DGFT Minutes

Minutes of the 26th Meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) dated 04.12.2024 to consider applications for recognition as Pre-shipment Inspection Agency (PSIA)

The 26th PSIA Meeting of the IMC was held on 04.12.2024 at 12.00 PM in Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Ms. Shubhra, Addl. DGFT through hybrid mode (physical and video conferencing) to consider applications for enlistment as PSIAs under Appendix 2G as per Para 2.52 of HBP 2023 and addition of instruments of existing PSIA. A comprehensive list of participants is attached as an annexure. 2. Agenda Items Discussed: At the outset, the Chairperson welcomed all participants, briefly outlining the purpose of the meeting and the agenda to be considered in sequence. The key items discussed during the meeting were as follows: A. Implementation Status of Last Meeting's Decisions: The committee reviewed the implementation status of the decisions made in the previous 25th IMC meeting. The representatives from Customs, AERB as well as MEA were specifically asked to revert with updates on the action items discussed pertaining to them. All participants were asked to revert with possible interventions/suggestions to further strengthen the mechanism. B. Recognition/Renewal of PSIA Applications: The committee considered 13 new applications for PSIA recognition and renewal. This involved scrutinizing each application to assess compliance with the necessary regulations and standards. C.

ns: The committee considered 13 new applications for PSIA recognition and renewal. This involved scrutinizing each application to assess compliance with the necessary regulations and standards. C. Addition of Instruments for Existing PSIAs: The committee considered 23 applications for addition of instruments of the existing PSIAs. This was aimed at enhancing the operational capacity of these agencies and ensuring they can meet industry demands effectively. 3. The following decisions regarding the procedure for recognition of PSIAs and issue of PSIC were taken by the committee: (i)The detailed discussion on the nature of the equipment and their requirement for enlistment of a PSIA such as survey meter , Spectrometer and Explosive detection were held. The representative of AERB informed that radiation survey meter play an important role in detection of radioactive materials and must be at every inspection place and port. It was also informed that Radio Nuclear Identifier and Spectrometer are used interchangeably and offer better capabilities, however radiation hand-held survey meter have been the uniform and the most-common used equipment and hence may be solely

r and Spectrometer are used interchangeably and offer better capabilities, however radiation hand-held survey meter have been the uniform and the most-common used equipment and hence may be solely

considered for the allotment of countries/area of operation as mandated by the decision of IMC in 24th Committee Meeting.

(ii) AERB further informed that it examines not only the calibration certificate, but also examines the performance parameter of the equipments. It further clarified that once equipment is marked as OK in terms of performance parameters, there is no need to re- take AERB comments and wherever validity has expired PSIA should submit a valid certificate for the records.

(iii) It was informed to the committee that one-time relaxation was allowed for Post- Shipment Inspection by Policy Relaxation Committee (PRC) of DGFT for the benefit of trade and industry. (iv) In continuation of the discussion held in the last meeting, the committee agreed to seek and maintain following documents to strengthen the process of KYC for recognition as Pre-Shipment Inspection agency:
• Identity Documents: Copies of passports of all inspectors and owners, including directors, partners, proprietors, investors, and all beneficial owners. • Proof of Physical Presence: Details of branch office addresses, contact information, copies of lease agreements, and any other address proof substantiating physical presence in operational jurisdictions.

of Physical Presence: Details of branch office addresses, contact information, copies of lease agreements, and any other address proof substantiating physical presence in operational jurisdictions. • Valid Membership/Accreditation Certificates: Membership/accreditation with MRAI,ISRI, BIR, or IFIA (TIC Council) • Direct Tax Returns and Documents:  For Indian-based agencies: Copy of PAN, and Income Tax Returns for the last three financial years.  For foreign-based agencies: Tax Registration Certificate, Tax Residency Certificate, and equivalent documents for the last three financial years. • GST/VAT Returns:  For Indian-based agencies: GST Annual Returns for the last three financial years.  For foreign-based agencies: Equivalent indirect tax compliance documents for the same period. • Bank Details: Bank-authenticated certificate of the bank account statement for the current calendar year.

