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Circular No.11/2022-Customs

F. No.450/202/2021-Cus- IV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
(Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs)
*****
Room No.227B, North Block,
New Delhi, dated the 29
th
of July, 2022.

To,
All Principal Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioners of Customs/ Customs
(Preventive),
All Principal Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioners of Customs & Central tax,
All Principal Commissioners/ Commissioners of Customs/ Customs (Preventive),
All Principal Director Generals/Director Generals under CBIC.

Madam/Sir,

Subject: Extension of Customs clearances beyond normal working hours in Inland
Container Depot(s)- reg.

As a measure of trade facilitation and the ease of doing business, the CBIC has been
enabling the facility of 24x7 Customs clearance across numerous sea ports and air cargo
complexes across the country. Presently, this facility is available at 20 sea ports and 17
airports.

2. Board is in receipt of representations from the trade for extension of the facility of 24x7
Customs clearance to ICDs across the country, so as to cater to the requirements of the
trade. The matter has been duly examined.

3. Since the requirements from members of the trade and the local circumstances may
vary from place to place, Board hereby advises all the Pr. Chief / Chief Commissioners,
having jurisdictions over Inland Container Depots (ICDs) to consider having the ICDs within
their jurisdictions designated with extended facility of Customs clearance beyond normal
working hours in any of the following ways, namely :-

(a) The facility of Customs clearance may be made available on a 24x7 basis, similar to the
current Board guidelines for Sea Ports and Air Cargos/Airports;

(b) The facility of Customs clearance may be extended on all seven (7) days of the week
(including holidays), with stipulated timings (say from 9 :30 AM to 6 :00 PM);

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(c) The facility of Customs clearance may be extended beyond normal working hours for
specified days in a week and with specified timings.

The decision to designate an ICD in any manner under para 3(a), 3 (b) or 3(c) above, based
on location requirement and resources availability, could be for specified imports viz. goods
covered by ‘facilitated’ Bills of Entry only, or specified exports viz. reefer containers with
perishable/ temperature sensitive export goods sealed in the presence of Customs officials
only or goods exported under free Shipping Bills only, or for all the three categories
mentioned.

4. For such purpose, the various relevant aspects should be considered, which include,
requests from the trade associations, volume of regular imports and exports, nature of
import/export commodities, participation of other agencies or entities concerned/involved,
importers-exporters, customs brokers. The consultation with custodians be made in relation
to arrangements to be made by them for such purposes. If the ICD is not working with waiver
of cost recovery charges, it must agree on the aspect of cost recovery charges as well in a
proper manner.

5. Once a decision to designate an ICD with facility of extended Customs clearances as
above is made, the Zone must ensure adequate resources to provide the extended facility.
Such decision must also be publicized through issuance of holistic Public Notices and
appropriate Standing Orders. The Board is to be also informed via email at
uscus4.dor@gov.in.

6. Any difficulty in the implementation of this Circular may be brought to the notice of the
Board .

7. Hindi version follows.



Yours faithfully,


(Ananth Rathakrishnan)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
Tel:01123093908