Circular No. 75 dated 28^th June 1995

A reference has been received from some of the Commissioners of Customs pointing out that the procedure laid down in Para 2.4 of Ministry's Customs House is to accept the Bond/ Bank Guarantee, which is to be executed by the importer for goods imported under the Exemption Notification Nos. 79/95, and 80/95 dated 31.3.95. Different Custom Houses are reported to be following different practices, which may result in the importers having to execute more than One Bond/Bank guarantee if the goods are imported at more than one Port.

2.      The matter has been examined in the Ministry and it has been decided that with a view to remove any inconvenience which the importers/ exporters have to face on this account, and also to ensure more effective monitoring of the export obligation by the Customs House, the Bond/Bank Guarantee must be taken by the Custom House in which the application for advance Licence/ DEEC Book is registered by the exporter. Where the goods are imported at a Port other than the Port of Registration, the Customs House, which issues the Telegraphic Release Advice (TRA), will take the Bond/ Bank Guarantee and endorse the facts of the amount of the Bond/ Bank Guarantee taken on the TRA issued by it to the Port of Clearance. The Port of Clearance/ Customs House must after making the endorsement in the DEEC Book Part I (Import) Part C and Part D, intimate by Telex the particulars of the duty-free materials imported as entered in Part D of the DEEC Book to the Customs House where the DEEC Book is registered. Tile Customs House where the DEEC Book is registered, must issue the TRA only after the Bond/ Bank Guarantee has been executed by the importer.

3.      Custom Houses should take immediate action to issue suitable standing orders/ Departmental orders for the information of the field staff. Suitable trade/ public notices may also be issued for information of the trade. Copies of the same should be sent to Director (Drawback) and DGIACCE.