R K Freight Forwarders

04/04/2017

[To be published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i)]
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
(Central Board of Excise and Customs)
Notification
No. 26/2017-Customs (N.T.)
New Delhi, the 31st March, 2017
G.S.R (E). -In exercise of the powers conferred by section 157 read with section 46 of the Customs Act, 1962(52 of 1962), the Central Board of Excise and Customs hereby makes the following regulations further to amend the Bill of Entry(Electronic Integrated Declaration) Regulations, 2011, namely:-
1. (1) These regulations may be called the Bill of Entry (Electronic Integrated Declaration) Amendment Regulations, 2017.
(2)They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Bill of Entry(Electronic Integrated Declaration) Regulations,2011, the following regulation, regulation 4, shall be substituted, namely:-
“Regulation 4. (1) The authorised person shall file the bill of entry before the end of the next day following the day (excluding holidays) on which the aircraft or vessel or vehicle carrying the goods arrives at a customs station at which such goods are to be cleared for home consumption or warehousing.
(2) The bill of entry shall be deemed to have been filed and self-assessment of duty completed when, after entry of the electronic integrated declaration in the Indian Customs Electronic Data Interchange System either through ICEGATE or by way of data entry through the service centre, a bill of entry number is generated by the Indian Customs Electronic Data Interchange System for the said declaration.
(3) Where the bill of entry is not filed within the time specified in sub-regulation (1) and the proper officer of Customs is satisfied that there was no sufficient cause for such delay, the importer shall be liable to pay charges for late presentation of the bill of entry at the rate of rupees five thousand per day for the initial three days of default and at the rate of rupees ten thousand per day for each day of default thereafter:
Provided that where the proper officer is satisfied with the reasons of delay, he may waive off the charges referred to in the second proviso to sub-section (3) of section 46 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962).
(4) No charges for late presentation of Bill of Entry shall be liable to be paid where the entry inwards or arrival of cargo, as the case may be, has taken place before the date on which the Finance Bill, 2017 receives the assent of the President.”
[F.No.450/32/2016-Cus IV]
(Shaifali G. Singh)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
Note:- The Principal regulation was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section(i) vide notification number G.S.R.838(E), dated the 25th November,2011 and last amended vide notification number 45/2016- Cus(N.T.) dated 01.04.2016.

09/06/2015

Toronto
Canada has put a ban on corn imports from India. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced that it has started to hold Indian imports of feed corn so that it can be tested for aflatoxins.
According to the United States National Library of Medicine, aflatoxins are "toxins produced by a mold that grows in nuts, seeds and legumes."
Iowa State University states that aflatoxins can kill livestock and is considered carcinogenic to humans and animals.
Aflatoxins can be found in peanuts and peanut butter, tree nuts including pecans, corn, wheat and oil seeds including cottonseed.
In a release, the CFIA said the testing is effective immediately and will detain "all incoming shipments of corn imported from India, including organic corn."
Corn importers are now required to sample the corn and provide the CFIA with the results.
"Sampling must be done immediately after arrival at the Canadian destination because mold can grow and produce aflatoxins during shipping," the CFIA release said.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has begun detaining corn shipments from India after learning of high levels of aflatoxin in organic livestock feed of the crop.
A teaspoonful of biology here. Aflatoxin is known to be carcinogenic for animals and humans. Considered to be a chemical produced by mould fungi, aflatoxin sprouts on turmeric, maize, chilly, ginger and can kill livestock. It is known to be a post-harvest issue and develops when its storage is not handled as per farming and packaging standards.
Development Authority (APEDA) has expressed its ignorance about the situation. Making no bones about the development, Dr. A. K. Gupta, Director (BEDF) of APEDA, tells The Dollar Business that, "We have not got any notification regarding any such crackdown from Canada."
India has been a significant exporter of maize to Canada. Of the $182 million-plus of the Corn variety (non-seed) imported by Canada in CY2014, India accounted for almost 5% of the share. But the problem doesn't end there. In all likelihood, other importing nations will catch the warning flares above the Canadian skies. And that will mean at least $200 million in lost consignment opportunities of the product (that could have been exported), if a ban is imposed for even a quarter of a year (assuming exports to remain stagnant at CY2014 levels, ceteris paribus).
Recently, Vietnam had threatened to ban groundnut imports from India after pests were found in some consignments. Saudi Arabia had also imposed a temporary ban on green chillies from India due to the presence of high levels of pesticides. Following the ban, APEDA advised exporters to adhere to the importing countries' food safety requirements. Then there was the EU slap last year that made the Alphonso mangoes from India appear notorious! This list is long.

30/04/2015

Farmers of Mundgod taluk in the district had switched over to Alphonso mangoes to earn more profit, but this year their dreams have been shattered owing to unseasonal rain. Mundgod taluk boasts of the largest area of cultivation of Alphonso mangoes, but production has come down this year.

