OFFICE OF THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU CUTOM HOUSE, NHAVA-SHEVA,

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

 

F.NO.S/26-Gen-789/92 JNCH                                    DT : 20.09.2005

 

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF PERMANENT TRADE FACILITATION COMMITTEE HELD ON 09.09.2005.

 

The meeting of Permanent Trade Facilitation Committee was held on  09.09.05 at 12.00 hrs. in the Conference Hall at 7th floor of the Custom House.  The following members from the Department and trade attended the meeting -

 

SR.NO.

NAME & DESIGNATION

POST HELD

1.

SHRI NAJIB SHAH,

COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (IMPORT)

CHAIRMAN

2

DR. K.N.RAGHAVAN,

ADDL. COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS

MEMBER

3

SHRI S.A.USMANI

JOINT COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS

MEMBER

4

SHRI RAJEEV YADAV

JOINT COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS

MEMBER

5

SHRI K.M.RAVICHANDRAN

JOINT COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS

MEMBER

6

SHRI P.N.TIWARI

JOINT COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS

MEMBER

7

SHRI K.S.MISHRA

DY. COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS

MEMBER

8

SHRI P.K.THOMAS

APPRAISING OFFICER

MEMBER

9

SHRI MARK S. FERNANDES

CHAIRMAN, SHIPPING AVIATION I.M.C.

MEMBER

 

10

MAJOR  SANTOKH SINGH

REGIONAL MANAGER, CWC

MEMBER

11

SHRI MOHAN NIHALANI

PRESIDENT, ALL INDIA IMPORTERS-EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION

MEMBER

12

SHRI OMPRAKASH AGARWAL

VICE PRESIDENT, BCHAA

MEMBER

13

SHRI RAMAKRISHNAN

OPERATIONS MANAGER, MERCHANT SHIPPING

MEMBER

14

SHRI R. RAJASEKHAR

CROP CARE ASSN. OF INDIA

C/O UNITED PHOSPHORUS

MEMBER

15

SHRI C.A. VEERAMANI IYER

MEMBER BCHAA

MEMBER

16

SHRI S.M. SALIAN

MANAGER

MEMBER

17

CAPT. B. CHAKRAVARTI

GDL CFS

MEMBER

18

SHRI A.K. DUBEY,

CWC CFS JNPT

MEMBER

19

SHRI R.C. SHARMA,

MEARKS CFS

MEMBER

20

SHRI K.V. PURUSHOTHOMAN

CONWARE A.M.  (EXP)

MEMBER

21

SHRI A.K. BHATTACHARYA

SR. MANAGER, MEARSK

MEMBER

22

SHRI C.P. CHAMOLA

ULA CFS

MEMBER

23

SHRI KISHOR MORE

CONWARE

MEMBER

24

SHRI THOMAS VARGHESE

MANSA

MEMBER

25

SHRI MILAN DESAI,

BCHAA

MEMBER

26

CAPT. JASBIR SINGH

MANSA

MEMBER

27

SHRI NIMESH DESAI

BCHAA

MEMBER

28

ANIL AGRAWAL

BALMER LAWRIE

MEMBER

 

29

SHRI ABHILASH V.

TERMINAL MANAGER

MEMBER

30

V. RADHAKRISHNAN IYER

CAI

MEMBER

31

CAPT. RAJESH P.V.

CAI

MEMBER

32

SHRI SUJEET SINGH

NSICT

MEMBER

33

SHRI RAJESH GOSALIA

BCHAA

MEMBER

34

SHRI JACOB THOMAS

GDL CFS

MEMBER

35

SHRI AJIT KUMAR SINGH

ULA CFS

MEMBER

 

Shri Najib Shah, Commissioner of Customs (Import)  welcomed all the members. He took up the agenda points of the last meeting for confirmation and thereafter allowed the house open for questions.

2.         Shri Mark Fernandes, Chairman, Shipping & Aviation, IMC expressed that the CWC is collecting the scanning charges @ Rs 500/- per TEU which is not correct.

 The chairman informed that no scanning charges are being collected as the decision has already been taken in the Inter Ministerial Committee Meeting in this regard. It  was also informed by Shri Santokh Singh, Regional Manager, CWC, that  weighing charges @ Rs. 300/- per TEU are being collected by them, which are different from scanning charges. As regards the request of the trade for not collecting such charges, the Chairman informed that the issue will be examined.

(ACTION : REGIONAL MANAGER, CWC)

 

3          Members of the trade also drew attention towards point no. 6 of the last meeting and  submitted that the problem of Splitting the containers covered by one Bill of Lading / Bill of Entry is still continuing.

The Chairman asked  Shri Sujeet Singh, General Manager, Operation, NSICT to clarify the issue, who informed that no splitting of containers are being done.  However, in case of exigencies,  if the same is essential, the concerned parties are informed within  twelve hours. He reiterated that container yards cannot be used as storage for containers of different CFSs.

( ACTION : ALL CFSs )

 

The chairman directed all the CFSs to move the containers in time.

 

4.         The issue regarding manual out-of-charge for split containers was also raised in the meeting and the members desired that in such cases, manual out of charge should be given by the officers to avoid the demurrage and detention charges.

