Customs Single Window Project–SWIFT
The National Customs Single Window Project was launched in 2016 as part of the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ mandate of Government of India. CBIC is the nodal agency to implement SWIFT and other components of single window project in India. The key features of SWIFT are:
Integrated Declaration:
(a) Dispensed separate forms/ declarations pertaining to different PGAs;
(b) Submission of Integrated Declarations in Import/ Export containing clearance related information required by PGAs through ICEGATE;
(c) Additional fields required by PGAs incorporated in import declarations.
Automatic Routing of PGA declarations and issue of No Objection Certificate (NOC):
(a) Routing of declarations related to import consignments based on HS codes for goods imported, end use of the consignments and other risk criteria provided by PGAs;
(b) Automatic referring consignments to PGAs for their intervention;
(c) System of electronic online message exchange operational with 6 PGAs covering almost all import consignments that require sampling, testing and regulatory approval before clearance by Customs, including:
- Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI);
- Drug Controller (CDSCO);
- Animal Quarantine (AQCS);
- Wild Life Crime Control Bureau (WCCB);
- Plant Quarantine and Storage (PQIS);
- Textile Committee.
(d) Online communication of decisions relating to release, no objection, non-compliance, destruction or product out of scope
Integrated Risk Assessment:
(a) Automated system to apply principles of riskbased selectivity for carrying out inspection and testing by all PGAs;
(b) Integration of Customs RMS with risk criteria of CDSCO, PQIS, WCCB and FSSAI.
e-Storage and Computerized Handling of Indirect Tax Documents (e-SANCHIT):
(a) Mandated for imports since May 2018 and for exports since April 2019, this is a paperless processing initiative for electronic transmission of Licenses, Permits, Certificates and Other authorisations (LPCOs) issued by PGAs. The PGAs upload the LPCOs on e-SANCHIT and communicate the same to the beneficiary importer/ exporter who refers to the same in the Customs clearance document.
(b) e-Sanchit assists the importers/ exporters in uploading supporting documents- bill of lading, invoice, packing list, COO etc. that are required for Customs clearance of import/export goods.
The LPCOs uploaded by the PGAs and documents uploaded by the importers/exporters are made visible to the Customs officers and PGAs at the time of verification.
(Updated as on November 2023 – Source- CBIC)
