CBEC introduces Express Cargo Clearance System

The Dollar Business Bureau

The CBEC is yet again trying to facilitate faster, and easier ways to clear out cargo. This time, to speed things up on the 'Courier front' and to facilitate customs clearance of courier parcels, gifts, documents etc. in Courier Terminals across the country, CBEC has introduced the Express Cargo Clearance System or ECCS.

ECCS is an Automation Program developed on PPP model by Express Industry Council of India (EICI). EICI is a representative body of courier/express industry in the country. The new system would be introduced as a pilot project at Courier Terminal, CSI Airport, Mumbai with effect from December 5, 2016, to carry out automated assessment and clearance under the Courier Imports and Exports (Electronic Declaration and Processing) Regulations, 2010. For a smooth and seamless operation of ECCS application, ICES and ICEGATE teams at DG System, CBEC, New Delhi will provide all necessary support and help to ensure that the best IT standards are maintained. However, the system would function under the control of the Jurisdictional Customs authorities as in the case of ICES.

Earlier Customs officers facilitated customs clearance of courier parcels, gifts, documents etc. in the Courier Terminals across the country. The clearance was done by filing the Customs documents manually. Since the volume of import/export through the courier mode has shown phenomenal growth, there is an acute need for an advanced automated system on lines of ICES to speed up the clearance process. Further, with the advent of e-commerce in a big way, the requirement for a system based clearance process was felt even more.

EICI shall provide the software application for Automation, as per the requirements projected by Directorate General of Systems, for Customs clearance process of Express Cargo at the Courier Terminal, CSI Airport, Mumbai on a turn-key basis, including all hardware, network, security, Data Centre Services, operations and maintenance including helpdesk, etc. as may be required for the smooth functioning of this system. All intellectual property arising out of ECCS including source code, documents and artifacts shall be owned by and belong to the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC).

The operation of ECCS and related services shall be provided under the guidance, supervision, direction and control of the Directorate of Systems & Data Management, Central Board of Excise and Customs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. Standard guidelines regarding change management, providing data to CBEC, business continuity and disaster recovery, security requirements, information security and audit, documentation and reporting requirements and application training requirements etc. will be provided by Directorate General of Systems and Data Management, New Delhi.