Date:16/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/03/16/stories/2005031601970900.htm

Back CBEC abolishes palletisation norm

K.R. Srivats

New Delhi , March 15

THE Finance Ministry has done away with the current norm that required airlines to obtain separate permission from the customs authorities for palletisation. This procedural relaxation may benefit airlines and result in faster clearances of outbound cargo.

"The board has decided that when the palletisation is done after the issuance of `Let export order', then there is no need for a separate permission from customs for palletisation", the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has said in a circular.

Hitherto, after issuance of `Let Export order' and before goods were actually loaded in the aircraft, airlines were required to seek permission twice from the Customs - once for palletisation and other at the time of actual loading.

While doing away with the norm of seeking permission for palletisation, the Finance Ministry has at the same time held that the permission for loading in the aircraft should continue to be obtained.

In yet another procedural simplification, the Finance Ministry has now said that importers could clear green channel containers directly from the ports without transhipping the same to the Customs area for examination.