Procedure to be followed for re-sealing of containers with Broken/Missing/Tampered/ Mis-matched seals at Visakhapatnam Port. - Customs - PUBLIC NOTICE No. 06/2024

OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS CUSTOM HOUSE : PORT AREA : VISAKHAPATNAM - 530035 PHONE : ( 0891) 2564552 : / FAX: (0891) 2562613 Website :www.vizagcustoms.gov.in : Email: [email protected] Date : 12.03.2024 PUBLIC NOTICE No. 06/2024 Subject :-Procedure to be followed for re-sealing of containers with Broken/Missing/Tampered/ Mis-matched seals at Visakhapatnam Port. ******* Kind attention of shipping lines/Agents, importers/exporters, Customs Brokers, Terminal operators, CFSs and all members of the trade is invited to the revised procedure for clearance of Containers with imported cargo, which are arriving with Broken/Missing/Tampered/ Mis-matched seals. During the recent PTFC meeting, various members of the trade have complained that the Board s Circular No.14/2017 is not being followed by the liners/Customs Brokers while clearing the import containers arriving with broken/ missing/ tampered mismatched seal as declared in Import General Manifest (IGM)/Sea Arrival Manifest (SAM). In this regard, the following procedure as cited in the above Board s Circular is to be followed by all concerned. I. Containers arriving with broken/missing or tampered seal : - a. In case of DPD containers : The containers shall be re-sealed by the terminal operators with proper intimation to Superintendent of Customs at VCTPL. The shipping lines shall immediately amend the Bill of lading and IGM/SAM with the approval of Superintendent of customs, Imports Section. The container will then be moved to a CFS nominated by shipping line/importer for 100% examination of cargo before clearance. b. In case of ICD/SEZ bound Containers : The containers shall be re-sealedby the terminal operators with proper intimation to Superintendent of Customs at VCTPL. The shipping line shall immediately amend the Bill of lading and IGM/SAM with the approval of Superintendent of customs, Imports Section. The container will then be moved to the respective ICD/SEZ with a direction by the VCTPL officer to the Customs officers at ICD/SEZ for 100% examination clearly endorsing the Cargo Movement Permit Copy. c. For CFS bound Containers : The container shall be re-sealed by the terminal operator with proper intimation to Superintendent of Customs at VCTPL. The container is then moved to CFS.The shipping line shall immediately amend the Bill of lading and IGM/SAM with the approval of Superintendent of customs, Imports Section. The container at destination CFS is then subjected to 100% examination. II. Containers with Mismatch of Seal Numbers : - a. In case of DPD containers : The Terminal operator and the Shipping Line shall follow the same procedure as envisaged at I(a) above except for resealing of the container. b. In case of ICD/SEZ bound Containers : The Terminal operator and the liner shall follow the same procedure as envisaged at I(b) above except for resealing of the container. c. For CFS bound Containers : The Terminal operators and the shipping lines shall follow the same procedure as stated at I(c) above except for resealing of the container. The container at destination CFS is then subjected to 100% examination. III. It shall be the responsibility of the shed appraisers to ensure that the amendment in IGM/SAM is carried out by the liner and the amendment approval copy is produced before the examination of such containers. IV. Customs Officers in VCTPL will maintain a record of details of all such re-sealed or seal mismatched containers on daily basis and submit weekly report to AC/DC (Preventive) on the 1st working day of every week. V. It is to reiterate that the responsibility of carrying out the amendment rests solely with the Shipping line/Agent as they file IGM/SAM under Section 30 of Customs Act, 1962 and subsequently the fee levied for carrying out the amendment and any fine/penalty imposed upon adjudication in such cases shall be payable by the Shipping line only as mentioned in the Board s Circular No. 14/2017. This Public Notice shall come into force with immediate effect. In case of any difficulty, the specific issue may be brought to the notice of AC/DC (Imports). ( N. SRIDHAR ) PR. COMMISSIONER