Review of Circular on Measures to facilitate trade during lockdown period u/s 143AA of Customs Act

Review of Circular on Measures to facilitate trade during lockdown period u/s 143AA of Customs Act.

Circular No. 21/2020-Customs

F.No.473/02/2020-LC
Department  of Revenue
(Central  Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs)
*****

North Block, New Delhi
Dated 21st April, 2020

To
All Principal Chief Commissioners/Chief Commissioners of Customs/ Customs (Preventive),
All Principal Chief Commissioners/Chief Commissioners of Customs & Central tax,
All Principal Commissioners/ Commissioners of Customs/ Customs (Preventive), All Principal Commissioners/ Commissioners of Customs & Central tax,

Subject : Review of Circular No. 17/2020 dated 03.04.2020 namely, ‘Measures to facilitate trade during the lockdown period- section 143AA of the Customs Act, 1962’- reg.

Madam /Sir,

Kind attention is invited to Board’s Circular No. 17/2020 dated 03.04.2020 on ‘Measures to facilitate trade during the lockdown period – section 143AA of the Customs Act, 1962‘ wherein relaxation was given to accept an undertaking in lieu of a bond required during customs clearance upto 30.04.2020, subject to conditions as underlined in the circular. The said circular was issued in the context of lockdown announced by the Government for the period 25.03.2020 to 14.04.2020 due to COYID-19 pandemic.

2. In the background of the recent announcement  by the Government extending the lockdown till 03.05.2020 and taking into consideration that it might take sometime after the end of the lockdown for the situation to normalise,  the Board has decided to further extend the facility of accepting undertaking in lieu of bond for the period till 15.05.2020. Consequently, the date for submission  of proper  bond  in  lieu  of  which  the  undertaking  is being temporarily accepted is extended till 30.05.2020. This relaxation will be reviewed by the Board at the end of the lockdown period.

3. Furthermore , in reference to para 3(ii) of the circular, the undertaking in lieu of bond is to be submitted by the registered email ID of the IEC holder or their authorised Customs Broker. In addition to this requirement, but not in substitution, customs zones may prescribe uploading of the undertaking on  e-Sanchit.

4. With the exception of the above, all other conditions underlined in Circular 17/2020 dated 03.04.2020 stand as they arc.

5. Suitable Trade Notice/Standing Order may be issued to guide the trade and industry. Difficulty, if any, faced in implementation of this circular may  be brought to the notice of Board immediately.

(Bullo Mamu)
OSD (LC)

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