With a request for Guidelines to undertake Export / Import Clearance under lockdown period at Cochin Port the Cochin Customs Brokers’ Association (CCBA) on April 3 sent a letter to the Chief Minister of Kerala. In this letter Mr Alan Jose, President, CCBA and Vice Chairman, Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India (FFFAI) maintained that the Customs Brokers fraternity is really thankful to the CM for his pre-emptive leadership during this unprecedented pandemic of COVID 19 which has affected the State and the country. “Your timely intervention and foresightedness have helped our State to control the spread of the deadly Coronavirus to a great extent. Under your efficient guidance, our health department, home department, revenue, etc. are successfully handling the crisis and we are grateful for the same,” underscored Mr Jose.
He also maintained that based on the Prime Minister’s announcement to lockdown all activities, except essential services to control this pandemic, CBs also closed all offices out of concern for themselves, their staff and families and decided to undertake clearance activities only of essential commodities viz. pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, personal protective equipment and food items required to be distributed in the state. Cochin Port Trust also mooved to the need of the hour by issuing suitable Trade Notices on 17th, 21st and 23rd March in order to avoid community outbreak of the pandemic in the Port Trust area in Willingdon Island.
“But the notifications issued by the Central and State Governments later are contradictory to one another and the Ministry of Shipping has notified to continue normal operations of Ports and Customs and then clearance activities of the cargo – general as well as essential,” he pointed out. On this CCBA had an Extra Ordinary General Meeting on 31st March 2020 through video conference and a Resolution was passed unanimously to refrain from normal work, but to take best efforts in clearing the essential cargoes and to file the documents in Customs for all general cargoes upon receipt of original documents from the exporter or importers as obligated under Customs Brokers Licencing Regulations. However, based on the instructions from the Commissioner of Customs, we had withdrawn the same.
Mr Jose further informed that a clear understanding of Essential Goods and Non Essential Goods meant by the Central Government in issuing the circular was given by Mr N. Sivasailam, Special Secretary Logistics, Department of Commerce, Government of India during the Zoom Conference organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce on April 3. According to Mr Sivasailam, permission was granted for movement of non-essential goods is only to support the manufacture and packaging of essential goods which he explained with a classic example of Milk and Plastic Granules.
“We wish to point out that for undertaking the export / import clearance work it is imperative that the associated govt. offices and private companies also function in order to complete the processing of the EXIM documentation, drawing and testing of sample and issue of test results, certificates etc. we ourselves and our staff would have to personally visit all or most of these places in order to get our work done,” he underscored.
According to Mr Jose, in Kochi CFSs, Empty Container Yards, DP World Terminal, Customs Documentation Center etc. are within a 1 km radius which could potentially become a Hotspot for COVID-19 if it enters this circuit. Government of Kerala has declared Ernakulam district as one of the Hot Spots, and considering the above facts and the COVID-19 affected cases nearby, Vallarpadom may be one of the most dangerous Red Hot Spots. Most of them are now either closed or functioning with very less staff. Most of the CBs staff would have to come from various other districts to Ernakulam to attend their work. Their movements are currently being restricted by the local administration as a part of the lockdown. For submitting documents, stuffing, transporting, etc. various categories of employees are required at all the associated offices not to mention loading unloading workers – either through the Unions or through the Kerala Head load workers welfare Board.
Mr Jose highlighted that CBs staff would be travelling from some or all of the above places and contacting / interacting with various people in the whole Logistics chain, and under the current circumstances, poses a major threat to their health and also to other people who have transactions with them. As a part of precautionary measure, Cochin Port also issued a Circular, restricting the movement in Willingdon Island and CBs staff require special permission letter from their employer along with respective ID cards to enter into the Island offices during the lockdown period.
Like other parts of the country most of the factories are closed down and Inter-state transportation is also blocked due to nationwide lockdown. Under this circumstance, CCBA sought clarifications from the CM on the following:
- Can CBs staff travel around freely as most of them are commuting from nearby districts, because local police are restricting movement due to lockdown? They wpould possess ID Cards of either Port, Customs or ICTT (DP World) and an authorisation letter from CBs.
- Other employees, drivers, etc. of Customs Brokers have to visit / contact various offices –Customs, Port, CFSs, ICTT, PQ, FSSAI, etc. for collecting various documents / certificates. Will relaxation in travelling be given to them by local authorities? What document should they produce for free movement in and around the State?
- If the employees are travelling, they are more susceptible to the Corona infection as they are coming into contact with many people. Whether all the above-mentioned govt. and private offices, CFSs, Ports Terminal, etc. will be taking ample precautionary measures to protect the personnel entering their premises.
“We request the CM’s guidance to overcome this critical situation as well as perform our duty to clear the EXIM cargo, keeping in mind the aim of lockdown is to curb the spread of Coronavirus,” he urged.
