Circular No.:28 / 2010-Customs

F.No.528/16/2008-Cus (TU)

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Revenue

Central Board of Excise & Customs

159A, North Block,

New Delhi-110001

13^th August, 2010

To

All Chief Commissioners of Customs / Customs (Prev.).

All Chief Commissioners of Customs & Central Excise.

All Commissioners of Customs / Customs (Prev.).

All Commissioners of Customs & Central Excise.

All Director Generals under CBEC.

Subject:  Import of goods under Notification No.13/2010-Customs dated 19.2.2010 for Commonwealth Games, 2010– regarding.

 Sir / Madam,

Attention is invited to Notification No.13/2010-Customs dated 19.2.2010 granting exemption from customs duty on specified goods imported into India for the purpose of organizing the Commonwealth Games to be held in October, 2010 in New Delhi. In this regard, references have been received from the Organizing Committee Commonwealth Games, 2010 Delhi (OC, CWG) regarding difficulties faced by importers other than the importers specified in the Notification No.13/2010-Customs dated 19.2.2010 as they are not covered under the scope of the said Notification. As a result a large number of consignments are pending clearance at different ports in the country causing delay in smooth organisation of the game. It was therefore requested that a suitable clarification may be issued by the Board in this regard.

2.The matter has been examined in the Board in consultation with representatives of OC, CWG, Prasad Bharti and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Accordingly, the Board has decided that in order to ensure expeditious clearances of all consignments already imported and pending clearances at various Ports/ICDs, the following steps may be taken :

(i) OC CWG or Prasar Bharti, as the case may be, will apply to Customs for NOC/Permission to amend the import documents viz. IGM and Bill of Lading/Airway Bill to include itself as the importer in place of the contractors/vendors/sub-vendors.  This application will be accompanied by a NOC from the importer on record i.e. contractors/vendors/sub-vendors of OC CWG/ PrasarBharti as the case may be.

(ii)Customs will expeditiously grant the requested NOC/Permission after which the OC CWG or Prasar Bharti, as thecase may be, shall approach the shipping line/airline concerned for amending the IGM/Bill of Lading by following…the…prescribed…procedure.

(iii)Customs will use its good offices to request the shipping line/airline to expedite the required amendment as per procedure.

(iv) OC CWG or Prasar Bharti, as the case may be, and importer on record will suitably endorse the invoice.

(v)  After necessary amendments in the Bill of Lading/Airway Bill and IGM, the Customs will accept the request of OC CWG or Prasar Bharti, as the case may be, and the former importer on record i.e. contractors/vendors/sub-vendors to amend the Bill of Entry to reflect the OC CWG or Prasar Bharti, as the case may be, as the new importer. In the event a Bill of Entry has not already been filed, OC CWG or Prasar Bharti as the case may be, will file the same in its own name.

(vi) Besides fulfilling all legal requirements (licensing requirements, IEC requirement etc.) OC CWG or Prasar Bharti, as the case may be, will furnish an undertaking in term of Notification No.13/2010- Customs dated 19.02.2010 as per Annexure(s).  This undertaking ensures adherence to the conditions of the said Notification and in the event of failure to do so, OC CWG or Prasar Bharti, as the case may be, will pay the duty on the imported goods.

(vii) Customs will allow clearance of the imported goods after ensuring adherence to the normal import clearance procedure but at the same time take care that there is no delay on its part since the clearance are for the CWG, which is an event of national importance.

3. Suitable Public Notice / Standing Order may be issued for wide publicity and to guide trade and field officials.

4. Difficulty faced, if any, may be brought to notice of the Board.

Yours faithfully,

(R. P. Singh)

Director(Customs)

Click here for

1. Annexure I

2. Annexure II