Page 136 - DMGT546_INTERNATIONAL_TRADE_PROCEDURE_AND_DOCUMENTATION

Unit 6: Custom Clearance of Import and Export Cargo

of strength of the checklist and other declarations filed by the exporter in the Service Centre. As Notes
per customs rules and regulations, the port authorities need to endorse the quantity of goods
that have actually been received by them at customs stations on the reverse side of the Check
List.

System Appraisal of Shipping Bills

Under the EDI system, the exporter is required to make the declaration in connection to export
shipment on the computer system without any human intervention for the processing of shipping
bill in order to get the goods cleared from customs for exports. In cases where the assessing
officer is of the opinion that there is some difference in the exporter’s declaration and actual
cargo, he can demand some samples to check and confirm the declared value or ensuring the
proper classification for duty drawback schedule, even when sitting at the computer screen. If
the assessing officer has any doubt regarding the accuracy of documents submitted by the
exporter he has the right under the Customs Act 1962 to give any special instructions for
examination of goods.

Status of Shipping Bill

The exporter or his freight forwarder shall keep a tab on the query counter of the Service Centre
in order to ascertain whether the Shipping Bill as submitted by him in the computer system has
been cleared or not. He is required to crosscheck all this information before the arrival of goods
into the docks for the sake of examination and export. If the customs staff have some objection
or any query, the exporter is required to answer the same through the service centre, in case his
freight forwarder has EDI connectivity. In cases when the customs officer is satisfied, he can pass
the shipping bill for export of cargo.

Customs Examination of Export Cargo

Once the cargo has reached the dock, the exporter or his freight forwarder is required to contact
the Customs Officer who is designated for this purpose. The exporter or his representative shall
present the checklist along with other declarations and original documents such as invoice and
packing list, ARE Form, etc. The customs officer verifies the quantity of the goods actually
received and enters the same into the system and thereafter marks the Electronic Shipping Bill.
He also forwards the original documents to the dock appraiser of the dock who may assign a
customs officer for the examination of cargo. He also intimates the name and the packages to be
examined to the customs officers.
The customs officer along with the dock appraiser, inspects/examines the shipment of the
export cargo. He also puts the details of the examination report in the system. He then marks the
electronic bill along with all original documents and checklist to the dock appraiser. In cases
where the dock appraiser is satisfied that the particulars entered in the system conform to the
description given in the original documents and as seen in the physical examination, he may
proceed to allow “let export” for the shipment and inform the exporter or his agent.

Variation between the Declaration and Physical Examination

The appraising officer of the cargo retains the checklist and the declaration along with all
original documents. In cases where there is any variation between the declaration made by
exporter in the shipping bill and physical documents/examination report of customs, the

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