System-generated examination orders for B/E introduced

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has introduced system-generated centralized examination orders for bills of entry (BE) in a phased manner, in case of risk-based selection for examination after assessment. The idea is to bring about uniformity in the examination of imported goods. The first phase will commence from today for ferrous base metals falling under Chapter 72 and 73 of the Customs Tariff.  
 

Under the new procedure, after processing BE data, Risk Management System (RMS) will generate a consolidated examination order for each selected BE based on potential risks. An RMS-generated examination order would include percentage of containers to be examined,  selected area/part(s) in a given container and percentage of goods in the selected area/part(s) to be examined, Item  level instructions and additional examination instruction, if any. While the BE will be selected for examination depending on risk associated with various items in a BE, the examination will depend on the nature of the cargo and mode of packing. In case of full container loads (FCL), selection for the examination will be at two levels. First, the selection of the containers and then the  area/part selected within those selected containers. For less than container load (LCL) cargo, bulk cargo, and shipments through air and land, where container number  is not available,  only the percentage of  goods to be  examined  will  be communicated to  shed/examining  officers for  physical examination,  along  with  item specific examination order.
 

Where the RMS picks a BE for ‘assessment and examination’, an examination order will be generated by RMS but the BE will be routed to the shed through the Faceless Assessment Group (FAG). While the assessing officer  will  have the flexibility to add any other relevant examination order/instruction, any such additional examination instruction will be given only in exceptional cases when deemed necessary, with the approval of the respective Deputy/Assistant Commissioner (AC/DC) of Customs. Where the RMS picks a BE for ‘examination only’, the BE will directly flow to the shed/examining officer for necessary examination   as per RMS-generated examination order. Where the RMS picks a BE for ‘assessment only’, the assessing officer will have the option to give an examination order only in exceptional cases, when deemed necessary, with the approval of the AC/DC.
 

FAG officers will give any additional examination order/instruction, if necessary, to complement the RMS generated examination order, only in exceptional cases. Shed/examining officers will strictly follow the RMS-generated examination orders or other examination orders/instructions given by the  FAG officer and physically examine the  selected containers and the relevant  selected areas/parts as specified in the  examination order. Any deviation from RMS-generated examination orders  will require the prior approval of the Joint/Additional Commissioner of Customs designated by the jurisdictional Commissioner of Customs.
 

Under its ‘Turant Customs’ programme aimed at providing a ‘faceless, contactless and paperless’ Customs administration, the CBIC has introduced a number of initiatives that leverage technology in order to enhance the efficiency in the Customs clearance processes thereby facilitating speedy clearances, transparency in decision making, ease of doing business and lesser physical interface with the officials. These initiatives include, amongst others, automated clearances of BE, digitization of Customs documents, paperless clearance, faceless assessment and establishment of Turant Suvidha Kendra at various Customs stations. The new procedure of centralized examination of orders is one more initiative to make import clearances easier.

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