Only Digital
Signature in Filing by CHAs, Shipping Cos and Airlines from 1 Jan 2016
· Trade has Option
of Manual Filing also
[CBEC Circular No. 26 dated 23rd October 2015]
Subject: Use of digital signature for submission of documents.
Attention is invited to Board Circular No. 10/2015- Customs dated
31.03.2015 which lays guidelines for use of digital signature certificates for
submission through remote EDI filing of customs process documents viz. Bill of
Entry, Shipping Bill , Import General Manifest (IGM), Export General Manifest
(EGM) by importers, exporters, Customs brokers, airlines and their agents, with
effect from 01.04.2015.
2. In terms of Board
Circular No 10/2015–Customs, dated 31.03.2015, importers registered under Accredited Client
Programme (ACP) are mandatorily required to file
Bills of Entry with digital signature with effect from 01.05.2015.Wherever the
customs process documents are digitally signed, the Customs will not insist on
the user to physically sign the said documents.
1.
In order to
increase coverage of digitally signed documents and subsequent phasing out of
physical /manual submission of documents, Board has decided that all importers,
exporters using services of Customs Brokers for formalities under Customs Act,
1962, shipping lines and air lines shall file customs documents under digital
signature certificates mandatorily with effect from 01.01.2016. The importers/
exporters desirous of filing Bill of Entry or Shipping Bill individually may
however have the option of filing declarations/ documents without using digital
signature. Further, wherever the customs process documents are digitally
signed, the Customs will not insist on the user to physically sign the said
documents.
4. All Chief Commissioners
of Customs should issue suitable instruction to staff working under their
charges for adherence to these guidelines. Further, wide publicity may be given
to trade and stakeholders for smooth implementation of aforementioned
guidelines.
1.
Difficulty, faced
if any, may be brought to the notice of the Board.
F.No. 450/2/2015- Dir( Cus ) ( Pt)