Now Customs clearances are available beyond normal working hours in ICDs

The CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs) has handed out a circular to inform the extension of Customs Clearances beyond the normal working hours in ICD (Inland Container Depots). This new norm of round-the-clock customs clearance has been adopted to provide ease of doing business across multiple sea ports and air cargo complexes across the country and at present, this facility is available at 20 seaports and 17 airports.

The Board has received representation from the trade to extend the availability of 24-hrs customs clearance to ICDs nationwide to meet the trade requirements. The only issue that has been faced by the board is the requirement from members of the trade and the local circumstances vary from one place to another. Hence the board has decided and advised the Chief Commissioners of the respective ICDs to expand the working hours for the customs facility beyond working hours based on any of the following ways:

• As per the present Board standards for seaports and air cargo/airports, the facility for customs clearance may be made available 24×7 basis.
• Customs clearance services may be provided with set hours on all seven (7) days of the week (including holidays) (say from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM).
• For specific days of the week and at specific times, the customs clearing facility may be made available outside regular business hours.

The Chief Commissioner should take into consideration all relevant factors, such as the number of regular imports and exports and the type of commodities, the involvement of other agencies or companies, requests from trade associations, importers and exporters, and customs brokers. Besides that, the custodians should be checked for the arrangements they will be doing to accomplish these objectives.

The Zone must ensure enough resources to manage the extended facility once the ICD with extended Customs clearances as described above has been declared. Additionally, such a decision must be made public through public notices and pertinent standing orders and the Board must be informed also of the developments.