OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (IMPORT),
MUMBAI ZONE - I, NEW CUSTOM HOUSE,
BALLARD ESTATE, MUMBAI 400 001.

MINUTES OF THE TRADE FACILITATION COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 27.07.2006 UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF SHRI A.K. PRASAD, COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (IMPORT).

1. A meeting of Trade Facilitation Committee was held on 27.07.2006 under the Chairmanship of Shri. A. K. Prasad, Commissioner of Customs (Import). The following Members of the Trade and Port and Bank Officials attended the meeting :-

2. The following officers attended the meeting on behalf of the Department.

3. The Commissioner welcomed all the members present and confirmed the minutes of the earlier meeting held on 29.06.2006.

4. At the outset two minute silence was observed in the memory of the persons who lost their lives in bomb blast, which occurred on 11.07.2006.

5. The Commissioner informed that the scanner which was installed at DYCC for transmitting the test reports has started functioning satisfactorily. Status of test report is available on the web site of this custom house. Facility Notice No. 5 / 2006 dated 26.07.06 has been issued for the same.

6. On points regarding difficulties faced by Trade due to alleged difficult / impractical practices adopted by shipping lines, Commissioner informed that a second round of meeting with members of BCHAA, MANSA etc. was held on 10.07.2006. In the said meeting various issues related to facilitate import were discussed. Follow up action to implement the decisions taken in said meeting, will be taken up separately.

7. Regarding refund of revenue deposit by the Import Department, the Commissioner informed that due to the non receipt of NOC from Manifest Clearance Department no refund order has been passed in the month of July 2006. The Commissioner directed Jt. Commissioner / Import Section, to explore the possibilities to dispose off refund claims on the base of Out turn report and to monitor the expedition disposal of the refund claims.

[ ACTION : Import Department ]

8. The issue related to dwell time was discussed in earlier meeting. Shri Mohan Nihalani of AIIEA pointed out that the unfair practices adopted by Steamer Agents are also a significant factor in dwell time. The Commissioner informed that each segment / component of dwell time has been identified and the reasons are being studied. The progress in this matter will be informed to the members from time to time.

Shri Mohan Nihalani requested to enlist the services of an outside agency to conduct a study with the matter. The Commissioner stated that the proposal will be examined.

[ ACTION : EDI / Dwell Committee ]

9. The Commissioner informed that the upgradation of Notification (regarding Tariff value), in the EDI System has been implemented and the notifications are being uploaded on day to day basis. The Commissioner also stated that the matter regarding upgradation of Notification centrally will be taken up with Ministry.

[ ACTION : EDI ]

10. Regarding Out of Charge of Bulk Cargo it was informed by the Commissioner that a survey for ascertaining the workload at different location in MbPT has been carried out by private surveyor. Necessary infrastructure will be provided at various locations in docks after receiving the report from the surveyor.

[ ACTION : EDI ]

11. Shri Naval Mehta of BCHAA in earlier meeting raised the issue regarding number allocated to Custom House Agents after the implementation of R. M. S. The Commissioner informed that the same will be implemented by Directorate of System, New Delhi.

[ ACTION : EDI ]

12. A request was made by members of trade in earlier meeting that Appraising Officer in the Docks should hand over signed copies of documents to the CHA as originals are surrendered to the out of charge officer in terms of the prevailing instructions and certified copies are required subsequently for e.g. in the case of refund where custom attested invoice and packing list have to be submitted. Commissioner informed that under Section 27 of the Customs Act, 1962 certain documents are required along with the refund application filed by the importer. He further informed that all these documents are not mandatory with each refund application. Requirements of these listed documents varies from case to case basis. Appraising Officers in Docks will sign copies of invoice and packing list and hand over the same to CHA. He also instructed to find out the practice followed in ACC and JNPT in this regard.

[ ACTION : Appraising General & Shri J. P. Singh, DC ]

13. Shri Omprakash Agrawal of BCHAA raised the issue of Compulsory Compliance Requirement (CCR) e.g. NOC from ADC in case of each import of chemicals. The Commissioner informed that no such instruction for compulsory ADC NOC in case of every import of chemical has been circulated. Docks staff would insist on CCR requirements if applicable after taking into consideration of different parameters such as description, quantity, nature of packing, literature etc.

14. Shri Omprakash Agrawal has also raised the issue of allowing the trucks and tankers into the Mumbai Port Trust area without making a proper entry at the gate. This lapse on part of MbPT can be fatal to security in MbPT area.

Shri P. D. Rathi, Dy. Manager, Container Terminal, MbPT, assured to all the members that he will examine the issue and a system of “computer generated gate pass” will be introduced at all the gates of MbPT. Said gate passes will have all the necessary information such as vehicle number, date and time of entrance into MbPT area etc.

[ ACTION : MbPT ]

15. Shri Ashish Pednekar of MACCIA ( Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture ) pointed out that the trucks which are carrying the goods for export after unloading the goods at MbPT are not allowed for loading imported goods untill the trucks came out of MbPT physically and again re-enter for the loading of import goods. This is wastage of time as well as fuel and serve no purpose.

Shri P. D. Rathi, Dy. Manager, Container Terminal, MbPT informed that he will look into the matter.

[ ACTION : MbPT ]

16. It was decided that the next meeting will be held on 31.08.2006 at 5.00 p.m.

17. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the chair.

( SUNIL JAIN )
JOINT COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (IMPORT)
( APPRAISING GENERAL )
MUMBAI.