The Chairman informed the members that instructions in this regard have already been issued to the officers posted in the Docks to give manual out-of-charge (after following proper procedure),  and the same will be reiterated.

(ACTION : JOINT.COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, (DOCKS))

 

5.         Representative of MANSA drew attention towards point no. 11 of the last meeting and desired to know whether the permission for off loading and loading of containers will be  granted by the Boarding Officer as against the Asstt. Commissioner who was granting such permission in the past..

The Chairman informed that the Jt. Commissioner of Customs( PG) has communicated to him that the instructions have already been issued to the Boarding Officer to allow loading / off loading of containers.

 

6.        Representative from Maersk, CFS raised the issue regarding speedy disposal of containers / goods detained in the CFSs  by various investigating agencies.

 The chairman informed the members to meet the Joint  Commissioner of Customs (PG & Disposal) for discussing and formulating a procedure in line with Board’s instructions for speedy disposal.

( ACTION  : JT. COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (Disposal) and CFS OPERATORS  )

 

7.         Representatives of  MANSA took up the point relating to uploading of IGM in the ICEGATE and submitted that the acknowledgement generated by the system  does not reflect the file name along with the line particulars. In the absence of the same they are not in a position to identify the  IGM which is not  acknowledged.

            The Chairman stated that as the issue pertains to the design of software, it will be taken up with the Directorate of Systems.

 

8.         The Representatives of MANSA  took up the issue regarding submission of  copies of IGMs and EGMs from January,2003 onwards as desired by DRI.

            The Chairman informed the members that in cases where investigation are being carried out by the DRI,  the requisite information must be provided to them. Regarding the issue of providing the copies of the past IGMs and EGMs, he informed that the matter will be  taken up with the DRI in this regard.  

 

9.         The Representatives of MANSA  pointed out that many refund claims are pending  in the Custom House.

The Chairman informed that  the matter  will be examined for speedy disposal of claims, as per the laid down procedure.

(ACTION : JOINT COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, MCD)      

 

10        The Members also raised up the point regarding  printing of EP copies and errors reflected therein. They submitted that for correction of errors on EP copies,  work has been allotted to only one Deputy Commissioner of Customs, causing delay in  such corrections.

The Chairman informed  that the matter will be looked into by the Department.

(ACTION : JOINT COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, (EXPORT), i/c  Dronagiri)

 

11.       The Representatives of the trade also raised the issue regarding delay in  printing of EP copies of Shipping Bill due  to delay in feeding of  stuffing reports in the system.

            The Chairman informed that  suitable  instructions  to the officers will be issued by the  Joint Commissioner of Customs (Export)   for feeding  the stuffing report  in the system without delay .

(ACTION : JOINT COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, (EXPORT)

 

12.       The Representatives of MANSA pointed out that on each major amendment to the IGM, an undertaking on Stamp paper of  Rs.100 is being asked by the Department.

            The Chairman informed that the matter will be looked into by the Department.

(ACTION : JOINT COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, IMPORT NOTING)

 

13.       The representatives of Bombay Custom House Agents Association  raised the issue regarding  verification of genuineness of incoming Release Advices from the Custom House  which has issued the R.A.. It was requested that such RAs may be allowed to be registered in the system so that  the bill of entry  can be filed and such bills of entry can be assessed  after receipt of verification from the Custom House concerned.

            The Chairman informed that the issue will be examined.

 

14.       The BCCHA also raised the issue that at Dronagiri, some of the officers have declined to permit temporary Custom pass (Form H) holders in transacting business on the ground that such employees are not authorized.

The Chairman informed  that temporary pass holders of the CHAs will be allowed to transact business in Custom House and at all other CFSs.  He also emphasized that no unauthorized person will be permitted to move around and transact business in Custom House and Customs notified areas. 

 

15.       The Representatives of BCCHA raised the issue  regarding  execution of bond and bank guarantee for registering DEEC Licences.   It was also submitted that the work is held up for want of verification of documents including status certificate.  They requested for doing away with the repeated verification of certificates.

            The Chairman informed that the issue will be examined.

 (ACTION : JOINT COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, GR. VII D)

 

16.       The Representatives of BCCHA   drew attention towards  pendency of work in some of the Groups and delay in the printing of  TR6 Challans. It was also requested for extending  the time for printing of TR6 Challans  from 6 PM to 8 PM.

            The Chairman assured the Members that the pendency of Groups will be reduced to minimum by deploying additional officers.  He also stated that the request for providing more printers for printing of TR6 Challans and that  for extension of time for printing  will be looked into by the department.

 

17.       On request of the Association,  the Chairman declared that the Docks will remain open on Saturday (10.09.2005) for import as well as export examination.

(ACTION : JOINT COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, APPRAISING MAIN)

 

18.       The representative of BCCHA raised the issue regarding clearance of shut-out containers against the same Shipping Bill by amending the name of vessel.

            Dr.K.N .Raghavan,  Addl. Commissioner informed that in such cases, the   Shipping Bill need to be amended and a separate Shipping Bill is required to be filed for the shut out containers.

The meeting concluded with thanks to the chair.

 

 

 

                                                                          ( S. A. USMANI)

                                                   JOINT COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS

                                                                   APPRAISING ( MAIN )