The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on Monday issued the procedure for a Pilot on Transhipment of Export Cargo from Bangladesh to third countries through Land Customs Stations (LCS) to Kolkata Port / Airport, in containers or closed bodied trucks. Earlier the Board issued the Circular dated November 2, 2018, so as to facilitate the export of Bangladesh to third countries via transhipment through India. The circular introduced the transhipment facility on the pilot basis to gain experience and feedback from industries, so as to frame a facilitative regulation with adequate safeguards. The last extension granted to the circular was till June 30, 2020.
“After reviewing the utilization and other relevant aspects, and with a view to facilitating trade, the Board has decided to continue the facility under Circular 42/2018-Customs,” the circular said. “Regulation 7 of SCMTR2018 prescribes a form for the purposes of transhipment and transit of goods from a seaport to a land customs station and vice-versa. Hence, the movement of Bangladesh to third-country export cargo from land customs stations to seaports as specified in the Table at Para 1, shall be guided by SCMTR 2018 from date of its implementation,” the Board clarified. The Board has drawn the attention to regulation 0 of the SCMTR 2018 which mandates the authorized carrier to provide track and trace facility for locating goods brought for transhipment, Regulation 9 of SCMTR2018 provides for scaling of cargo meant for transhipment by land route. It is clarified that presently the electronic cargo tracking system (ECTS) and ECTS seals are being provided by M/s Transecur Telematics Private Limited (wwww.transecur.com) under ADB’s Pilot Program for monitoring of traffic in transit of Nepal. The authorized carriers have an option to use the same for transhipment of goods from Bangladesh. in absence of any other facility.
Source: Tax Scan
