CBIC Chairs Meeting in
Bengaluru
·
CCG comprises prominent representatives
from industry chambers such as CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, FIEO, MAIT, NASSCOM, PHDCCI,
STPI, as well as associations of logistics partners, including, customs
brokers, freight forwarders, liquid bulk cargo handlers, port operators, and
banks
·
A
total of 181 agenda points were sponsored by stakeholders and deliberated upon
during the two-day event.
·
Previous
CCG meeting held in November 2024, during which 116 out of 136 agenda points
were successfully addressed through policy circulars, operational instructions,
and the development of new subsystems under ICEGATE, the Customs clearance
gateway.
·
The
CCG is the apex national platform for deliberation on all matters concerning
customs clearance of merchandise in international trade.
·
A
total of 181 agenda points were sponsored by stakeholders and deliberated upon
during the two-day event.
·
CCG
meeting held in November 2024, during which 116 out of 136 agenda points were
successfully addressed through policy circulars, operational instructions, and
the development of new subsystems under ICEGATE, the Customs clearance gateway.
·
Discharge
of bulk liquid cargo, enabling optimal utilization of limited port storage
infrastructure.
·
Standard
Operating Procedure (SOP) for duty drawback claims on jewellery sold at
international exhibitions.
·
Review
of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) framework for enhanced trade
facilitation.
·
Collaboration
between CBIC and the Department of Posts to support small exporters.
·
Complete
shift to the e-Bank Guarantee module to simplify regulatory compliance
procedures.
·
Field-level
studies to assess specific trade concerns and identify avenues for further
facilitation.
·
The
Chairman of JNPT provided an update on the proposed mega-port project at
Vadhvan, Maharashtra.
The
19th meeting of the Customs Consultative Group (CCG) was held on July 2-3,
2025, in Bengaluru under the chairmanship of Surjit Bhujabal, Member (Customs),
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Ministry of Finance.
Since
2011, the CCG is the apex national platform for
deliberation on all matters concerning customs clearance of merchandise in
international trade. The Group comprises prominent representatives from
industry chambers such as CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, FIEO, MAIT, NASSCOM, PHDCCI,
STPI, as well as associations of logistics partners including customs brokers,
freight forwarders, liquid bulk cargo handlers, port operators, and banks. This
year 35 Export Promotion Councils and two associations representing the air
freight sector were also inducted into the CCG.
The
meeting witnessed active participation from senior officials of CBIC and its
field formations, along with representatives from RBI, DGFT, Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
(DPIIT), Department of Posts, Ministry of Shipping, Airport Authority of India,
Central Pollution Control Board, Animal Quarantine Department, Central Drugs
Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), and the Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India (FSSAI).
During
interaction, Surjit Bhujabal emphasised the critical role played by CCG in
enhancing trade facilitation and fostering an enabling environment for ease of
doing business. He noted that the CCG has proven to be a model of responsive
governance, bringing about both policy-level and operational changes. He cited
the previous CCG meeting held in November 2024, during
which 116 out of 136 agenda points were successfully addressed through policy
circulars, operational instructions, and the development of new subsystems
under ICEGATE, the Customs clearance gateway.
Mr.
Bhujabal further highlighted the alignment of CCG’s work with the National
Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP), which synergizes multi-ministerial
efforts on trade infrastructure, policies, and regulatory frameworks.
Key
decisions taken during the meeting included:
·
Introduction
of a new policy on the discharge of bulk liquid cargo,
enabling optimal utilization of limited port storage infrastructure.
·
Development
of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for duty
drawback claims on jewellery sold at international exhibitions.
·
Review
of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) framework for enhanced trade
facilitation.
·
Strengthening
collaboration between CBIC and the Department of Posts
to support small exporters.
·
Complete
shift to the e-Bank Guarantee module to simplify regulatory compliance
procedures.
·
Agreement
to conduct field-level studies to assess specific trade
concerns and identify avenues for further facilitation.
Several
sector-specific presentations were also made during the meeting. The Gems &
Jewellery Export Promotion Council presented insights into the lab-grown
diamond sector. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) detailed the Quality
Control Orders (QCO) framework and offered guidance to trade stakeholders on
compliance. The Department of Posts showcased the work done by the Dak Ghar
Niryat Kendra, a national initiative supporting small exporters, jointly
implemented by DoP and CBIC. Additionally, the Chairman
of JNPT provided an update on the proposed mega-port project at Vadhvan,
Maharashtra.
The
19th CCG meeting reaffirmed CBIC’s commitment to continuous stakeholder
engagement, policy responsiveness, and further streamlining of India’s
international trade ecosystem.