Import Process & Timings at Mumbai Air Cargo Customs

Air Cargo Customs, Mumbai, requires quick decision-making and efficient delivery systems to enable importers and exporters to receive or ship their goods on time. This is particularly important due to the urgency of imports and exports. Additionally, the demurrage charges of MIAL and NACIL are higher compared to those at seaports. Therefore, the trade requires special facilities based on the urgency of the goods being imported or exported. In this context, trade facilitation measures play an important role at ACC, as illustrated below:

• Export of goods is permitted until 10:00 PM.
• Delivery of imported goods can be made until 11:30 PM.
• Goods of perishable nature are attended to round the clock.
• A Direct Delivery system is in place for certain categories of goods and is available 24/7.
• Export cargo examination is carried out until 10:00 PM, while import cargo examination is conducted until 8:00 PM.
• It is ensured that goods registered for examination are attended to on the same day.

Public Relations and Trade Facilitation at Air Cargo Customs

At Air Cargo Customs, Mumbai, two Customs Public Relations Officers (PROs) handle distinct areas of responsibility to ensure smooth operations. One PRO, from the Appraising Cadre, focuses on addressing trade-related issues such as the assessment and examination of export and import cargo and co-ordinates with all functionaries whenever necessary. The second PRO functions in the unaccompanied baggage division, providing assistance and guidance to passengers with baggage-related concerns. The appointment of officers from various cadres as PROs has proven highly effective in resolving public grievances, which is essential for the quick clearance of goods.

The Trade Facilitation Committee holds meetings every two weeks, led jointly by both Commissioners. These meetings bring together key stakeholders from across ACC, including MIAL, NACIL, Airlines, BMC (Octroi), State Bank of India, Canara Bank, Customs House Agents, and senior trade representatives. All trade-related issues are discussed in detail, and the Commissioners take immediate action to resolve Customs-related matters, or direct the appropriate authorities to address them promptly.

The minutes of each meeting are recorded and uploaded to the Air Cargo Customs website. Actions taken are reviewed at the next meeting, ensuring that any grievances from stakeholders are addressed efficiently and effectively. This process fosters a proactive approach to trade facilitation and customer service.

Enhanced Procedures for Streamlining Import Clearance and Issue Resolution

• To expedite the smooth clearance of import cargo, early registration of goods has been insisted upon. For import goods to be examined, the deadline for registration is 6:30 PM. For import goods by RMS, facilitated without assessment and examination, the time-limit for registration is 7:00 PM. One appraiser/superintendent has been asked to stay back until all out-of-charge documents are signed. In this regard, Facility Notice No. 1/2010 has been issued.
• A procedure has been set up for re-crediting excess duty paid on account of two payments: one through e-payment and the other through manual challan. In this regard, Facility No. 2/2010 has been issued.
• The importers were facing difficulties in noting the manual Bill of Entry. A revised procedure has been set up in this regard, and the same has been conveyed in Facility Notice No. 3/2010.
• The trade was facing problems due to the late receipt of test reports for textile articles from laboratories. Facility Notice No. 6/2010 has been issued in this regard.
• Importers were facing problems when the importer’s copy of the EDI Bill of Entry was lost/misplaced. Facility Notice No. 07/2010 has been issued, depicting the procedure for the issuance of duplicate Bill of Entry/Certificate.

Enhanced Services and Improvements in Air Cargo Customs

Air Cargo Customs has launched several “value-added services” that are available on its website, such as providing the status of Bills of Entry and Shipping Bills at all stages of clearance through daily e-mails to subscribers. Currently, there are approximately 200 subscribers who are using our paid services on the website. A Web Manager has been appointed to update the website on a continuous basis.

A separate Customs Laboratory has been set up at ACC with effect from 1999. This will help expedite test results and reduce delays, which previously occurred when samples were sent to the Mumbai Custom House. Importers and exporters are also free to have goods tested at other government-approved private laboratories, if needed.

To expedite the movement of cargo and enable next-day clearances, break bulk operations have been allowed around the clock since October 2000. After offloading, cargo is moved directly from the aircraft to the import shed, instead of via the airlines’ warehouses. The delivery timing for import cargo has been extended to 11:00 P.M. from the earlier 8:00 P.M. Whenever there is a heavy volume of cargo to be cleared, delivery is allowed until 12:00 midnight.

Enhancements in Customs Clearance and Trade Facilitation

• To facilitate faster clearance and usher in an era of voluntary compliance in line with the Kyoto Conventions, the ‘Accredited Clients’ Programme (ACP) has been launched at an all-India level as part of the Risk Management System (RMS). A total of 311 ACP clients were registered with RMS as of 01.05.2012.
• The EDI centre has been made operational round the clock. This ensures greater system stability, reducing delays caused by system failures, enabling the timely submission of IGMs, and allowing report generation at night. This, in turn, frees up system resources during the daytime (reducing response time for assessment and clearance).
• The new Electronic Display Systems have been installed to ensure that the information regarding trade-related facilitation measures are immediately accessible to the trade.
• IGMs, CGMs, EGMs, Bills of Entry, and Shipping Bills are now filed online remotely through ICEGATE.
• A ‘Help Desk’ has been set up in EDI, operating round the clock. The Help Desk provides assistance to all EDI users in filing Bills of Entry through ICEGATE or in filing IGMs online, among other services.
• For the first time in India, the export of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) through ACC to foreign-going aircraft under the Advance Authorization Scheme has been initiated. As per Para 4.1.3 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-2009, announced on 01.04.2006, the supply of stores on board foreign-going vessels/aircraft was permitted under the Advance Authorization Scheme, subject to the condition that such stores were specified in SION, ATF. Accordingly, S.O. No. 32/2006 dated 23.12.2006 was issued to implement this policy. For the time being, such ATF exports under the Advance Authorization Scheme are allowed under the Manual Shipping Bill.
• Online processing of Shipping Bills through the EDI system was introduced for perishable cargo at ACC on 16.08.2007. A Facility Notice No. 13/2007 dated 19.07.2007 was issued in this regard.
• This page is accessible to bank officials at their computer terminals.
• The facility of E-payment of Customs duty for importers and CHAs was introduced on 20.06.2007 through State Bank of India, and on 01.12.2007 through Canara Bank. Other Customs duty-collecting banks are expected to follow soon. During the financial year 2011-12, 16.87% of revenue collected through EDI Challans was made via E-payment.
• In July 2012-13, 38.10% of revenue collected through EDI Challans was made via E-payment.