Digital Signatures for Customs Documents
ALTHOUGH electronic filing of documents is allowed by the CBEC, till now, the authenticity of these documents was always doubtful as they were not signed. CBEC has now realised that facility of digitally signing the documents that are filed electronically would provide the necessary assurance regarding the integrity and non-repudiation of these documents. This shall also enhance the acceptability of such documents by other agencies.
Accordingly, the Board has decided that with effect from 01.04.2015 importers, exporters, customs brokers, shipping lines, airlines or their agents shall be given the facility to use Digital Signature Certificate for filing Customs process documents viz. Bills of Entry, Shipping Bills, IGM (General Declaration and Cargo Declaration), EGM (General Declaration), CGM through Remote EDI System (RES). For the present, the facility of using digital signatures is optional for all users.
CBEC Circular No. 10/2015, Dated: March 31, 2015