Merger of Commercial Invoice and Packing list.

PUBLIC NOTICE NO.07/2015 OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (NS-I,III & V) JAWAHARLAL NEHRU CUSTOM HOUSE, NHAVA SHEVA,TAL.URAN, DIST. RAIGAD, MAHARASHTRA – 400 707. F.No. S/22 –Gen- 57/2014-15AM (I) Date:-. 22.01.2015. PUBLIC NOTICE NO.07/2015. Sub: Merger of Commercial Invoice and Packing list. Attention of the Trade and all concerned Customs Brokers is invited towards Boards’s Circular no. 1/15-Customs dated 12.01.2015 regarding merger of Commercial invoice and packing list.
The text of the same is reproduced below: 2. Simplification of Customs procedures for enhanced ease of doing business and trade facilitation is the top priority of the Government. One of the identified area for such simplification is reduction in the number of mandatory documents required by Customs for import and export of goods. 3. As per the extant Customs procedures for Import and Export, An Importer/Exporter is required to submit 1) a commercial invoice and 2) a packing list along with the Customs declaration form viz. Bill of Entry / Shipping Bill. Both commercial invoice and packing list are critical for Customs purposes as the former evidences the value of the Import/Export goods while the latter facilitates the examination of goods for ascertaining correctness of duty and quantity.
However, there are many identical data fields in a commercial and packing list. Therefore, an exercise was undertaken to explore the feasibility whether these documents can be merged into one document, which would have the advantage of reducing the total number of documents to be submitted to Customs with resultant benefit to trade. In this regard, it is seen that the following data fields/information are invariably contained in a packing list (other than the common data fields/details of commercial invoice):

1. Description of Goods;

2. Marks and Numbers;

3. Quantity;

4. Gross weight;

5. Net weight;

6. Number of Packages;

7. Types of Packages (such as pallet, box, crates, drums etc).

8. The Central Board of Excise and Customs has thus decided that as a measure of simplification, in case an Importer/Exporter submits a Commercial invoice cum Packing list (with details of marks and numbers as mentioned in para 2 above) that would suffice. But, if the Importer/Exporter desires to give a separate packing list for some reason, the same would also be accepted, as at present.

9. Difficulties, faced if any may kindly be brought in the notice of Dy. Commissioner, Appraising Main, NS-III. Sd/- 22.01.2015 (SEEMA JERE BISHT)
   Commissioner of Customs (NS-I,III & V) JNCH, Nhava Sheva. To, All Concerned. Copy to: 1.Chief Commissioner of Customs Zone-II. 2.Commissioner of Customs (General, NS- II & IV), JNCH, 3.All Addl. Commissioner of Customs(NS-I,II,III,IV & V) JNCH 4.All Dy./Asstt. Commissioner of Customs (I,III & V) JNCH 5.DC/EDI for uploading on JNCH website 6.Office Copy.