Circular No. ES/401/2018-19 March 2, 2019
To: Members of the Council
Sub: CBIC announces a next generation reform for Ease of Doing Business named “Turant Customs”
Dear Member,
We would like to inform you that CBIC vide its Circular No. 09/2019- Customs dated 28th February, 2019 has announced the next generation reform “Turant Customs” for Ease of Doing Business. This reform has been made possible mainly due to several reform measures initiated and implemented by the CBIC, which inter alia include –
SWIFT
e-Sanchit
Direct Port Delivery (DPD)
Revised AEO programme
RFID e-seal programme etc.
The above reform measures have reduced to a great extent the time and cost of clearance of goods in the various Customs ports.
To enter the top 50 ranking in The World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) Index, the Indian Customs Department have now announced further reforms under the name of “Turant Customs” for speedy clearance of goods at air and sea ports. This reform is a comprehensive package of various elements that would be implemented from time to time in the next few months.
As you may be aware, a critical component of EoDB index rankings 2019 is the ‘Trading Across Borders’ category in which India is ranked 80, as compared with 146 in 2018. This was possible due to reforms like Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade, e-Sanchit (e-Storage and computerised handling of indirect tax documents), and Direct Port Delivery. This along with Authorised Economic Operator programme and RFID e-seal programme helped in reducing the time and cost of clearance of goods in various Customs ports.
Now, under Turant Customs significant changes have been made –
One of the major changes will be in Indian Customs Electronic Data Interchange System (ICES) 1.5 for clearance of imported goods after assessment and duty payment.
The officer concerned will now have access to a fully automated queue of Bill of Entry (BoE) ready for granting clearance in ICES 1.5.
This obviates the necessity of importers having to present the BoE number and date to the officer for clearance.
The officer will be able to immediately provide clearance on the system.
Turant Customs will reduce dwell-time of the goods that are pending only for the grant of such clearance.
This will further reduce the interface of the trade with the departmental personnel.
Suitable Trade Notice and Standing Orders shall be issued by the Customs to guide the Members of Trade and Industry.
Members make please make a note of the Trade Facilitation measures announced by Customs time to time and take advantage of the same.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
S. BALARAJU
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
