Facilitation of Clearance of Import Cargo due to delay arising due to the outbreak of Corona Virus- Waiver of Late filing charges - Customs - PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 9/2020

Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue Office of the Commissioner of Customs Custom House, New Harbour Estate Thoothukudi 628004. C. No. VIII/48/3/2020-Cus.Pol. Dated: 25.03.2020 PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 9/2020 Sub: Facilitation of Clearance of Import Cargo due to delay arising due to the outbreak of Corona Virus- Waiver of Late filing charges-reg. Attention of the Importers, Shipping Lines, Shipping Agents, Customs Brokers, Trade and Public is invited to the recent Prohibitory Orders issued by the Union of India under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 restricting free movement of Public and vehicles in order to restrict the outbreak of CORONA Virus in the country. 2. Now keeping in view of the situation arising out of the outbreak of Corona Virus in the country, there is likelihood of late filing of bills of entry because of difficulty in getting the related documents or difficulty in reaching the facilities from where the filing can be done on ICEGATE. 3. Late filing of bills of entry attracts late fee in terms of Bill of Entry (Forms) Amendment Regulations, 2017 vide Notification No. 27/2017-Cus.(N.T.) dated 31.03.2017 read with second proviso to Section 46(3) of the Customs Act, 1962. Therefore, keeping in view the exigency due to outbreak of Corona Virus and, in order to facilitate the trade for clearance of the import consignments, it is decided in the public interest that those bills of entry which pertain to IGMs filed on or after 20th March 2020, if filed late for clearance of import consignments, will not attract any late fee charges for the time being and till further orders. 4. 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. 5. Any difficulty, if any may be brought to the notice of the undersigned. Sd/- (D.ANIL) COMMISSIONER