CBEC's 24x7 customs clearance facility extended to all exports from 1 July

Beginning 1 July, the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) will facilitate customs clearance of all export goods on a 24x7 basis from four major air cargo complexes / airports, including Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai.

This will help all exports from the country, including those made under export incentives scheme as well as duty drawback scheme, to be moved out of the country on a seamless basis.

Government expects the initiative to greatly facilitate the exporting community and boost the country's export by reducing delays and enabling exporters to meet their deadlines.

The expansion of the 24x7 facility at the four major air cargo complexes comes close on the heels of similar customs clearance facility for exports made under free shipping bills, ie, without claiming export incentives, with effect from 1 June from all thirteen EDI connected air cargo complexes in the country. The 13 air cargo complexes include Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Cochin, Calicut, Coimbatore, Goa, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Nashik, Vishakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram.

The extension of 24x7 customs clearance facility for imports and exports has been under consideration of the government for some time. The 24x7 customs clearance facility that started functioning in September last year was, however, confined to select export consignments under the free shipping bills as well as identified import consignments which were facilitated by its Electronic Risk Assessment System.

The facility that was being operated on a pilot basis at four sea ports of Chennai, JNPT, Kolkata and Kandla and four airports, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai, has been welcomed by trade and industry, an official report said, adding that the present expansion of the 24x7 customs clearance facility to all exports from identified customs stations addresses the requirement of exporters who export under export incentive schemes and would allow them to exploit their full potential.