High Level 'Customs Clearance Facilitation Committee' (CCFC)
CBEC has issued a Circular which starts with,
The Government has in recent times taken a number of measures to create an environment for ease of doing business and trade facilitation. The measures include the simplification of Customs procedures, reduction of documents, message exchange between Government agencies engaged in Customs clearance, and use of digital signature for electronic submission of Customs process documents. Continuing in this direction, it has now been decided with the approval of the Cabinet Secretary to establish a high-level administrative body at each seaport and airport with the responsibility of ensuring expeditious Customs clearance of imported and export goods .
Accordingly, the Board has decided to set up a Customs Clearance Facilitation Committee (CCFC) at every major Customs seaport and airport with immediate effect. The Chief Commissioner of Customs/Commissioner of Customs in charge of the seaport and airport concerned would head the CCFC. Its membership would include the senior-most functionary of the following departments/agencies/stakeholder at the particular seaport/airport:
(i) Food Safety Standards Authority of India/Port Health Officer (PHO)
(ii) Plant Quarantine Authorities
(iii) Animal Quarantine Authorities
(iv) Drug Controller of India (CDSO)
(v) Textile Committee
(vi) Port Trust/Airport Authority of India/Custodians
(vii) Wild Life Authorities
(viii) Railways/CONCOR
(ix) Pollution Control Board
(x) Any other Department/Agency/stakeholder to be co-opted on need basis.
Terms of Reference for the CCFC are:
(i) Ensuring and monitoring expeditious clearance of imported and export goods in accordance with the timeline specified by the parent ministry/Department concerned;
(ii) Identifying and resolving bottlenecks, if any, in the clearance procedure of imported and export goods;
(iii) Initiating Time Release Studies for improvement in the clearance time of imported and export goods;
(iv) 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
(v) Resolving grievances of members of the trade and industry in regard to clearance process of imported and export goods.
The CCFC shall meet once a week or more frequently, if considered necessary by the chair.
Is it feasible for such a high power committee to meet once a week? Can you expect the Chairman of a Port Trust to come to the Custom House every week to attend a meeting chaired by the Customs Commissioner?
CBEC Circular No.13/2015-Cus., Dated: April 13, 2015