Date: |
13-04-2015
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Notification No: |
Customs Circular No 13/2015
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Issuing Authority: |
Indian Customs
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Type: |
Circular
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File No: |
F. No. 450/01/2011-Dir (Customs) (Pt.) |
Subject: |
Regarding setting up of ‘Customs Clearance Facilitation Committee’ (CCFC)
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Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
(Central Board of Excise and Customs)
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Circular No. 13/2015-Customs
New Delhi, dated the 13th April, 2015
To,
All Chief Commissioners of Customs / Customs (Preventive)
All Chief Commissioners of Customs and Central Excise
All Commissioners of Customs / Customs (Preventive)
All Commissioners of Customs and Central Excise
Sir / Madam,
Subject: Setting up of ‘Customs Clearance Facilitation Committee’
(CCFC) – reg.
The Government has in recent times taken a number of measures to create an
environment for ease of doing business and trade facilitation. The measures
include the simplification of Customs procedures, reduction of documents,
message exchange between Government agencies engaged in Customs clearance, and
use of digital signature for electronic submission of Customs process documents.
Continuing in this direction, it has now been decided with the approval of the
Cabinet Secretary to establish a high-level administrative body at each seaport
and airport with the responsibility of ensuring expeditious Customs clearance of
imported and export goods.
- In this regard it is seen that in terms of the Customs Act, 1962 read
with the relevant rules and regulations, imported and export goods are
subjected to certain legal and procedural formalities before being permitted
clearance by Customs. These requirements include the submission of
prescribed documents and adherence to laid down procedures before an
appropriate legal order is given by the Customs officer permitting the
importer/exporter to clear the goods for the intended purpose. If provisions
of other Allied Acts are attracted in respect of the imported/export goods,
permission to clear the goods is given by the Customs only after getting the
suitable clearance/response/NOC from the Government Department/agency
concerned. Some of the major Departments/agencies that are involved in
Customs clearance process are as follows:
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)/Port Health Officer
(PHO)
- Plant Quarantine Authorities
- Animal Quarantine Authorities
- Drug Controller of India (CDSO)
- Textile Commissioner
- Wild Life Authorities
- In addition, the Port Trusts/Airport Authority/Custodians and Railways
play a critical role in the Customs clearance process by providing the
required infrastructure and facilities. Other local agencies concerned with
logistics, manpower etc. which operate in the seaports and airports also
facilitate the Customs clearance process.
- Since the aforementioned regulatory agencies are critical contributors to
the Customs clearance process of imported and export goods, a delay in
receipt of a clearance from one regulatory agency holds up the Customs
clearance of the said goods. Lack of adequate infrastructure in the seaport
or airport or testing laboratories etc. also contribute to delay in the
clearance of imported and export goods. Any other deficiency on account of
other stakeholders also enhances the dwell time of cargo as well as the
overall turnaround time of carriers. Another important reason for the delay
is the improper coordination or absence of efficient coordination amongst
Government agencies and other stakeholders involved in the Customs clearance
process. Therefore, a view has emerged that these deficiencies can be best
removed by institutionalizing at each seaport and airport an administrative
mechanism with responsibility of expeditious Customs clearance of imported
and export goods and for resolving related trade grievances in a time bound
manner.
- Accordingly, the Board has decided to set up a Customs Clearance
Facilitation Committee (CCFC) at every major Customs seaport and airport
with immediate effect. The CCFC would be headed by the Chief Commissioner of
Customs/Commissioner of Customs in charge of the seaport and airport
concerned. Its membership would include the senior-most functionary of the
following departments/agencies/stakeholder at the particular
seaport/airport:
- Food Safety Standards Authority of India/Port Health Officer (PHO)
- Plant Quarantine Authorities
- Animal Quarantine Authorities
- Drug Controller of India (CDSO)
- Textile Committee
- Port Trust / Airport Authority of India / Custodians
- Wild Life Authorities
- Railways/CONCOR
- Pollution Control Board
- Any other Department / Agency / stakeholder to be co-opted on need
basis.
- Terms of Reference for the CCFC are as follows:
- (i) Ensuring and monitoring expeditious clearance of imported and export
goods in accordance with the timeline specified by the parent
ministry/Department concerned;
- (ii) Identifying and resolving bottlenecks, if any, in the clearance
procedure of imported and export goods;
- Initiating Time Release Studies for improvement in the clearance time
of imported and export goods;
- Having internal consultations to speed up the clearance process of
imported and export goods and recommending best practices thereto for
consideration of CBEC / Departments / Agencies concerned; and
- (v) Resolving grievances of members of the trade and industry in regard to
clearance process of imported and export goods.
The CCFC shall meet once a week or more frequently, if considered necessary
by the chair.
- The Board desires that Chief Commissioners of Customs/Customs and Central
Excise shall immediately establish the CCFC at each seaport and airport in
their jurisdiction. The CCFC shall be headed by the Chief Commissioners of
Customs/Customs and Central Excise at the place of headquarters of these
officers. At other places it would be headed by the Commissioners of
Customs/Customs and Central Excise in charge of the seaport/airport.
- The establishment of the CCFC and its terms of reference may be given
wide publicity by issue of suitable Trade Notice/Public Notice. The said
Trade Notice/Public Notice should indicate the contact numbers of the chair
of the CCFC. A copy of the order establishing the CCFC may be endorsed to
the Board latest by 24-04-2015. The first meeting of the CCFC would take
place on 01-05-2015.
- Chief Commissioners of Customs/Customs and Central Excise are also
required to periodically review the working of the CCFC and its impact on
reducing delays in the Customs clearance time of imported and export goods
and in resolving related trade grievances. The outcome of the first such
review should be reported to the Board latest by 5-6-2015 and thereafter on
quarterly basis.
- A copy of this Circular is being sent to all administrative
Ministries/Departments concerned for issue of suitable directions to their
officers at the seaport and airports to inform the Chief Commissioners of
Customs/Customs and Central Excise concerned of the senior most functionary
who shall be a member of the CCFC. Further, the concerned
Ministry/Department are also being requested to prepare a Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP) and specify a time line for according clearances.
- Any difficulty noticed in this regard may be immediately brought to the
notice of the Board.
Yours faithfully,
(Pawan Khetan)
OSD (Cus –IV)
F. No. 450/01/2011-Dir (Customs) (Pt.)
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