Review of Circular No. 17/2020 dated 03.04.2020 namely, ‘Measure to facilitate trade during the lockdown period-Section 143AA of the Customs Act, 1962’

Circular No. ES/173/2020-21                                                         3rd June, 2020         

To: Members of the Council

Sub: Review of Circular No. 17/2020 dated 03.04.2020 namely, ‘Measure to facilitate trade during the lockdown period-Section 143AA of the Customs Act, 1962’ 

Dear Member,

JNCH (Nhava Sheva) has issued Public Notice No.72/2020 dated 1st June, 2020 on the above subject.

In this regard, your kind attention is invited to Board’s Circular No. 26/2020-Cus. dated 29th May, 2020 on the above subject. You may also refer to Board’s Circular No.17/2020 and JNCH Public Notice No. 41/2020, both dated 3rd April, 2020 on ‘Measure to facilitate trade during the lockdown period-section 143AA of the Customs Act, 1962’ wherein relaxation was given, in the context of lockdown announced by the Government due to COVID-19 pandemic, to accept an undertaking in lieu of a bond required during customs clearance, subject to conditions as underlined in the circular. The facility was extended till 30th May, 2020 vide Circular No. 23/2020 dated 11th May, 2020 and JNCH Public Notice No. 66/2020 dated 12th May, 2020. With reference to MHA order 40-3/2020-DM-I(A) dated 17th May, 2020, wherein the lockdown was further extended for two weeks w.e.f 18th May, 2020, and taking into consideration that it might take some time after the end of the lockdown for the situation to normalise, the Board has decided to further extend the facility of accepting undertaking in lieu of bond for the period till 15th June, 2020.