De-notification of Inland Container
Depots/Container Freight Stations/Air Freight Stations
Providing relief to custodians of Inland
Container Depots (ICDs) and Container Freight Stations (CFSs) across the
country, the CBIC on 17 August, 2021 streamlined the procedure of closure of
these facilities in maximum of four months only. No timeline was specified
earlier.
ICDs and CFS play a vital role in the exim trade as they store and clear import and export goods.
These facilities are notified under the Customs Act, 1962 and are administered
by the Customs authorities. However, at times a custodian may like to close
(de-notify) the facility. The disposal of un-cleared, seized and confiscated
goods import/export are prerequisites for the de-notification. The CBIC noted
that this process was taking a long time which caused
difficulties for the custodians.
The newly issued Circular No. 20/2021-Customs
dated 16.08.2021 requires a custodian intending to wind up the operation to
submit an application to jurisdictional Principal Commissioner/Commissioner of
Customs for de-notifying the ICD/CFS. A Nodal Officer at the level of
Deputy/Assistant Commissioner of Customs would then facilitate the
de-notification by coordinating the disposal of the goods lying at the facility
in a time bound manner.
The new procedure would ensure undue cost and
time over runs are avoided. Importantly, the de-notification shall be completed
within a maximum of four months from the date of receipt of complete
application. This is yet another trade facilitation initiative by CBIC.