OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (IMPORT)

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU CUSTOM HOUSE, NHAVA SHEVA,

TAL.: URAN, DIST.: RAIGAD, MAHARASHTRA – 400 707.

 

F.No. S/26-Gen-01/08 AM (I)                                                                          Date:     .06.2008

 

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PERMANENT TRADE

FACILITATION COMMITTEE HELD ON 12.06.2008

 

            The meeting of Permanent Trade Facilitation Committee under the chairmanship of Commissioner of Customs (Import) was held on 12.06.2008 at 11.00 hrs. in the Conference Hall at 7th Floor of the Custom House.  The list of members from the Department and Trade who attended the meeting is annexed herewith.

At the outset tact the Commissioner of Customs (Import) greeted all the members.

2.                  The Commissioner informed the trade about new facilitation measure to enable trade to take   

 deliveries of goods pertaining to ex-bond Bills of Entry on Saturdays-also.

            So far Bond Section remained closed on Saturdays Superintendent bond was not available to sign the print out and make the entry in the bond register.  Hence importers who paid duty on late Friday evening or on Saturday could not  take delivery of the goods immediately.

            Henceforth, one Superintendent will be available on Saturdays in bond section to give “out of charge” and make manual entries in relation to Ex-bond Bills of Entry. This would enable importers who paid duty on Friday or Saturday to take delivery of the goods on Saturdays.  The Facility Notice No.44/2008 dated 06.06.2008 has been issued in this regard.

3.                  Import of goods for repair and maintenance : M/s Mann Turbo India Pvt. Ltd had stated that they planned to take up repair and maintenance work of machines on re-export basis under notification no.153/94. They wanted to know if terms and conditions of P.N. No.15/2008 would  also be applicable.  The Commissioner replied that the conditions envisaged in the Public Notice No.15/2008, dated 06.02.2008 would be applicable in this case also.

4.                  Non Availability Of Standards in the Testing Laboratory: Shri R. Rajasekhar, Cropcare Federation Ltd., pointed out that the laboratories lacked standard references, which delayed testing and reporting of import samples.

    The Commissioner informed that the Custom House Laboratory, Nhava Sheva had initiated the following actions :

i) Sample forwarding authorities are being requested to ask importer/ exporter to provide reference standards of   ingredients, if proprietary items.

ii) The Lab has  started to develop Reference Standard   Bank of common items of import/ exports

iii) Competent authority is being requested for grant of adequate additional budget for procurement of certified reference material /standard.

Shri. R. Rajasekhar, Cropcare Federation Ltd., pointed out  that whenever reference  were required,  immediate  intimation should be given. He said that  it had been noticed that at times when samples were drawn, request for references came after 5 to 10 days. It delayed the overall process. The Commissioner directed Shri. Manish Kumar, Addl. Commissioner to look into the matter.

5.                   Help Desk at Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce:  Shri. Ashish Pednekar, MACCIA, had said that help desk was now working properly. 

The Commissioner informed  that Shri.M.Y. Dive, Supdt. had been posted to ‘help desk’ for the month of June, 2008 vide Office Order No.46 dated 30.05.2008.

6.  Problems regarding IGM date: Shri Rajesh Gosalia (COSIA)  said that they were facing problems regarding IGM date while filing Bills of Entry. Before filing of Bill of Entry, Shipping lines give them the date of “Entry Inwards”.  They file Bill of Entry with this date. At times, date of “Entry Inwards” is different from IGM date. Hence, system does not accept the same.  They have to get the date amended which takes one or two days.  He requested that the software should be modified in such a way that it accepted only IGM number and the IGM date should be given by the system itself. 

The Commissioner informed that IGM No, IGM date & date of Entry inward were hosted on the website in ‘quick links’ under the heading ‘ IGM enquiry’. Address of website is: www.jawaharcustoms.gov.in. The quick link- new IGM – provides information about IGM No., date, Entry inward date, rotation number and vessel name. Auto email facility has already  started.  The trade should use the facility and give their feed back.

7.    Touch  Screens and printers : The Commissioner informed that  there had been persistent demand from the trade that there should be more Touch Screens and printers. He said that presently four Touch Screen are installed in the Custom House and two Touch Screen are installed at Dronagiri Node. Two more Touch Screens were under repair  and which now  have been repaired. These would be installed in few days, one at Dronagiri  Node and one at Custom House. He said that four more Touch Screens were being procured.  Out of these, one would be installed at DRT and two at D’Node and one at Custom House. The Commissioner said that this would enhance the facilities provided to the trade.

            Regarding Printers, he said that there were 26 line printers.  Out of these, 13 were installed at D’Node, 11 at Custom House and two at DRT. He said that the department was procuring three more new Heavy Duty Printers. The proposal to buy these printers had already been sent to the Directorate of System around 8 month ago. It is expected that these printers would be received in another 6 months. Shri Manish Kumar, Addl. Commissioner added that if any printer was not working, then the trade should approach the EDI Section.

Shri. Milan Desai, BCHAA, said that a quality of printing was not good.

            The Commissioner, directed Shri Manish Kumar, Addl. Commissioner to carry out a survey of all the printers and check the quality of printing.

8. Stamp Duty : Representative of MANSA and ASSOCHAM had stated that a procedure similar to the  procedure prevailing at Air Cargo Complex, Sahar regarding payment of stamp duty should be followed at JNCH.