Assistant Horticulture Director of Mundgod, Arun H G, told Express that last year the area of production for alphonsos was 1,029 hectares and the production was 15,163 tonnes, adding “This year, Alphonsos were grown on 1,053 hectares, but the yield was just 9,270 tonnes.”

Deputy Director of Horticulture H R Naik said unseasonal rain affected the crop in Mundgod and Haliyal taluks. Under the National Horticulture Mission, the farmers have been encouraged to grow alphonso mangoes.

To make matters worse, the Mundgod farmers also face competition from farmers in Devgad and Ratnagiri, who are targeting the fruit markets in Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Mumbai and Panaji.

22/05/2014

A ban on European imports of India's Alphonso mango - prized for its perfumed aroma and buttery flesh - is drawing anger from British Indians, who say the move is unfair and deprives them of one of summer's sweetest flavours.
The "king of fruits" and other Indian mangoes were banned by the European Union from May 1 after fruit flies which officials said could threaten crops were found in shipments last year.

While a fightback has been launched, many British Indians are resigned to going without their favourite Alphonsos for now, while the businesses who supply them are losing out financially.

Ahmed Khan, working on his stall in Tooting, south London, an area with a large south Asian population, said the move would hit him hard.

"It's not fair - it's going to mean we miss out on half our mangoes this year, half our business," Khan, 55, said.

"Life is too short for politicians to interfere - I hear they are now exporting Alphonsos to Pakistan, because there is a glut and they are very cheap."

Rohit Shah, of nearby Bhavin's grocers, said the Alphonso, which can be eaten alone or used in everything from lassis to chutney, had no rival in terms of taste.

"It's the smoothness of the flesh and the unique flavour - the flesh is fibreless which is what makes them so good," said Shah, 62.

"Even during the time of the British Empire they said they were the best."

Britain, the former colonial power in India, has the EU's largest Indian diaspora community. British Indians number around 1.4 million out of a total population of some 60 million.

Citing pressure from disappointed constituents, one lawmaker raised the ban in the House of Commons last week.

Keith Vaz said British citizens consumed 12 million mangoes last year alone and predicted the ban, due to run to December 2015, could cost British businesses over USD 16.8 million.

"The EU has treated an important trading ally, which represents a sixth of the population of the globe, with disrespect," said Vaz, of the opposition Labour party, in a special debate

A ban on European imports of India's Alphonso mango is drawing anger from British Indians, who say the move is unfair and deprives them of one of summer's sweetest flavours.

12/01/2014

Trade facilitation Measures

Air Cargo Customs, Mumbai requires quick decisions and delivery systems to enable the Importers / Exporters to receive or export their goods in time. This is unique because of the urgency of the importation or exportation. Apart from this the demurrage charges of MIAL and NACIL are also higher in comparison to the Seaports. Therefore trade requires special facilities based on urgency of material imported or to be exported. In this background Trade facilitation measures play an important role at ACC illustrated as below.Export of goods is allowed up to 10.00 PM. Delivery of Imported goods can be taken upto 11.30 P.M. Goods of perishable nature are attended to round the clock. Direct Delivery system is in place for certain categories of the goods and available round the clock. Examination of export cargo is carried out upto 10.00 P.M and examination of import cargo is carried upto 8 P.M . It is ensured that goods registered for examination are attended to on the same day.There are two Customs Public Relations Officers attending to different areas of work. One PRO from Appraising Cadre looks into all Trade related problems of assessment and examination of Export and Import Cargo and co-ordinates with all functionaries whenever required. The other PRO functions in the unaccompanied baggage division and guides the passengers in baggage related matters. The posting of officers from different cadres as Public Relations Officers has proved very useful and effective in redressal of public grievances. This is important because Air Cargo Customs is meant for speedy clearance of goods.

12/06/2013

The industrial production growth has slipped to 2 per cent in April on account of dismal performance of manufacturing, mining and power sectors coupled with lower output of capital goods.

The factory output measured in terms of index of industrial production (IIP) had seen a contraction of 1.3 per cent in April last year, according to official data released on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the IIP growth rate for March this year has been revised to 3.4 per cent from the provisional estimates of 2.5 per cent released last month.

The industrial growth in 2012-13 has also been revised slightly upwards to 1.1 per cent from provisional estimates of 1 per cent released in May. IIP growth in 2011-12 was 2.9 per cent.

Manufacturing sector, which constitutes over 75 per cent of the index, grew by meagre 2.8 per cent in April against a decline in the output by 1.8 per cent in the year-ago month.

Power generation grew by just 0.7 per cent in April this year compared to a growth of 4.6 per cent in same month last year.

The mining sector output contracted by 3 per cent in April this year compared to a decline in the production by 2.8 per cent in April 2012.

The capital goods output saw a growth of just one per cent in April this year compared to a decline in production by 21.5 per cent in the year-ago period.

Overall, 13 out of the 22 industry groups in manufacturing sector have shown positive growth during April.

