Courier Companies Allowed to Outsource
Operations
[CBEC Circular No. 59 dated 2nd
December 2016]
Subject: Outsourcing
by an authorized Courier.
Kind reference is drawn to regulation 13(j) of Courier
Imports and Exports (Clearance) Regulations, 1998 wherein an authorized Courier is obligated
not to subcontract/ outsource functions permitted or required to be carried out
by him in terms of the said regulations to any other person, without the
written permission of the Commissioner of Customs.
2. In this regard, Express Industry Council of
India has represented to the Board that it is experiencing difficulty in
obtaining permission each time if they want to outsource any of the components
in the door to door supply chain. EICI has further elaborated on the subject by
saying that it is not viable and efficient for a courier operator to own entire
supply chain and seek permission each time.
3. Board has examined the issue in the light of
the comments received from the field formations. As per the said regulations,
an authorised courier means a person engaged in the international
transportation of the goods on express door to door delivery basis and is
registered in this behalf by the Principal Commissioner of Customs or
Commissioner of Customs. The condition of taking permission for outsourcing
activities in the sub-regulation (j)
of the Regulation 13 is to ensure the integrity of the supply chain and also to
protect the interests of the revenue.
4. An authorised courier performs varieties of
activities during the process of assessment and clearance of the goods followed
by delivery at the door. Some of these are core activities and critical to his
role as an authorised courier whereas some are non-core activities. Like other
sectors, it is understandable that an authorised courier would like to
outsource some its non-core activities without the rigour of obtaining
permission each time.
5. In view of this, Board is of the view that
relaxation from such permission merits consideration with regard to certain
components of the supply chain before entry inwards/after clearance of the
imported courier shipments and before carting in/after 'Let Export' of the
export shipments. Accordingly, Board has decided that for functions namely pick-up
or local delivery of export/imported courier packages/shipments, transportation
for officials and housekeeping activities permission will not be required.
Prior intimation would suffice. Needless to add, the authorised courier will
ensure that due diligence is exercised and necessary checks carried out before
outsourcing these activities.
F.No.450/178/2015-Cus IV