IGI Airport facilitates faster clearance of imported gifts
01 Feb 2013
Customs authorities at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport have done away with the practice of demanding customer authorisation letters from courier firms before clearing imported gift packs and have now allowed courier firms to submit such authorisation letters within a week of the clearance of the item.
IGI Airport has now clarified that there would be no delay in the clearance of gift parcels at the airport's courier terminal on this account.
Customs authorities at the IGI Airport used to insist that the courier companies produce an authorisation from the recipient of the gifts before allowing clearance, which had caused inordinate delays and hardship to both recipients and the courier firms.
The authorities have taken note of the difficulties faced by individual recipients of gifts from their friends and relatives abroad on account of customs staff insisting that the courier company produce in advance the recipients authorisation to clear the imported gift parcels.
Meanwhile, the customs authorities have noted attempts to misuse the facility of import of goods by courier companies by unscrupulous people importing commercial goods in the guise of gifts. Therefore, while ensuring quick clearance of genuine gift consignment, the customs said it is alert to any misuse and will ensure that the facility is not exploited.
However, the IGI customs is giving prompt clearance of bonafide gift packets to both the courier companies and the public, an airport release said.
The airport authorities have requested courier companies as well as the public at large to approach the assistant/ deputy commissioner of customs, New Delhi courier Terminal, IGI Airport, New Delhi (Telephone 011-25653424) for prompt action.
