24X7 Customs Clearances
CBEC has decided to begin on a pilot basis 24X7 Customs clearance with effect from September 01 2012 (1.9.2012) at identified Air Cargo Complexes and Seaports in respect of following categories of imports and exports:
(a) Facilitated Bills of Entry where no examination and assessment is required; and
(b) Factory stuffed export containers and export consignment covered by Free Shipping Bills.
This will be done in the Air Cargo Complexes at Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai and the Seaports of Chennai, JNPT, Kandla and Kolkata. Customs clearance facility in respect of factory stuffed export containers that is now available at specified Customs stations viz. Vishakhapatnam, Kolkata, Mundra, Okha, Sikka, Mangalore, JNPT, Mumbai, Paradeep, Gopalpur, Ennore and Chennai would continue to be operational. Besides, the normal round the clock boarding of vessels would also continue.
Board is exploring the possibility of full fledged roll out of 24X7 Customs clearance for ALL import and export goods.
Where do they get the Staff? As of now, Board wants the existing staff to be deployed for this work as the self assessment procedure must have released some officers from the examination work. When the 24X7 clearance is extended to all imports and exports, Board will perhaps recruit new personnel.
CBEC Circular No. 22/2012 - Cus.,Dated: August 7, 2012