Discontinuation of printing of Advance Authorizations/Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Authorizations on security paper by DGFT for authorizations issued with EDI ports as port of registration - Customs - Public Notice No. 08/2019

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (PUNJAB, HIMACHAL PRADESH CHANDIGARH) CUSTOM HOUSE, G.T.ROAD, SAHNEWAL, LUDHIANA- 141120 C. No. VIII-48(01)Tech/LDH/PN/HQRS/2019/1217-34 Date: 14.03.019 Public Notice No. 08/2019 Subject: Discontinuation of printing of Advance Authorizations/Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Authorizations on security paper by DGFT for authorizations issued with EDI ports as port of registration- reg. Attention of the importers, exporters, custom brokers and all other stakeholders is invited to CBIC Circular No. 07/2019-customs issued vide F.No. 605/30/2015-DBK dated 21.02.2019 on the above mentioned subject. 2. In order t-D enhance the ease of doing business for exporters, DGFT has decided to discontinue the issuance of Advance/EPCG Authorizations on security paper as was the practice so far. DGFT has issued Policy Circular No. 19/2015-2020 dated 14.02.2019 notifying this change. This has come into effect for authorizations issued from 01.03.2019 onwards for cases where the port of registration is an EDI port. 3. Advance/EPCG Authorizations shall continue to be transmitted electronically by DGFT to the Customs server. The details of the said authorizations would be visible in ICES to all officers involved in import/export cycle i.e. registration of the authorization, assessment of Bilt of Entry, examination of imported goods, giving out of charge to the import of goods as also assessment of shipping bills, examination of export goods and giving let export order for export goods. 4. The process of registration of authorizations and taking bond/bank guarantee remains unchanged except that no physical copy of the authorization shall be presented by the authorization holder. The authorization holder or his duly authorized representative shall approach the designated officer at the port of registration with details of his authorization i.e. IEC Number and the authorization number. The details of the authorization will be available on ICES, which will include any additional/special condition transmitted on the ICES such as imposition of higher bank guarantee, waiver of bond/bank guarantee etc. The amount of bond/bank guarantee will continue to be determined and the authorizations registered as per the instructions contained in relevant Board s Circulars and ICES. 5. In case any amendment, invalidation etc. in respect of already registered authorizations is made by the Regional Authority of DGFT, the same shall also be transmitted electronically to Customs server and updated. No physical copy of such amendment needs to be sought from the authorization holder. It may be noted that in terms of the Customs Act, 1962, importer/exporter is required to self-assess the Bill of Entry/Shipping Bill. The authorization holder must ensure that his claims/declarations are correct as per the authorization. 5.1 Further, the relevant exemption notifications under the Customs Act, 1962 inter-alia prescribe that the authorization shall be presented before the proper officer of Customs at the time of clearance for debit. Since the authorization is available electronically in ICES and the view of the authorization details is available in ICES to officers dealing with import and export; the correctness of the debits made electronically in ICES shall continue to be verified by the appropriate officer. As all debits of the authorization shall be made in ICES, no physical debits would be required on copy of the authorization generated by authorization holder from DGFT website. 6. No TRA facility would be available in respect of Advance/EPCG authorizations issued electronically by DGFT for ED! ports. Consequently, such electronically issued authorizations for EDI ports cannot be used for making imports at non-EDI ports. DGFT shall continue to issue physical copy of Advance/EPCG authorizations on security paper as per current practice for non-EDI ports. The facility of TRA would be available for such physical authorizations for making imports at other EDI/non-EDI ports. 7. Para 3 of Board s Instruction F.NO. 605/30/2015-DBK dated 28.09.2016 prescribes a procedure for ARO/invalidation of Advance Authorization. In view of DGFT s above stated Policy Circular wherein it has been prescribed that details of invalidations/ARO shall be electronically transmitted to Customs server, the said procedure for ARO/invalidation by Customs stands withdrawn. 8. There shall be no change in the Board s presently prescribed verification mechanism and procedure for monitoring of export obligation fulfilment after discontinuance of printing of authorizations. However, the work being undertaken by jurisdictional Central Excise such as verification of address, etc. will now be dealt by jurisdictional Customs formation. 9. Action to be taken in terms of decisions taken in this Public Notice should be considered as standing order for the purpose of officers and staff. 10. In case of any difficulty, the specific issue may be brought to the notice of Joint Commissioner of Customs, Ludhiana either personally or through phone/email (Phone-0161-2847370, email id- [email protected]). (A. S. Ranga) Commissioner