Customs Circular No. 66 dated 8^th October 2002

I am directed to invite your attention to the Board�s Circular No. 84/ 2001-Cus. dated 21^st December, 2001  on the above subject. Vide this Circular, it was conveyed that CT-3 and procurement certificates to the EOUs and units in EPZ/ STP/ ETHP/ SEZ except for those in textile and chemical sector would be issued by the jurisdictional Superintendent of Customs or Central Excise.

2.     Representations have been received from the textile units and units in Chemical Sector that they are facing difficulties in getting procurement certificates and CT-3 from the jurisdictional Asstt. Commissioner/ Dy. Commissioner.  It has been pointed out that the representatives of the units have to travel long distances to obtain these certificates. In the process, a lot of time is wasted, resulting in delay in clearance of import consignments and procurement of indigenous goods.

3.     In order to mitigate the difficulties being faced by the EOUs in textiles and chemical sector, it has been decided that henceforth, the procurement certificates for clearance of import consignments would be issued to the EOUs and units in EPZ/ SEZ in textile and chemical sector by Superintendent of Customs/ Central Excise.  Further, CT-3 certificates to EOUs in textile and chemical sector would also be issued by the jurisdictional Range Officer instead of the Asstt. Commissioner/ Deputy Commissioner. However, the procurement certificate and CT-3 may be issued only to the units having clean track record. The Assistant Commissioner/ Deputy Commissioner of Customs/ Central Excise may examine all cases of request from EOUs/ EPZ/ SEZ units on merits and delegate the powers of issuing procurement certificate and CT-3 to the Range Officers. In cases of doubt, they may refer the cases to the jurisdictional Commissioners for decision. After a decision has been taken by the Assistant Commissioner/ Deputy Commissioner, the jurisdictional Range Officer would issue procurement certificates and CT-3 to the EOUs/ EPZ/ SEZ units in all cases, but would obtain post facto approval of the Assistant Commissioner/ Deputy Commissioner in charge.

4.     The Chief Commissioners and Commissioners may ensure that the various instructions issued by the Board from time to time for proper monitoring and checking the misuse of EOU/ EPZ/ STP/ ETHP Schemes are strictly followed by the field officers under their charge. In this connection, the instructions issued vide Circular No. 88/98-Cus, dated 2-12-1998 and Board�s letter F. No. 305/ 119/ 2000-FTT dated 17^th October, 2000 and Member (Custom)�s d.o. letter F. No. 305/ 139/ 2001-FTT dated 19-10-2001 refer. 

5.     The   Board�s Circular No.84/2001-Cus dated 21^st December, 2001 stands modified upto the above extent.

6.     Wide publicity may be given to the above changes by issue of a Public Notice in this regard.

7.     Difficulties, if any, faced in implementation of the above changes may be brought to the notice of the Board at an early date.

Kindly acknowledge receipt of this Circular.