1.21 — Trade Facilitation at Customs

CBIC has undertaken a number of initiatives to facilitate Trade. Some of these are as follows:

• i. 24X7 Customs clearance in 20 sea ports and 17 Airports and extended clearance in ICDs as per the needs of the Trade.

• ii. Single Window in Customs

• iii. E-Sanchit – Enabling Paperless clearance environment

• iv. Pan-India Implementation of Faceless e-Assessment in imports.

• v. TURANT Customs

• vi. Implementation of electronic messages from Document Clearance to Cargo Movement

• vii. Paperless Customs initiatives –Preparation and issuance of electronic documents like e-LEO SB, e-Gatepass/e-OOC etc.,

• viii. Contactless customs initiatives such as Turant Suvidha Kendras (TKSs).

• ix. Release of ICE-DASH–Indian Customs EoDB Monitoring Dashboard

• x. Direct Port Delivery (DPD) on imports and Direct Port Entry (DPE) on exports

‘Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme’ has been developed by Indian Customs to enable business involved in the international trade to reap the following benefits:

• (i) Secure supply chain from point of export to import;

• (ii) Ability to demonstrate compliance with security standards when contracting to supply overseas importers /exporters;

• (iii) Enhanced border clearance privileges in Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) partner countries;

• (iv) Minimal disruption to flow of cargo after a security

  • related disruption;

• (v) Reduction in dwell time and related costs; and

• (vi) Customs advice / assistance if trade faces unexpected issues with Customs of countries with which India have MRA.

• (b) The AEO programmes have been implemented by other Customs administrations that give AEO status holders preferential Customs treatment in terms of reduced examination, faster clearances and other benefits. Indian Customs has signed MRA with South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and US Customs to recognize respective AEO Programmes to enable trade to get benefits on reciprocal basis.

• (c) As a step further towards trust-based compliance, Indian Customs has introduced the new/revamped Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme wherein extensive benefits, including greater facilitation and self-certification, have been provided to those entities who have demonstrated internal strong control system and compliance with CBIC.

• (d) Under the AEO program of Indian Customs, the MSMEs are also covered.

For detailed guidelines/procedures, visit https://www. aeoindia.gov.in/ and https://www.cbic.gov.in/.

• xi. Compliance Information Portal (CIP)

• xii. End to End automated and simplified procedure for Import of certain specified Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty or for specified end use.

For detailed guidelines/procedures visit https://www.cbic. gov.in/ and https://icegate.gov.in/.