DG Systems of Customs to facilitate trade
In view of the challenges due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, the DG Systems of Customs has recently revealed a slew of further initiatives that the Department is going to implement soon to facilitate trade through digitisation and Public Private Partnership (PPP). Sandeep Kumar, DG Systems, Government of India emphasised the need of achieving transparent process in customs clearance which will help to enhance security and revenue of the country. Kumar called on FFFAI Chairman, A.V. Vijaykumar, in the webinar, to work on blockchain technology for achieving the centralised KYC and also to achieve further uniformity in various processes involved in customs clearance of exim cargo.
While accepting the recommendations from DG Systems regarding creation of blockchain to work on creation of a centralised database of all the importers and exporters, Vijaykumar conveyed that FFFAI with its outreach to every nook and corner of the country is geared up for creating the centralised KYC database of importers and exporters transacting through customs, which will help to create a secure working environment.
Complimenting the DG Systems and CBIC for their progressive steps, Karunakar Shetty, President, BCBA, said, “CBs and frontline workers have braved against all odds and have ensured that customs clearance have taken place through ports, airports, ICDs, etc. for supply of essential goods to India’s citizens.”
Dushyant Mulani,
Secretary, FFFAI lists suggestions: s !UTO MONITORING AND ESCALATION
mechanism to check the pendency in import Bill of Entries and export Shipping Bills: FFFAI suggested that for better monitoring of pendency for assessment and examination, the Customs EDI system software should be designed in a manner so that if a particular document is pending for more than three hours, there should be automatic alert to the senior officer i.e. Additional Commissioner of Customs and
Honorary a few
Commissioner of Customs in charge of that section. Alternately if the Bill of Entry/Shipping Bill is not getting assessed or examined within stipulated hours, say three hours, the same should be released by facilitating under RMS.
s $UPLICATION OF MANUAL PROCESS TO be avoided while executing bonds with customs
s ,%/ TIME AND DATE REQUIRED TO be mentioned on Shipping Bills: As is being done on import side, FFFAI requested that the export module in ICEGATE should also specifically mention exact time of each activity from submission to LEO such as Assessment, DC Release, Registration of Documents for LEO, Query reply in the same manner of imports and Feeding examination report and LEO.
s &&&!) ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT #4$ declaration for transit cargo should be brought under EDI instead of manual at present.