• Foreign Registration: Copy of registration issued by foreign authorities authorizing inspection operations (for foreign-based agencies). • Financial Records: Copies of audited balance sheets for the past three financial years. • Affidavit: A declaration on Affidavit stating that the PSIA has not been penalized, issued a Show Cause Notice, or involved in any ongoing or pending penal proceedings by Customs or any other Indian government authority. If yes, the full disclosure on details of all such proceedings with current status needs to be provided on affidavit.

pending penal proceedings by Customs or any other Indian government authority. If yes, the full disclosure on details of all such proceedings with current status needs to be provided on affidavit. • No Transfer of Recognition: Such recognition as PSIAs can not be transferred or no major change in the constitution of the agency be effected, unless specifically prior authorization/ approval of DGFT is taken. 4. A total of 36 applications were received. Out of these, 13 fresh applicants had applied for fresh empanelment as PSIA and 23 applications were for addition of instruments of existing PSIA. 5. After examination of the documents submitted by the applicants, the Committee decided the applications as under : A. Table ‘A’ : Fresh Applications

S No.
File Number
Interim Status
1.
HQRPSIAAPPLY00000001AM25

Approved subject to comments of AERB & updated Calibration Certificate submitted by the firm
2.
HQRPSIAAPPLY00000428AM24

Approved subject to updated Calibration Certificate submitted by the firm
3.
HQRPSIAAPPLY00000410AM24

Approved subject to AERB comments & updated Calibration Certificate submitted by the firm
4.
HQRPSIAAPPLY00000002AM25

Approved subject to updated Calibration Certificate submitted by the firm
5.
HQRPSIAAPPLY00000003AM25 Approved subject to updated Calibration Certificate submitted by the firm 6.
HQRPSIAAPPLY00000392AM24 Approved
7.
HQRPSIAAPPLY00000406AM24

Approved subject to comments of AERB
8.
HQRPSIAAPPLY00000006AM25 Approved

ibration Certificate submitted by the firm 6.
HQRPSIAAPPLY00000392AM24 Approved
7.
HQRPSIAAPPLY00000406AM24

Approved subject to comments of AERB
8.
HQRPSIAAPPLY00000006AM25 Approved

HQRPSIAAPPLY00000424AM24

Approved subject to comments of AERB
10. HQRPSIAAPPLY00000012AM25

Deferred for further examination
11.
HQRPSIAAPPLY00000025AM25 12.
HQRPSIAAPPLY00000048AM25

HQRPSIAAPPLY00000028AM25

Approved subject to updated Calibration Certificate submitted by the firm

B. Table ‘B’ : Amendment for addition of instruments of the existing PSIAs

S No. File Number
Interim Status
1.
HQRPSIAAMEND00000015AM25

Approved subject to comments of AERB 2.
HQRPSIAAMEND00000029AM25

Approved
3.
HQRPSIAAMEND00000040AM25
Approved
4.
HQRPSIAAMEND00000043AM25
Approved
5.
HQRPSIAAPPLY00000046AM2
5 Approved subject to updated Calibration Certificate submitted by the firm 6.
HQRPSIAAPPLY00000045AM25
Approved
7.
HQRPSIAAMEND00000047AM25

Approved
8.
HQRPSIAAMEND00000007AM25

HQRPSIAAMEND00000033AM25

HQRPSIAAMEND00000008AM25

HQRPSIAAMEND00000034AM25

HQRPSIAAMEND00000011AM25;
13.
HQRPSIAAMEND00000030AM25
14.
HQRPSIAAMEND00000020AM25

AMEND00000033AM25

HQRPSIAAMEND00000008AM25

HQRPSIAAMEND00000034AM25

HQRPSIAAMEND00000011AM25;
13.
HQRPSIAAMEND00000030AM25
14.
HQRPSIAAMEND00000020AM25

HQRPSIAAMEND00000032AM25

HQRPSIAAMEND00000031AM25

HQRPSIAAMEND00000035AM25

HQRPSIAAMEND00000036AM25

HQRPSIAAMEND00000037AM25
20.
HQRPSIAAMEND00000039AM25
21.
HQRPSIAAMEND00000038AM25
22.
HQRPSIAAMEND00000041AM25

HQRPSIAAMEND00000044AM25

6. Meeting was ended with vote of thanks to the chair

Annexure ‘A’ The following participants attended the aforesaid meeting: S.No. Name & Designation Ministry/Deptt./Organisation 1. Ms. Shubhra, Addl. DGFT –In Chair DGFT 2. Shri Deepak Jhalani, Deputy DGFT DGFT 3. Shri Neeraj Goyal, OSD CBIC/DoR 4. Shri S. Pathak AERB 5. Shri K.A. Sivadas , Deputy Secretary
Deptt. of Commerce
6. Ms. Sita Narayanan,Under Secretary M/o Steel 7. Ms. Niharika Khatana, Assisstant Director DPIIT 8. Ms. Radhika Bhakoo, Legal Consultant MEA 9. Shri Jaykeshaw Kumar, FTDO DGFT 10. Ms. Shalini Basu, YP DGFT 11. Shri Manav Sharma, YP DGFT

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