Subject: Improving Ease of Doing Business, Issuance of Electronic Delivery Orders

FACILITY NOTICE NO: 85 /2015 OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (NS –I & III) JAWAHARLAL NEHRU CUSTOM HOUSE, NHAVA SHEVA, URAN, DIST: RAIGAD, MAHARASHTRA – 400 707 F.NO. S/22- Gen-110/2015–16 AM (I) Date:30.10.2015 FACILITY NOTICE NO: 85 /2015

Subject: Improving Ease of Doing Business, Issuance of Electronic Delivery Orders –reg.

1. Attention of all the Importers, Customs’ Brokers and the Members of the Trade is invited towards Board Circular No. 24/2015-Customs dated 14.10.2015 regarding introduction of electronic messaging for issue of Delivery Order instead of a paper based Delivery Order will result in considerable simplification in the Customs Clearance process, and can demonstrably reduce transaction costs and time taken in the clearance of Cargo.
2. As an important trade facilitation measure for improving “Ease of Doing Business” introduction of electronic messaging for issue of Delivery Order instead of a paper based Delivery Order will result in considerable simplification in the Customs Clearance process, and can demonstrably reduce transaction costs and the dwell time.
3. At present before importers or their Customs Brokers are allowed to pick up their import cargo, they are required to pay the Shipping Line/Consol Agent, the freight and Delivery Order Charges (or D.O. charges). Once these charges are collected, the latter will in turn send to the Custodian the Delivery Order while also advising the importer or the Customs Broker of the issuance of the Delivery Order. The Shipping Lines have allowed to pick-up of import cargo by conveying a paper-based Delivery Order in a format acceptable to the Custodian. The importer or his Customs Broker visits the counter of the Shipping Line or Consol Agent, pays the ‘ D.O. Charges, collects a paper copy of the Delivery Order, and hand carries it to the office of the Custodian.
4. During implementation of the electronic Delivery Order System, as a prerequisite, the Custodian shall have the technical capability to implement an electronic messaging system for the receipt of electronic Delivery Order. Shipping Lines and Consol Agents should have the capacity to generate electronic Delivery Order in the required format.
5. Apart from the above prerequisites, it will facilitate trade if Shipping Lines and Consol Agents can adopt a system of electronic invoicing of all charges along with the facility to conclude the payment process using e-Payment facilities. It is only then that the importer or his Customs Broker can avoid the mandatory personal visit to the office/counter of the Shipping Line or Consol Agent.
6. The introduction of electronic Delivery Order or electronic Payment of D.O. Charges do not change any of the current Customs procedures. Besides, all other procedures followed by the

Custodians, i.e., due diligence involved in the verification of the Delivery Orders, obtaining ‘Out of Charge’ from Customs, and issuance of ‘Gate Pass’, etc will continue. 7. In respect of some categories of imports, namely – unaccompanied baggage, Direct Delivery, and one-time individual importers, the Shipping Line/ Airline may retain manual (i.e. paper copy) of the Delivery Order, if desired. Further, if for technical reasons, in case of any failure of the system of electronic transfer of Delivery Order, the concerned Shipping Line or Consol Agent may issue manual Delivery Order, as a purely temporary measure, in order to avoid any difficulty or delay in clearance of imported goods. 8. Difficulty faced if any may be brought to the notice of Undersigned. Sd/-
30.10.2015 (D.K. SRINIVAS) COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, NS-I & III Copy to:

1. The Pr. Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai Zone- II
2. The Pr. Commissioner / All Commissioners of Customs, Mumbai Zone- II
3. All Addl./Joint Commissioners of Customs, Mumbai Zone- II
4. All Dy./Asstt. Commissioners of Customs, Mumbai Zone- II
5. The DC/EDI for uploading on the JNCH website
6. Bombay Custom House Agent Association
7. All Trade Members / Associations.
8. All Shipping Lines/ Consol Agents
9. Office Copy.