Encouraging stakeholder participation in Customs functioning
THE CBEC informs that it has a well-established practice of involving stakeholders in decision-making and resolving operational issues and which is exemplified by the Permanent Trade Facilitation Committee (PTFCs) in each Custom House, which includes local trade and logistics association as well as Customs Brokers association.
[DDT has been repeatedly enquiring as to whether the CHAs have been converted into Customs Brokers. We did not get any response probably because there were none. So, how come the Customs Broker Association came into being or is it that the CHA Association got rechristened into the Customs Brokers Association just like that?] [See , 2134, 2156, 2188, 2203 & 2213]
Be that as it may, it is informed that these committees typically meet once a month for deliberating issues that impact day-to-day functioning and all senior departmental officers including Commissioners of Customs attend the meetings.
After praising such initiatives already in place, the Board says that the Trade bodies should also be involved and these PTFC meetings should be held at all Customs locations, if not being done so already [the Board is doubtful] so as to ensure that local issues of interest to the trade would get resolved quickly thereby furthering the cause of trade facilitation.
And all this should be done so as to prevent the escalation of purely local issues to the Department/Board. [anaspect repeatedly emphasized in the latter paragraph]
The sum and substance is that the apex Trade bodies should also be invited/allowed to attend these PTFC meetings along with their local constituents and these meetings should be held at least once a month with the minutes being sent to the Board.
Interestingly, in this Circular there is no mention or direction that a Trade Notice/Public Notice needs to be issued to the field formations and tax payers.
So, how are they going to know about this ‘encouragement'?
Circular dated October 25, 2013