TMI BlogCustoms Cargo Service ProvidersX X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... uch as fork lift or material handling equipment operators, etc. Consolidators/ break bulk agents and other persons handling imported/export goods in any capacity in a Customs area are also covered. 2.2 The HCCR, 2009 indicate various responsibilities and conditions for different kinds of CCSPs. The conditions prescribed under its Regulation 5 apply to the CCSPs who desire to be approved as custodians of imported/export cargo and thus handle goods in Customs areas. These conditions shall not apply to persons who only provide certain services on their own or on behalf of the custodians. 2.3 Responsibilities prescribed in Regulation 6 of the HCCR, 2009 apply to both custodians and persons who provide various services, though certain responsibilities specifically apply to one or the other category. For example, the responsibility for safety and security, pilferage of goods under their custody, disposal of uncleared, unclaimed or abandoned goods within the prescribed time limit, payment of cost recovery charges of the Customs officers posted in the facility are applicable to an approved custodian who handled imported or export goods. On the other hand, responsibilities for publish ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ments such as height of boundary wall, quantum and specifications of material handling and other equipments etc., to ensure the facilities are adequate for effective and efficient handling of cargo. 2.7 Under Regulation 5(1)(j) of the HCCR, 2009, the infrastructure required to be provided by the custodian shall include the civil and electrical infrastructure including properly air-conditioned office space, cabins with proper furniture, power backup facilities, hardware, networking and secure connectivity to Customs data centres for Customs officers and service centres specified by Customs. Facilities required for secure exchange of electronic information between the custodian and Customs shall also be provided. In addition, the custodian would undertake site preparation including civil works, electrical works, electrical fittings, air-conditioning, etc. and provide DG Set for power back up and link to the Customs EDI server. The networking, communication equipments, UPS, computers/personal computers/thin clients, servers, printers and other computer peripherals as may be specified by the Directorate General of Systems shall also be provided by the custodian. 2.8 Board has cla ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... r demurrage on detained goods. In case containers are detained / seized under the Customs Act, 1962, the same may be considered for provisional release subject to furnishing of Bond and Bank Guarantee under the Customs Act, 1962. [Refer Instructions F. No.450/24/2012-Cus.IV, dated 14-3-2012] 2.12 Regulation 5(2) of the HCCR, 2009 requires the custodian to pay cost recovery charges in respect of the Customs officers deployed at the ICD/CFS/port/airport etc., unless exempted by a specific order or a circular or instructions issued by the Ministry of Finance. Presently, payment of cost recovery charges in respect of ports and airports has been exempted for three categories of custodians, as follows: (i) Custodians notified under Section 45 of the Customs Act, 1962 prior to 26-6- 2002 and there is no change in custodianship or area after 26-6-2002; (ii) Custodians notified prior to 26-6-2002 but part or whole of the same premises is transferred (on lease or otherwise) to new custodian on or after 26-6-2002 (e.g. AAI, custodian of Mumbai Air Cargo Complex prior to 26-6-2002 later transferred part custodianship to Air India); and (iii) Custodians notified prior to ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... tions as new custodian. However, when this requirement becomes a necessity, then these conditions may have to be fulfilled by such custodian at that point of time. Hence, the Commissioner of Customs needs to examine individual cases where exemptions are sought to be given to the custodian and record the reasons in writing before providing exemptions. However , no exemption shall be granted in respect of any of the conditions in Regulation 5 where the overall safety and security of the premises are likely to be affected thereby. 2.18 In order to overcome situations where clearances of imported/ export goods are getting affected by congestion at a particular Customs facility (e.g. CFS), it has been provided that the Commissioner of Customs may consider regulating the entry of goods in that particular CFS for a temporary period, say, 15 days, in terms of Regulation 7(2) of the HCCR, 2009. In such cases, the Commissioner of Customs may not allow any import/ export cargo to be received and handled in the facility or may allow such reduced quantity as considered sufficient for being handled efficiently for such temporary period till the congestion is cleared and the delay in clearance ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... .450/105/2008-Cus.IV, dated 25-7-2008] 2.22 All the CCSPs are required to publish a schedule of charges associated with various services in relation to imported or export goods in the Customs area and its display at prominent places including webpage or website of the CCSP. It has also been clarified that no exemption is available to existing custodians / CCSPs in so far as the provisions of facilities and fulfilment of prescribed conditions in Regulation 5 6, as applicable, within the specified limits are concerned. 2.23 Custodians under the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, and Airports Authority of India Act, 1994 shall not be required to make an application under Regulation 4 or 9 for approval or renewal under these regulations, but they are required to necessarily discharge the responsibilities cast upon them in terms of Regulation 5 and 6. 2.24 The CCSP will also undertake to indemnify the Commissioner of Customs from any liability arising on account of damages caused or loss suffered on imported or export goods, due to accident, damage, deterioration, destruction or any other unnatural cause during their receipt, storage, delivery, dispatch or otherwise handling by f ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... of HCCAR, 2009 mandates CCSPs shall execute a bond equal to the average amount of duty involved on imported goods and 10% of the value of export goods that is likely to be stored in the customs area during a period of 30 days and furnish a bank guarantee or cash deposit equivalent to ten percent of such duty. Board has appreciated that there is justification in increasing the validity period of the bond, which would remove procedural hassles. Therefore, noting that under Regulation 10 of HCCAR, 2009, the new CCSPs are approved initially for 2 years, which is renewed for 5 years at a time, while existing CCSPs are straightaway approved for 5 years, it is clarified that the carrier bond executed by CCSPs i.e. ICDs/CFSs shall have a validity period of 2 years (in case of new CCSP which can be renewed for 5 years) or 5 years (in case of existing CCSP). 2.30 Ministry of Agriculture has raised the issue of temporary ban on Import of Rice and Peanuts from India due to detection of quarantine pest in an import consignment and highlighted that CFSs conducting phytosanitary measures have no designated area for fumigation and separate storage for keeping fumigated/ treated cargo which lead ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ICD/CFS for only export 1 1 Supdt. 1 Inspector 1 UDC and 1 LDC 2 7 Sea Port 2 4 12 2 STA/TA 12 32 Air Cargo Complex 2 8 12 4 STA/TA 5 31 Courier Terminal 4 9 12 4 STA/TA 8 37 Diamond Plaza 1 2+2 8 2 STA/TA 4 19 (b) Airports: Staffing norms are determined on the basis of the Class of the Airport as per the criteria of minimum number of international flights and passengers and envisage 4 shifts at Class A and B Airports and 2 shifts at Class C Airports. The Class of an Airport and its staff requirement are determined as follows: (i) Norms for identifying the Class of an Airport: Class of Air ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... , Courier Terminals and Diamond Plaza: The eligibility performance norms for the grant of exemption from cost recovery charges in respect of Customs staff posted at Sea Ports, Air Cargo Complexes, Courier Terminals and Diamond Plaza are as follows: Facility Minimum Annual Volume/Value of Import Export Cargo Minimum Annual Number of Documents Bills of Entry/Shipping Bills Sea Port 6 Lakhs MTs 3,000 Air Cargo Complex 12,000 MTs 35,000 Courier Terminals 1.5 Lakh Packages 20,000 Diamond Plaza Rs.15,000 Crores 12,000 Note : Both performance norms (cargo and documents) would be reduced by 50% for facilities that handle only import or export cargo. 4.4 Airports: Minimum number of international flights is 3500 (both incoming and outgoing) and the minimum number of passengers is 3 lakhs (both incoming and outgoing) in each of the preceding two financial years. 4.5 The conditions for grant of exemp ..... 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