The Office of the Pr. Commissioner of Customs (NS – I), JNCH, has issued Public Notice No. 64/2024 regarding the establishment of a Consultative Group on Faceless Assessment (CGFA). This initiative aims to address issues related to delays in cargo clearance during the Faceless Assessment process.
The CGFA is being set up to streamline the Faceless Assessment procedure at JNCH, Nhava Sheva. This group will consist of representatives from customs, various government agencies, and trade bodies. The primary objective is to foster a trust-based approach between customs authorities and the trade community, thereby enhancing trade facilitation while ensuring compliance with regulations.
The Public Notice highlights several grievances from traders regarding unnecessary delays caused by repeated queries and examination orders during the assessment process. Such delays not only hinder the clearance of cargo but also contribute to increased Average Release Time (ART).
To mitigate these challenges, the CGFA will meet monthly to discuss specific instances (Bills of Entry) that have faced delays. By analyzing these cases, the group aims to identify deficiencies in documentation and assess the practices of assessing/examining officers that could be avoided. This collaborative approach seeks to improve the quality of assessments progressively, aligning with national targets for reduced ART.
Each CGFA meeting will culminate in the issuance of advisories, providing guidance based on discussions and conclusions to both traders and customs officials. These advisories are intended to foster continuous improvement in assessment practices and facilitate smoother trade operations.
OFFICE OF THE PR. COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (NS – I),
APPRAISING MAIN (IMPORT),
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU CUSTOM HOUSE, NHAVA-SHEVA,
Tal -Uran, Dist-RAIGAD-400707,
MAHARASHTRA
e-mail: appraisingmain.jnch@gov.in
(Telephone No.022-27244979)
DIN No. 20240778NX000000E410
Public Notice No.64/2024 Dated: 23.07.2024
Subject: Constitution of Consultative Group on Faceless Assessment (CGFA) – Reg.
A number of grievances have been received from the trade about repeated queries, first check examination orders and orders for testing of samples, given by assessing officers during the Faceless Assessment process, which were apparently avoidable. All these actions delay clearance of cargo and result in increased Average Release Time (ART).
2 . The entire process of Faceless Assessment is based on jurisdiction free assessment, by pooling of human resources pan India. As the country has embarked on a path of becoming a leading economy in the world, the process of trading across borders has to be made increasingly smooth and Average Release Time (ART) has to progressively come down, while balancing the apparently conflicting demands of Trade Facilitation and Law Enforcement.
3. To address this issue, a Consultative Group on Faceless Assessment (CGFA) is being set up at JNCH, Nhava Sheva. The Consultative Group on Faceless Assessment (CGFA) would comprise of officers in-charge of sections dealing with assessment, officers of PGAs and representatives of trade. The CGFA would work on trust-based approach between the Customs and trade, which is the cornerstone of trade facilitation.
4. After obtaining nominations from leading trade bodies and of the officers of PGAs, the CGFA is hereby constituted with the following members:
| Sr. No. |
Members of CGFA |
Name of the Nominee | Constituent Bodies |
| 1 | JNCH, Mumbai Customs Zone-II | Additional / Joint Commissioners, Deputy / Assistant Commissioners, Appraisers of Appraising Groups / SIIB (I) / Docks | Customs |
| 2 | FSSAI | Deputy Director | PGAs |
| 3 | Animal Quaranitne |
To be nominated | |
| 4 | Textile Committee |
Officer-in-charge of JNPA Laboratory |
|
| 5 | Wildlife Crime Control Bureau | Regional Deputy Director | |
| 6 | CDSCO | To be nominated | |
| 7 | Plant Quarantine | Assistant Director (PP) | |
| 8 | FFFAI | Mr. Dushyant Mulani | Trade Bodies |
| Mr. Amit Kamat | |||
| Mr. Shankar Shinde | |||
| 9 | FIEO | Mr. Pankaj Chadha | |
| Ms. Harpreet Makol | |||
| 10 | BCBA | Mr. Vinayak Aparaj | |
| Mr. Hiren Ruparel | |||
| Mr. Ganpat Koradc | |||
| 11 | WISA | Mr. Nimish Desai | |
| Mr. Paresh Shah | |||
| 12 | IMC | To be nominated | |
| 13 | AILBIEA | Mr. Harsh Lapsia | |
| Mr. Naresh Nasta | |||
| 14 | AIWCBA | To be nominated |
4.1 Officers of only those Sections of JNCH / PGAs will be required to attend the CGFA meeting, whose Bill of Entry is taken up for discussion.
4.2 Preferably only one representative from the concerned trade body, whose Bill of Entry is taken up for discussion, may attend the CGFA meeting.
5. The CGFA would meet in JNCH at least once a month and specific instances (Bills of Entry) which have been noticed in the recent past would be discussed threadbare by the members of the CGFA. A limited number of Bills of Entry would be taken up for discussion in each meeting of the CGFA. The objective of the discussion would be two-fold – (i) to identify the deficiencies in documentation submitted by the Importer in respect of that particular Bill of Entry; and (ii) to identify the avoidable assessment practice adopted by the assessing / examining officers in respect of that Bill of Entry. This will be done with the objective of understanding and appreciating the real reason for delay in clearance of cargo pertaining to that Bill of Entry. The whole process of consultation in CGFA would be carried out by the stakeholders in the spirit of improving the quality of assessment progressively, and not with the objective of fault finding with respect to those Bills of Entry which would be discussed during the meeting of CGFA.
6. Every meeting of CGFA would be followed by issuance of an Advisory, wherein, based on the discussions and conclusions of CGFA, guidance would be provided to the trade as well as assessing / examining officers, to improve the overall quality of assessment keeping in the mind the target of reduced ART as given by National Committee on Trade Facilitation, which is headed by the Union Cabinet Secretary.
7. This Public Notice should be considered as Standing Order for the concerned Officers and Staff of this Custom House.
8.In case of any difficulty, the same may be brought to the notice of Additional Commissioner in charge of Appraising Main (Import), NS-I (email address: jnchgov.in).
9. All the stakeholders including the trade and concerned associations are requested to take note of above for necessary action and proactively participate in Consultative Group on Faceless Assessment (CGFA).
10. This issues with the approval of Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai Customs, Zone-II.
Signed by Dhirendra Singh
Garbyal
Date: 23-07-2024 19:11:09
(D S Garbyal)
Commissioner of Customs
NS-I, JNCH
Copy to:
1. The Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai Zone-II, Nhava Sheva.
2. The Pr. Commissioner/Commissioner of Customs, NS-I, NS-II, NS-III, NS-V, NS-Gen and NS-Audit, JNCH, Nhava Sheva.
3. All Additional/ Joint Commissioners of Customs, JNCH, Nhava Sheva.
4. All Dy./ Asstt. Commissioners of Customs, JNCH, Nhava Sheva.
5. Sections/ Groups/ Docks/ RMSFC, Nhava Sheva through JNCH website.
6. AC/DC, EDI for uploading on JNCH website.
7. All the concerned stakeholders
8. Office Copy.
