The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has extended the customs clearances beyond normal working hours in Inland Container Depot(s).
As a measure of trade facilitation and the ease of doing business, the CBIC has enabled the facility of 24×7 Customs clearance across numerous sea ports and air cargo complexes across the country. Presently, this facility is available at 20 seaports and 17 airports.
In the light of representations received by the Board from the trade for extension of the facility of 24×7 Customs clearance to ICDs across the country, so as to cater to the requirements of the trade.
Addressing the issues raised in the representation, the Board clarified that “since the requirements from members of the trade and the local circumstances may vary from place to place, Board hereby advises all the Pr. Chief / Chief Commissioners, having jurisdictions over Inland Container Depots (ICDs) to consider having the ICDs within their jurisdictions designated with the extended facility of Customs clearance beyond normal working hours in any of the following ways, namely:- (a) The facility of Customs clearance may be made available on a 24×7 basis, similar to the current Board guidelines for Sea Ports and Air Cargos/Airports; (b) The facility of Customs clearance may be extended on all seven (7) days of the week (including holidays), with stipulated timings (say from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM); (c) The facility of Customs clearance may be extended beyond normal working hours for specified days in a week and with specified timings.”
It was stated that the decision to designate an ICD in any manner under para 3(a), 3 (b), or 3(c) above, based on location requirement and resources availability, could be for specified imports viz. goods covered by ‘facilitated’ Bills of Entry only, or specified exports viz. reefer containers with perishable/ temperature sensitive export goods sealed in the presence of Customs officials only or goods exported under free Shipping Bills only, or for all the three categories mentioned.
“For such purpose, the various relevant aspects should be considered, which include, requests from the trade associations, the volume of regular imports and exports, nature of import/export commodities, participation of other agencies or entities concerned/involved, importers-exporters, customs brokers. The consultation with custodians is made in relation to arrangements to be made by them for such purposes. If the ICD is not working with the waiver of cost recovery charges, it must agree on the aspect of cost recovery charges as well in a proper manner,” the Circular said.
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