Govt extends 24x7 customs clearance facility for export cargo

NEW DELHI: With an aim to boost exports, the Finance Ministry today said customs clearance of all export goods will take place on 24x7 basis from four major air cargo complexes at Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai from July 1.

"All exports including those made under export incentives scheme as well as duty drawback scheme will now be able to be move out of the country on 24x7 basis," Finance Ministry said in a statement.

Government expects this initiative to greatly facilitate the exporting community and boost the country's exports by reducing dwell time and enabling exporters to meet their deadlines, it added.

The expansion of the 24x7 facility at the four major air cargo complexes /airports follows closely on the heels of similar customs clearance facility for exports made under Free Shipping Bills (without claiming export incentives) with effect from June 1, 2013 from thirteen air cargo complexes/airports.

These 13 air cargo complexes/airports are Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Cochin, Calicut, Coimbatore, Goa, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Nashik, Vishakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram.

The extension of 24x7 customs clearance facility for imports and exports has been under consideration by the government for some time, the statement said.

The customs had began functioning on 24x7 basis to clear select export consignments under Free Shipping Bills as well as identified import consignments which were facilitated by its Electronic Risk Assessment System from September 1, 2012