System to simplify customs clearance

NEW DELHI: In an attempt to simplify the cumbersome procedure of obtaining customs clearance, the department has designed an electronic data interface (EDI) that will reduce interaction between traders and officials.
Though the paperless and automatic Indian Customs EDI System (ICES) primarily benefits importers and exporters, its modified version will start covering personal baggage of travellers in a few months, say senior customs officials.
Commissioner, directorate of systems, Joginder Singh said: "It started as a small pilot project in 1995. After its success, the system has been implemented in 23 customs locations. It has been developed with the help of the National Informatics Centre."
The system will ensure electronic filing of goods'' declaration, messaging with banks for collection of duties and disbursal of duty drawback and single point of interface of trade with customs.
Commissioner (airport) R K Gupta said, "With reduced interface between customs officials and traders, there will be fewer incidents of harassment and corruption."
The ICES will also inter-connect all 12 agencies - airlines, Reserve Bank of India, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Airports Authority of India (AAI) etc - electronically.
"The customs department is responsible for nearly two million transactions per annum," said a senior official.
"So the purpose of the system is to expedite transactions, promote transparency in the working of customs house and be accountable at every stage of processing. It will also track the time taken by every officer for processing each declaration," added Singh.
"Also, earlier senior officers were not able to easily access bulk files on goods'' transactions. But now they can access every file with the press of a button," he said.
Singh said: "The project for the time-being does not cover tourists and visitors but computerisation of personal baggage, which forms only a small part of revenue, will be done in next stage."
"Another project which is being set up is an EDI Gateway to provide reliable framework to customs for exchange of electronic messages with its EDI partners or other agencies," said another senior official.
The Gateway project will enable importers and exporters to file their declarations from their offices to any of the custom houses through the internet.
"The entire process will be done after issuing certified digital signature. Interactive voice response systems (IVRS) will facilitate importers and exporters to ascertain the status of their bill of entry or shipping bill. It will guide the caller to accurately determine the status of the shipment," he said.
For more information about rules and regulations, baggage rules, notifications, queries etc, people can visit the customs website www.cbec.gov.in.