Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Excise & Customs
Circular No.22 / 2010-Customs
159-A, North Block,
New Delhi – 110001.
26th July, 2010.
To
All Chief Commissioners of Customs / Customs (Prev).
All Commissioners of Customs (Airport).
All Commissioners of Customs (Port).
All Commissioners of Customs & Central Excise.
Subject Import of ‘Worn Clothing’ –- Instructions -
regarding.
Sir / Madam,
Import of ‘worn clothing and other worn articles’ is restricted under ITC(HS)
vide
DGFT Notification No.7/2004-09 with effect from 27.10.2004. Accordingly,
Board had earlier instructed vide F.No.R-865/M/Cus/05 dated the 14th March, 2005
that the adjudicating officers while adjudicating such cases should fix maximum
fine / penalty as per the Customs Act, 1962 so that it will be a deterrent for
the unscrupulous importers to clear the same. However, it appears that ‘worn clothings’ are still being imported unauthorisedly in large scale and such
consignments are being allowed clearance by Customs on payment of nominal fine
and penalty. As a result, it is reported that domestic new clothing industries
in India are badly affected.
- In this regard, the Committee on Petitions (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) has made
a recommendation that the increasing tendency of import of such worn clothing
needs to be curbed. The Board has, accordingly, decided to reiterate that being
a restricted item under ITC (HS), the import of ‘worn clothing’ should be
adjudicated and fine in lieu of confiscation and penalty imposed keeping in view
the ‘margin of profit’ on such unauthorized import and also the fact that such
consignments should not get cleared by paying only nominal fine and penalty in
future.
- As recommended by the Committee on Petitions, the Board has also considered
the possible health hazard associated with such imports and hence, decided that
consignment of ‘used / worn clothing’ will be given clearance by the Customs
authorities only after proper fumigation of the consignment. The cost of
fumigation will have to be borne by the concerned importers.
- The Customs field formations under your charge should be suitably sensitized
for strict compliance of these instructions. Any laxity on the part of Customs
officials in this regard will be viewed seriously.
- These instructions may be brought to the notice of all concerned by way of
issuance of suitable Public Notice / Standing Order.
- Difficulties, if any, in implementation of the Circular may be brought
immediately to the notice of the Board.
Yours faithfully,
( R. P. Singh )
Director (Customs)
Internal circulation as usual.
F.No.401/150/2010-Cus-III