CBEC notifies to set up CCFC for Land Customs Stations, ICDs

The Dollar Business Bureau

For expeditious clearance and identifying and resolving bottlenecks of imported and export goods, the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC)via circular no.-44/2016-CUSTOMS Dated 22nd September, 2016  has notified to set up Customs Clearance Facilitation Committee (CCFC) for Land Customs Stations and Inland Container Depots (ICDs) at Amritsar, Patna, Kolkata and Shillong. 

“With a view to have similar administrative arrangements for facilitation of trade in the Land Customs Stations, CCFCs shall be set up in the Commissionerates of Amritsar; Kolkata, Patna, and Shillong, having jurisdiction over the various Land Customs Stations,” the CBEC said in a notification released on Thursday. 

“The CCFCs shall also be set up in the Commissionerates having jurisdiction over the ICDs,” it added. 

The notification stated that the terms of reference for the CCFC will be to ensure and monitor expeditious clearance of imported and export goods in accordance with the timeline specified by the parent Ministry/Department concerned. 

In addition, it will identify and resolve bottlenecks, if any, in the clearance procedure of import and export goods. Mentioning the same the release said, “the CCFC will also initiate Time Release Studies for improvement in the clearance time of imported and export goods.” 

The terms of reference also include having internal consultations to speed up the clearance process of imported and export goods and recommending best practices thereto for consideration of CBEC/Departments/Agencies concerned; and resolving grievances of members of the trade and industry with regard to clearance process of imported and export goods. 

The CCFC would be chaired by the Principal Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner of Customs for their respective jurisdictions. 

The Chief Commissioners of Customs/Customs and Central Excise concerned may periodically review the working of the CCFC and its impact on reducing delays in the Customs clearance time of imported and exported goods and in resolving related trade grievances.