The Principal Commissioner of Customs, Chennai-VII, has issued Public Notice No. 13/2024 to address delays in the faceless assessment (FAG) process. The notice refers to previous circulars and instructions aimed at improving efficiency in the assessment of bills of entry. Importers and customs brokers are advised to provide complete and accurate details, including product specifications and mandatory documents, at the time of filing bills of entry to reduce queries and delays. Key issues identified include incomplete or illegible documents uploaded on e-Sanchit and failure to link these documents to the relevant bills of entry. To address these issues, the notice emphasizes the importance of uploading clear, legible documents, including technical literature and product images, and properly linking them to the bills of entry. Importers are urged to follow these guidelines to facilitate faster assessment and clearance of goods. Difficulties in implementing these guidelines should be reported to the Additional Commissioner of Customs at the provided contact email.
Telephone: 25268925
Fax : 25222548
Email : pcommr7acc-cuschn@gov.in
THE PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS
(CHENNAI-VII) – NEW CUSTOM HOUSE,
MEENAMBAKKAM, CHENNAI – 600 027
www.aircustomschennai.go..in
F. No. CUS/AG/PN/7/2024-GR–5A
PUBLIC NOTICE No. 13/2024 Date:28-08-2024
Sub: Streamlining the process and expediting assessment in FAG –Reg
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Attention of Importers, Customs Brokers, and all other stakeholders is invited to Circulars 28/2020-Customs, dated 5-6-2020, 34/2020- Customs, dated 30-7-2020, 40/2020-Customs, dated 4-9-2020, 45/2020 Customs, dated 12-10-2020, 55/2020-Customs, dated 17-12-2020, 14/2021-Customs, dated 7-7-2021, 13/2023-Customs, dated 31-05-2023 as well as Instruction No. 9/2020-Customs, dated 5-6-2020 issued by CBIC to streamline and expedite the assessment in FAG.
2. One of the key aspects of the faceless assessment, emphasized in the aforesaid instructions is expeditious processing of the bills of entry, for which importers are required to furnish all relevant particulars about the goods under import at the time of filing the bills of entry. This is intended to reduce the queries from the assessing officers and consequent delay in the assessment. In this regard, reference is invited to para 2.2 (iii) of the Circular No. 45/2020 Customs, dated 12-10-2020, which reads as under:
“2.2 (iii) Trade needs to be sensitized/informed to/of the advantages of providing at the first instance only, the complete details and description of the commodity, brand name, model and any other specifications essential for the assessment. Further, trade may be asked to upload at the first instance only, supporting documents like product/technical literature and mandatory documents, certificates, which would help avoid queries and delays. It is also noticed that at times, the documents are uploaded on e-Sanchit but are not linked to B/E, leading to a situation where Appraising/Assessing officer is unable to view the document and are thus compelled to raise a query. The trade needs to be advised to avoid such situation by linking every uploaded document to the relevant B/E. Suitable Public Notices/Trade Notices may be issued accordingly. The step by step guide in this regard is available at https://www.icegate.gov.in/Download/ICES Advisory 35 2020 on amendment and query reply with supp docs v2.pdf.$
2.1. Reference is also invited to the Public Notice 11/2023 dated 16.3.2023 issued by Chennai Import Commissionerate detailing therein various compliances by the importers to reduce the delay in assessment.
3. However, it is noticed that in a significant number of cases, the importers are found wanting in terms of furnishing the requisite information about the goods to assess the bills of entry, which adversely impacts the time taken for assessment. On analysis of the queries being raised, it is noticed that a substantial number of queries are about the literature / technical details of the items to determine the classification. Absence of these particulars has led to increase in the time taken for assessment in such cases.
4. It is further noticed that some of the documents uploaded on e-Sanchit are either not legible or not linked to the bill of entry, leading to a situation where the Assessing Officers cannot view/read the document to complete the assessment and is thus compelled to raise a query. It is also noticed that many a time the replies to the queries are by referring to documents as uploaded, but in fact such documents are not available for viewing/perusal by the assessing officers. This is resulting in a delay in assessment and clearance of the consignment and hampering the trade facilitation initiative of the government.
5. In view of the above, for the faster assessment and clearance of the goods in Faceless Assessment, Trade is advised to always upload the Catalogue / Technical Write-up / End use / Product Data Sheet/ User Manual, etc, along with picture of the goods which will help the FAGs in verification of self-assessment. Further, it is advised to ensure that all supporting documents that are uploaded in e-Sanchit are clear and legible and they are properly linked with the concerned Bill of Entry by tagging IRN with the corresponding Bill of Entry for all documents.
6. Difficulty, if any, faced in implementing the Public Notice may be brought to the notice of the Additional Commissioner of Customs, Air Cargo Complex, CH-VII, New Custom House, Chennai- 600027 @ pcommr7acc-cuschn@gov.in.
Signed By
Manayathara Mathew Jolly
Date : 28-08-2024 13:34:53
M MATHEW JOLLY
PRINCIPAL COMMISSIO
