/25/2009-Cus IV

Yours faithfully,

(Pawan Khetan)

OSD (Cus IV)