            The Commissioner informed that Shri. Mathew Jolly, Addl Commissioner was coordinating with DIG (Stamps) for solving the issue. DIG Stamps, Thane had informed that draft circular on the lines of the circular issued for ACC consignments was prepared. Accordingly, shipping agents will issue signed delivery orders. Stamp duty shall be paid in Bank of India and State Bank of India at JNCH. This draft has been sent to DG, Stamps, Pune for his approval. Once the draft was approved necessary circular would be issued

9.                  Refunds : The Commissioner informed that to bring out more transparency and to facilitate the trade all the pending refund claims were posted on the JNCH website. Refund claim pertaining to 4% SAD have been posted separately. He said that the department had issued two Public Notices to educate the trade about the procedures involved in refund of 4% SAD. These Public Notices gave specific guidelines and also spelt about documents required for processing of refund claims. The Commissioner asked the Trade Association to educate their members regarding the procedures and requirements for filing the refund claims.

Shri. Milan Desai, BCHAA said that the department was insisting on the production of original duty paid challan. He further added that some times it became difficult for the trade to provide the original challan in Customs as the same was required to be produced before other authorities like Central Excise and Banks.

The Commissioner replied that this was the mandatory requirement and had been prescribed by the Board. Moreover, the department would return the original challan after the verification of the same. This issue was squarely covered under Public Notice No.43/2008.

10.               Shri. Ashish Pednekar,  MACCIA raised the point that RMS Bills of Entry  were assessed by the system. He said that out of charge of such Bills of Entry should be given by the system itself.

The Commissioner replied that certain documents were required to be verified by the  Docks Officers. Hence out of charge can not be given by the system itself. Shri. Manish Kumar, Addl. Commissioner added that RMS System had not been designed to give out of charge by itself.

Shri. R. Rajasekhar, Cropcare Federation Ltd., stated that if DEPB documents could be cleared through the RMS system.

Shri. Manish Kumar, Addl. Commissioner replied that the work on this was still going on.

11. Difficulties faced by Tanker Vessels : Shri. K.P Unnikrishnan, MANSA,           raised the point that tank container vessels were required to file the IGM within 24 hours otherwise they faced penal action. He said that tank container vessel keep on waiting on the sea. Only  when the importers got “discharge order”, they took berth. Due to this, many times berths lied vacant.  This reduces the efficiency of port. He requested that if it was possible to exempt Tanker vessels from penal provisions so that they may take berth without waiting. Shri Manish Kumar, ADC, was asked by the Commissioner to look into the matter.

12.       The next PTFC meeting is scheduled on second Thursday of July, 2008 i.e. 10.07.2008 at 11.00 A.M.  Members should send the agenda points, if any, 10 days in advance i.e. by 01.07.2008.

13.       The meeting concluded with vote of thanks to the Chair.

 

                           

(P.K. BOHRA)

ASSTT. COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS

APPRAISING MAIN (IMPORT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEXURE

 

SR.NO.

NAME & DESIGNATION (S/SHRI/MS.)

 

POST HELD

  1.  

SANJEEV BEHARI,

COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (IMPORT)

CHAIRMAN

  1.  

P.K. SINHA

ADDL. COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS ( IMPORT)

MEMBER

  1.  

CHANDRAKANT VALVI,

ADDL. COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (IMPORT)

MEMBER

  1.  

PARAG BORKAR,

JOINT COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (IMPORT)

MEMBER

  1.  

MANISH KUMAR,

ADDL. COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (IMPORT)

MEMBER

  1.  

P.K. BOHRA

ASSTT. COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (APPRG. MAIN)

MEMBER

  1.  

JHAMMAN SINGH

ASSTT. COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS

MEMBER

  1.  

S. A. KAMBLE

APPRAISER

MEMBER

  1.  

RAJEEV AGARWAL,

APPRAISER

MEMBER

  1.  

ASHISH PEDNEKAR,

VICE PRESIDENT, MACCIA

MEMBER

  1.  

R. RAJASEKHAR,

VICE PRESIDENT, CROPCARE FEDERATION LTD

MEMBER

  1. \

ARUN N. ADAK,

MAERSK INDIA PVT. LTD.

MEMBER

  1.  

O.P. SHARMA,

SR. MANAGER, FORBES CFS

MEMBER

  1.  

M.C. MISHRA,

MANAGER, CFS, CWC DISTRIPARK

MEMBER

  1.  

ASHOK KUMAR DUBEY,

MANAGER, CWC CFS D'NODE

MEMBER

  1.  

K.M. TOPE,

MANAGER, MSWC D’NODE

MEMBER

  1.  

S.M. SALIAN,

ALL CARGO GLOBAL LOGISTICS CFS

MEMBER

  1.  

C.P. CHAMOLA,

GM, SPEEDY CFS

MEMBER

  1.  

K.P. UNNIKRISHNAN,

MANSA

MEMBER

  1.  

MILAN DESAI

BCHAA

MEMBER

  1.  

SALIM SHIKALGAR

CFS ULA                       

MEMBER

  1.  

L.S. SAHI     

MANSA

MEMBER

  1.  

JACOB THOMAS,

PUNJAB CONWARE CFS

MEMBER