12/06/2013

नई दिल्ली।। अप्रैल के महीने में इंडस्ट्रियल प्रॉडक्शन इंडेक्स (आईआईपी) में गिरावट दर्ज की गई है। खनन और बिजली सभी सेक्टर्स के प्रदर्शन फीका रहने से इंडस्ट्रियल प्रॉडक्शन की वृद्धि दर अप्रैल में दो प्रतिशत रही। यह पिछले वर्ष इसी माह की तुलना में बेहतर पर इस वर्ष मार्च की तुलना में नरम है।

इंडस्ट्रियल प्रॉडक्शन इंडेक्स (आईआईपी) इस वर्ष मार्च में संशोधित आंकड़ों के अनुसार 3.4 प्रतिशत थी, जबकि पिछले साल अप्रैल में इंडस्ट्रियल प्रॉडक्शन सालाना आधार पर 1.3 प्रतिशत घटा था। पिछले माह घोषित प्राथमिक आंकड़ों में इस बार मार्च की औद्योगिक वृद्धि 2.5 प्रतिशत बताई गई थी।

संशोधित आंकड़ों में वित्त वर्ष 2012-13 की इंडस्ट्रियल प्रॉडक्शन वृद्धि के आंकड़ों को भी संशोधित कर 1.1 प्रतिशत कर दिया गया। प्रारंभिक आंकड़ों के आधार पर यह एक प्रतिशत बताया गया था। वर्ष 2011-12 में इंडस्ट्रियल प्रॉडक्शन की वृद्धि दर 2.9 प्रतिशत थी।

इंडेक्स में 75 प्रतिशत का योगदान करने वाले मैन्यूफैक्चरिंग सेक्टर की वृद्धि दर अप्रैल में 2.8 प्रतिशत रही, जबकि पिछले साल इसी महीने इस सेक्टर का प्रॉडक्शन 1.8 प्रतिशत था। कंज्यूमर गुड्स के प्रॉडक्शन की वृद्धि दर अप्रैल में 2.8 प्रतिशत रही, जबकि पिछले साल इसी महीने में यह 3.7 प्रतिशत थी।

कंज्यूमर ड्यूरेबल गुड्स की उत्पादन वृद्धि अप्रैल में 8.3 प्रतिशत घटा, जबकि 2012 के इसी माह इसमें 5.4 प्रतिशत की वृद्धि हुई थी। नॉन ड्यूरेबल गुड्स की वृद्धि दर अप्रैल में 12.3 प्रतिशत थी, जबकि पिछले साल अप्रैल में इस क्षेत्र में 2.3 प्रतिशत वृद्धि हुई थी।

सेकेंडरी क्लास प्रॉडक्ट्स का प्रॉडक्शन अप्रैल में 2.4 प्रतिशत बढ़ा था, जबकि पिछले साल के इसी माह में इस सेक्टर के प्रॉडक्शन की वृद्धि दर 1.8 प्रतिशत थी। प्राइमरी कमोडिटी इंडस्ट्री का प्रॉडक्शन मई माह में 1.3 प्रतिशत बढ़ा, जबकि अप्रैल 2012 में इस सेक्टर में यह 1.9 प्रतिशत वृद्धि हुई थी।

इलेक्ट्रिसिटी प्रॉडक्शन अप्रैल में सिर्फ 0.7 प्रतिशत बढ़ा, जबकि पिछले साल के इसी महीने में प्रॉडक्शन में 4.6 प्रतिशत की बढ़ोतरी हुई थी। खनन क्षेत्र का प्रॉडक्शन इस साल अप्रैल में तीन प्रतिशत घटा, जबकि अप्रैल 2012 में इस सेक्टर का उत्पादन 2.8 प्रतिशत घटा था।

कैपिटल प्रॉडक्ट्स के उत्पादन में इस साल अप्रैल में एक प्रतिशत की बढ़ोतरी हुई, जबकि पिछले साल इसी माह में इस सेक्टर का प्रॉडक्शन 21.5 प्रतिशत घटा था। कुल मिलाकर मैन्यूफैक्चरिंग सेक्टर के 22 औद्योगिक समूहों में से 13 में अप्रैल माह में सकारात्मक रख दिखा।

06/05/2013

Alphonso is a seasonal mango cultivation that is considered as one of the best in terms of sweetness, richness and flavor. It has considerable shelf life of a week after it is ripe making it exportable. It is also one of the most expensive kinds of mango and is grown mainly in largest region of western India. It is a seasonal fruit with each mango weighing between 150g and 300g each. This variety of mango has a very short season of about two months from the end of March till end May when the rain sets in the Konkan Region

22/11/2012

Long queue of trucks at the entrance of the air cargo complex at Mumbai International Airport

22/11/2012

http://www.cbec.gov.in/customs/cs-circulars/cs-circ12/circ22-2012-cs.htm

In order to further facilitate importers and exports the Board has decided to begin on a pilot basis 24X7 Customs clearance with effect from September 1st. 2012 (1.9.2012) at identified Air Cargo Complexes and Seaports in respect of following categories of imports and exports: