Covid-19 crisis: On a rebound, Customs clears relief aid in minutes

Delhi Customs tops the list in air cargo clearance; Chennai and Ahmedabad next after criticism over slow approvals

As the government swung into action to facilitate faster clearance of Covid-19 relief aid shipments arriving from several countries earlier this week, real time customs data indicates a sharp improvement in air cargo approval time across key airports in the country. About 75 per cent of air cargo was cleared within 48 hours on Thursday, compared to just 55 per cent on Monday, according to ICEDASH, an interactive visual dashboard.
 
Facing criticism over slow clearance of relief shipments, the government on Monday put in place a customs support framework, which includes round-the-clock clearance of relief shipments, designating 24 nodal officers to expedite release of goods, integrated goods and services tax (IGST) and customs duty waivers, etc.
 
Delhi airport emerged the fastest with 84 per cent of bills of entries getting cleared within 48 hours on Thursday followed by Chennai and Ahmedabad at 82 per cent. These are 11 per cent, 12 per cent and 13 per cent higher than the same time last month, respectively.
 
Mumbai cleared 79 per cent of cargo within two days’ time on Thursday compared to barely 45 per cent of cargo getting cleared within this time on Monday and 17 per cent higher than the same time last month.
 
“All officers have been sensitized about the issue… nobody will hold any consignment. We have all been given instructions to ensure timely clearance of relief material pouring in. We are trying our best to resolve any procedural issues faced by importers. We are, in fact, targeting same day clearance,” said a customs official.
 
He gave an example of how Remdesivir consignment from the US was cleared in 15 minutes on Wednesday in Mumbai. Similarly, Kolkata Customs cleared two consignments of medical oxygen cylinders and medical oxygen regulators from Singapore within 30 minutes of unloading of cargo. Oxygen cylinders from Thailand and Australia were also cleared within 30 minutes.
 
Delhi Customs also facilitated clearance of consignment of oxygen concentrators, ventilators and other medical supplies arriving from Switzerland and Poland on Thursday within minutes. It also swiftly cleared oxygen plant arriving from Germany.
 
However, clearance of sea shipments continued to lag. Only 31 per cent of sea shipments were cleared within 48 hours on Thursday compared to 20 per cent on Monday.
 
ICE-DASH is an interactive visual dashboard that enables comparison of the time taken for import cargo clearances at various ports and airports. A consignment cleared within 48 hours blinks green. Those taking more than 48 hours and up to 72 hours show amber, and the ones that take more than 72 hours red.
 
The government has waived basic customs duty and health cess on goods identified for defending Covid. When imported free of cost and distributed freely, based on the state government certification, IGST has also been waived.
 
Government has reduced the IGST for import of oxygen concentrators for personal use from 28 per cent to 12 per cent.
 
Central board of indirect taxes and customs (CBIC) chairman M Ajit Kumar along with board members on Tuesday held a meeting with chief commissioners, customs zones and Covid-19 nodal officers to sensitize them about the requirements of IGST exemption granted to Covid-related relief goods. 
 
According to World Bank standards, sea consignments must get cleared within 48 hours and air consignments within 24 hours. India, on an average, takes 105 hours for cargo clearance.