Import agents lobby for simpler norms

Customs House Agents' Association (CHAA) today urged the chambers of commerce and trade associations to jointly lobby for simplification of procedures for processing and assessment of import duty.

Tapan Biswas, president of CHAA, said as far as the import is concerned, document processing systems and assessment of duty was being gradually complicated and officers were demanding irrelevant documents.

"We would request the department to evolve a system specifying the requirement of documents in normal course of processing of import documents."

Biswas urged the chambers of commerce and trade associations to join hands with customs agents to work towards changes in government policy. The aim would be to press for the adoption of more specific process of classification and assessment of duty before the arrival of a vessel in port.

"In this regard, the government departments may also consider advance payment of import duty for speedy clearance of goods from the port, which is not possible under the EDI system currently in vogue" he added.