Circular No 44/2018-Customs
F.No. 450/148/2015-Cus-IV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
(Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs)
Room No. 229 A, North Block, New Delhi
Dated: 3o“August, 2018
To
Chief Commissioners
of Customs, New Delhi
Chief Commissioners
of Customs, Chennai
Sir,
Subject: Pilot Implementation
of Paperless Processing under SWIFT-Uploading
of
Supporting Documents (eSANCHIT) in Exports — reg.
Successful implementation
of Paperless Processing/eSANCHIT
under Single Window
Interface for Facilitation of Trade in case of Imports has been acclaimed by all stakeholders. Now
with the objective of reducing physical interface between Customs/regulatory
agencies & the trade
and to increase the speed of clearance in Exports, it is proposed to introduce a facility to upload
digitally signed supporting documents on a pilot basis at Air Cargo complex, New Delhi and
Chennai Customs House. The pilot will cover all types of exports under ICES. After the completion
of the pilot, the facility will be extended to all ICES locations. On a voluntary basis, members of
the trade may use this facility to upload the supporting documents concerning Shipping Bills that
may be filed on or after 01.09.2018. After 15 days of the launch of the facility, a review will be
carried out, and thereafter, it will be introduced as a mandatory requirement. For this pilot, the
following procedure will apply:
Uploading supporting documents
2. The procedure for eSANCHIT on the export side is similar to the one prescribed for eSANCHIT
in imports vide Circular No. 40/2017 dated 13.10.2017. Briefly, salient features are described as
below: -
2.1 For uploading supporting documents on ICEGATE, the authorized persons must Open
ICEGATE URL httgs://www.icegate.gov.in/,
click on Login/Signup button for login into
ICEGATE by using his/her access credentials and then click on eSANCHIT link provided in left
vertical menu to redirect on eSANCHIT. The step-by-step procedure for upload of supporting
documents is also provided on the ICEGATE website. While preparing a job for submission on
ICEGATE in their respective Remote EDI Systems (RES), the authorized persons must ensure that
they have uploaded all the necessary supporting documents. A facility has also been provided on
ICEGATE to the authorized persons to access and view the documents uploaded by them.
2.2. In case the authorized person seeks to provide a document after the generation of the Shipping
Bill number, he/she may first upload the document on ICEGATE, obtain a unique ID Image
Reference number (IRN) for the document and link that document with the corresponding
Shipping Bill by submitting an amendment at the Service Centre. This procedure will also apply
when the authorized person submits a document in response to a query raised by Customs for a
Shipping Bill.
Assessment & Document Verification
2.3. Once a Shipping Bill has been filed, Customs officers will be able to access the uploaded
electronic versions of supporting documents while viewing or assessing the Shipping Bill on ICES.
During assessment, ICES provides for a query to be raised in order to call for additional documents
or information. In response to a query, supporting documents can be uploaded online by following
the procedure described in para 2.2 above. All documents required for the purposes of assessment
would be viewed online. In due course, the facility to view supporting documents will also be
extended to officers of the Participating Government Agencies (PGAs).
Goods Registration,
Examination
& Let Export Order (LEO)
9.4. After filing of the Shipping Bill, the authorized person (e.g. Exporter/Customs
Broker) may
with his self—assessed
copy of the Shipping Bill, approach the designated place for goods
registration, document verification and LEO. In case goods are to be examined, the officer
examining goods may record the results of inspection/examination
online on ICES.
Other features to be Pilot-tested
4. In consultation with the stakeholders, in the course of the pilot, the following features will be
taken-up for pilot-testing:
(a) Upload of supporting documents for Shipping Bills which are filed through the Service Centers.
(b) Presently, electronic copies of Let Export Orders and assessed copies of Shipping Bills are
delivered online to the Custodians and authorized persons. In the course of the pilot, digital
signatures will be applied on these messages and not copies of Shipping Bills.
5. The Shipping Bill (Electronic Integrated Declaration) Regulation, 2011, provide for the
authorized person to submit digitally signed electronic integrated
declarations (Shipping Bills) and
supporting documents and dispenses with the need for trade to submit the corresponding
hardcopies. The Regulations also provide that the authorized person shall retain, for a period of 5
years from the date of acceptance of the Shipping Bill, all supporting documents in original, which
were used or relied upon by him in submitting the electronic integrated declaration, and shall
produce them before Customs or other Government agencies in connection with any action or
proceedings under the Customs Act 1962 or any other law for the time being in force.
6. Chief Commissioners of Customs Delhi and Chennai are requested to issue public notices. To
facilitate smooth roll out of pilot, feedback and queries may be addressed by email to
babulalmeena.irs@gov.in and nsm.ices@icegate.gov.in. References in hardcopy may be sent to
Commissioner (Single Window), HUDCO Vishala Building, B — Wing, Bhikaji Cama Place,
R.K. Puram, New Delhi — 110066.
Yours sincerely,
ae
OSD (Cus IV)
