Circular No. 28/2001-Cus.
10th May 2001
F. NO. 434/1/2001-CUS.IV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Excise & Customs
Subject: Allocation of location codes for Customs locations in India-regarding.
Board has been examining the possibility of allocation of location codes for various ports, airports and other customs stations for the standardization of data. The location code is an identification code for a particular location and is frequently required in information interchange in international trade and transport, to direct the movement of goods e.g. in shipping marks, in data elements identifying ports of call, ports or places of loading and unloading, ports or places of transhipment and destination and places of clearances by customs. The location code identifies the place involved in international trade in a unique and unambiguous way and therefore it is an essential element for the facilitation of trade procedures and documentation. The location codes are required by shipping agents, airlines, importers, exporters and other agencies involved in the international trade for indicating the port of origin/port of destination, etc. during electronic interchange of information in the course of international trade.
2. In order to facilitate electronic transaction between various agencies within and outside the country, the Ministry of Commerce has constituted a Sub-committee under Technical Assessment Group for finalisation of the location codes for ports/airports/ICDs/CFSs/ACCs/Land Customs Stations etc. in India as per UN specifications. The Sub-committee has since finalisation the location codes for 84 seaports, 31 airport, 48 ICDs/CFSs, 116 coastal ports and 91 land customs station in India, a copy of the same is enclosed for reference. These location codes have been accepted by the UNECE and posted on their website http://www.unece.org/locodefor use by importers, exporters and other agencies involved in international trade. Under the existing system the Directorate of Systems has been issuing the location codes for the ports/airports etc. after issuance of notification u/s.8 of the Customs Act by the Commissioners of Customs. It has been suggested by the Directorate of Systems that the notification issued under section 8 of the Customs Act for a port/airport/ICD/CFS etc. should contain the location codes of that station and Board has accepted this recommendation.
3. Accordingly, I am directed to say that, henceforth, all the notification issued u/s.8 of the said Act by the Commissioners shall contain location code of that station. The Commissioners should obtain such codes from the Directorate of Systems prior to issuance of notification. As regards existing notifications, Commissioners are requested to re-issue the existing notification incorporating the location name and location code of the stations. Commissioners may also inform Directorate of Systems if the location code of any port/airport/ICD/LCS doesn’t appear in the list enclosed.
4. Difficulties, if any, in implementation of the above said instructions may be brought to the notice of the Board.
Kindly acknowledge receipt of the letter.Encl: As above
(Rajendra Singh)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
