India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has allowed importers and customs brokers to give electronic out of charge (eOoC) copies of bill of entry and eGatepass from April 15. The step will help tide over difficulties during the pandemic and enable easier movement of goods out of customs areas after checks, besides reducing costs, the government said.
"The Board notes that the specific measures that reduce interface between the customs authorities and the importers/exporters/Customs Brokers are especially relevant in these challenging times, to tackle the scourge of Covid-19 pandemic,” CBIC said in a circular dated April 13.India's Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has allowed importers and customs brokers to give electronic out of charge copies of bill of entry and eGatepass from April 15. The step will help tide over difficulties during the pandemic and enable easier movement of goods out of customs areas after checks, besides reducing costs, the government said.#
The electronic passes will replace physically signed documents. Customs will do away with the requirement of taking bulky printouts from the service centre, and maintenance of voluminous physical dockets in the customs houses.
To mitigate the unprecedented situation due to pandemic, CBIC has taken several measures to facilitate and expedite customs clearance, including making procedures automated, online and paper-less, clearing goods on basis of undertaking and acceptance of electronic country of origin certificates.
Once granted, the final electronic out of charge or eOoC copy of bill of entry and eGatepass copy will be emailed to the concerned customs broker or importers. The eGatepass copy will be used by the gate officer or the custodian to allow physical exit of the imported goods from the customs area.
DG Systems will enable an online system which will generate the PDF versions of eOoC copy that will bear a digitally signed and encrypted QR code, which will carry details of the package and can be scanned to verify the authenticity of the document using Mobile App ICETRAK.
An eGatepass generated electronically and sent to importers or customs brokers, will contain details of the consignment, but two types of QR codes. One, for the entire eGatepass document and another for each container or package covered under the Gatepass.
ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)