Government cuts Customs clutter, to set up high-level clearance body

NEW DELHI: The Revenue Department has decided to set up a high-level administrative body at all seaports and airports to ensure expeditious Customs clearance of goods.

The goods are subjected to certain legal and procedural formalities before any decision is taken.

Any delay in securing the approval from one regulatory agency holds up the Customs permission, said the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC).

"Accordingly, the Board has decided to set up a Customs Clearance Facilitation Committee (CCFC) at every major Customs seaport and airport with immediate effect," it said.

The CCFC will be headed by the Chief Commissioner of Customs/Commissioner of Customs in charge of the seaport and airport concerned.

It will have as members the senior-most functionary of Food Safety Standards Authority of India/Port Health Officer, plant quarantine and animal quarantine authorities, Drug Controller of India, and Port Trust/Airport Authority of India/Custodians, and Railways/CONCOR, among others.

The CCFC has been tasked with monitoring and ensuring speedy clearance of imported and export goods in accordance with the timeline.

It has also been asked to identify and resolve bottlenecks, if any, in the clearance procedure.

"The CCFC shall meet once a week or more frequently, if considered necessary by the chair," the CBEC circular read.

The government, in recent times, has taken a number of steps to create a more friendly business environment and trade facilitation, and setting up of the CCFC is a step in that direction, it added.