'Risk management system to make export, import process easy'

Central Excise and Service Tax Commissioner of Customs Dr M Subramanyam said Rs 985 crore has been realised by the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) Department, besides concerted efforts resulted in mopping up of an additional revenue of about Rs 15 crore from various defaulters, as against the target of Rs 1,085 crore for the year 2015-16.

Presiding over the International Customs Day programme organised by the Customs Commissionerate at the New Custom House in Panambur on Wednesday, he said the introduction of Risk Management System can facilitate 72 per cent import consignments and 82 per cent export consignments without assessment and examination.

He laid emphasis on facilitation and enforcement balance and highlighted that goods, worth Rs 5 crore, were seized, including gold, cigarettes and saffron, which were smuggled through various modus-operandi.

He said the Central Board of Excise and Customs Department have brought several procedural simplification measures in electronic delivery system, merging invoice and packing list, dispensing with self declaration form, online transfer and processing of documents in respect of some reward schemes etc into effect. CBEC has also launched a mobile app on baggage rules for the benefit of international passengers and a Facebook page has been launched for this purpose, he added.
 Subramanyam said spoke about the measures taken to reduce interface and transaction costs to make Indian goods competitive in the international market. Providing details on trade facilitation measures taken by the Customs Department, the commissioner said the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has declared this year as the year of tax payers services and a separate Directorate of Tax Payer Services has been set up to give thrust to this area.

The outstanding contribution of the trade was recognised by the Customs Commissionerate and awards under different categories were presented to importers, exporters and customs brokers. They included Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Ruchi Soya Industries Limited, Olam Agro India Limited, Delta Infralogistics (worldwide), Sunrich Group, Cargolinks, Interocean Shipping, J M Baxi and Company and Bengal Tiger Line.

Asha Deep Pai, the Special Public Prosecutor, was awarded with certificate of appreciation for her outstanding contribution to the Customs department. Commendation Certificates were awarded to the outstanding officers and staff. Prizes for various competitions held on account of International Customs Day were also distributed on the occassion.

Commissioner of Police M Chandra Sekhar was the chief guest and Yakshagana artist Kadri Navaneet Shetty was the guest of honour.