Procedure for clearance of unaccompanied Baggage in the Indian Customs EDI System (ICES 1.5 System) at the Unaccompanied baggage Unit, Cochin- Reg. - Customs - 2/2016

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS CUSTOM HOUSE : COCHIN- 682009 F.No. C1/03/2016 TU(Cus) EDI/07/2010 Cus. Dated : 15/02/2016 PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 2/2016 Sub: Procedure for clearance of unaccompanied Baggage in the Indian Customs EDI System (ICES 1.5 System) at the Unaccompanied baggage Unit, Cochin- Reg. In order to facilitate the clearance at Unaccompanied Baggage Unit, Custom House, Cochin, it has been decided to extend the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), ICES 1.5 System to the clearance operation of Unaccompanied Baggage. The Indian Customs EDI system (Unaccompanied Baggage) would commence from 01st March, 2016. The passengers or their authorized Customs Broker will now be required to file the enclosed revised Baggage Declaration Form (herein after called the BDF) at the Service Centre. The Service Centre will opened from 9.30 AM to 05.00 PM on all working days. The information provided by the passenger or their authorized Customs Broker in the revised BDF will be fed into the computer system on payment of a nominal fees as applicable for filing of a Bill of Entry, Shipping Bill etc. And a print out of the Check List will be given to the passenger/Customs Broker. The passenger/authorized Customs Broker should verify the correctness of the details stated in the checklist and make necessary correction, if any. The passenger/Customs Broker, if satisfied with the entries made in the check list, has be authorize the service centre for submission of the same to the customs by signing the checklist. The service centre will state in the checklist the BDF No., Customs counter No. and the name of the Preventive Officer, who would examine the goods as generated by the system. The passenger/Customs Broker will then approach the custodian-Cochin Port authorities posted at UB Examination Centre, with the said Check List to obtain location slip about the exact location of the said packages inside the UB Examination Centre premises. The passenger/Customs Broker will thereafter hand over the location slip to the said Cochin Port CFS authorities for forwarding the baggage to the Customs Examination Area. As soon as his/her Baggage enters the examination hall, the passenger/Customs Broker will approach the concerned Counter Preventive Officer mentioned in the Check List. The Preventive Officer will scrutinize the details into the computer system and then forward the same to the Superintendent, Unaccompanied Baggage. In following cases, the BDF will be forwarded to the AC/DC (Unaccompanied Baggage) for assessment. a) When the passenger chooses to avail of the benefit of Rule 8 i.e., Transfer of Residence or Rule 5, of Baggage Rules 1998. b) When the value of the Baggage exceeds ₹ 1 Lakh. c) When the cargo contains any goods, the import of which, is in violation of the Customs Act, 1962 or any other law for the time being in force. d) In all other cases, Superintendent (UB) will assess the BD Forms. After assessment is over, the passenger/Customs Broker can collect the printout of final BDF at the Service Centre and proceed to the nearest authorized Bank counter to pay the Customs Duty indicated in the challan. After paying the Customs Duty, fine and penalty, if any, at the Bank, the passenger/Customs Broker, will approach the Superintendent/UB centre for getting the out of charge. The Superintendent will verify the proof of payment of Customs Duty, fine and penalty, if any, and grant out of charge from the Customs side by duly endorsing the same on the final BDF. The passenger/Customs Broker will thereafter proceed with the said out of charge printout to the Cochin Port CFS authority. Cochin Port CFS authority at Unaccompanied Baggage Examination Centre will prepare their own challan/gate pass for payment of demurrage/handling charges. After the necessary payment is made by the passenger or authorized Customs Broker at the designated Counter, the Cochin Port CFS authority duly appointed for this purpose will issue Gate Pass for delivery of the goods. The Baggage of the passenger will be handed over by the Cochin Port CFS authorities to the passenger or his/her authorized Customs Broker, at the Gate of the Unaccompanied Baggage shed. Then the passenger or his/her authorized Customs Broker is required to proceed towards the exit gate and after the verification of the BDF and the no. of packages of baggage, the Customs gate Officer and the Cochin Port gate Officer will allow the passing out of the baggage. This will be the last point of contact of the passenger with the Customs. Difficulties, if any, faced may be brought to the notice of Asst./Deputy Commissioner of Customs, Unaccompanied Baggage (Telephone No. 0484-2669030). (Dr. K.N. RAGHAVAN) COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS