Sub:  Delay in furnishing reply to the Queries raised by the Department- reg.

Trade facilitation has been accorded priority by the Government since it is critical for Ease of Doing Business in India. The progress in Ease of Doing Business is being monitored at the highest level.

In order to facilitate genuine trade and to reduce dwell time, it is necessary to streamline the procedures at every stage of assessment till out of charge of goods is given by Proper Officer of Customs. Increasing number of queries and resultant delay in assessment process is a matter of concern. 

The matter has been examined in the Board. Accordingly, it is decided that genuine clarification sought by officers from importers/exporters are raised in one go and not in a piece meal manner. Further, it is also desirable that field formation could consider listing of the queries frequently raised in course of assessment and disseminate them through Public Notice or sensitize trade about the same so that importers could take preventive action to avoid such queries or be better prepared to reply to such queries.

Board also desires that the time taken after answering the queries should further be curtailed and in fact documents that are delayed are accorded priority after receipt of satisfactory reply from importers. Suitable sensitization of importers about most common errors are considered so that avoidable delays in completion of reassessment by proper officer may be avoided in future.  Officers are instructed strictly adhere to aforementioned guidelines.

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