Bengaluru: In view of the challenges faced by country due to the outbreak of the second wave of COVID-19, under the guidance of the CBIC, Karnataka Customs Zone has taken several measures for fast track clearance of COVID relief items. For effective coordination for fast track clearance of the critical Covid relief imports, Nodal officers were nominated.

The contact details of the officers of Task Force deployed for Assured presence [even at Asst /Deputy Commissioner level] on 24x7 basis, were shared with all the stakeholders (Custodian/Customs Brokers Association etc), to facilitate fast track clearances even during odd hours & on holidays; and to deal with any unforeseen situation.

The concerned importers/Customs Brokers are being suitably guided to avoid deficiencies/errors in documentation and are being encouraged to file advance Bills of Entry, in order to ensure fast track clearances, within few minutes of the arrival of the Cargo/Parcels.

The Bangalore Air Cargo has been at the forefront of facilitation of COVID related imports since the pandemic began in March, 2020. Mangalore Customs has also played vital role in speedy clearance of Liquid-Medical Oxygen tankers & Oxygen Cylinders etc. being imported by Naval Vessels, by Indian Red Cross Society.

The data of the Covid relief material is being generated by CBIC centrally and sharing for effective monitoring of the clearances, on 24x7 basis. Officers are deployed round the clock, on shift system, to ensure that there is no delay in clearances. The nodal officers are constantly coordinating to ensure quick processing and fast track clearances of Covid relief material.

In order to lessen the cost of supplies for the Covid relief, the Central Government exempted the Basic Customs Duty and Health Cess on several covid related items like: Oxygen Concentrators & parts/accessories, Ventilators & its Parts, Medical Oxygen, Oxygen generators, Oxygen plants, Nasal Canula, Covid-19 vaccines, as specified in Notification No: 28/2021/-Cus. Dtd. 24.04.2021. Notification NO: 27/2021-Cus dtd: 20-4-2021 exempts Basic Customs Duty on imports of Remdevisir injections and inputs for manufacture of such injections, up to 31.10.2021.

All imports by Red Cross Society for free distribution in any case are fully exempted even from IGST.

Further, Central Govt. issued an ad hoc exemption order No.04/2021-Customs dated 03.05.2021 to exempt all items specified in the Notification No: 27/2021-Cus. Dtd: 20.04.2021 & 28/2021-Cus. Dtd: 24.-4.2021 from IGST when they are received free of cost for free distribution anywhere in India for COVID relief, imported by a State Government or any entity or relief agency or statutory body, authorized in this regard by any State Government. The Karnataka State Government had nominated the officers as state Nodal officers to authorize duty free imports for Covid relief.

All imports by Red Cross Society for free distribution in any case are fully exempted even from IGST.

At the time of import, the importer shall produce a Certificate in the prescribed format from the Nodal Authority of the State Government before clearance of goods from Customs; and the utilization certificate, duly endorsed by the State Nodal officer, to prove free distribution of the goods for Covid relief, shall be submitted within six months.

All COVID related goods arrived were given Fast Track Clearance, by extending the benefit of Exemption from Customs Duty as applicable, in coordination with Importer, Customs Brokers and Custodians. The items cleared under these shipments includes Ventilators, Oxygen Concentrators, Accessories of Ventilators, Humidifier and Respiratory Devices etc.

Huge quantity of Zeolite consignments, imported by special flights were cleared immediately on arrival. Zeolite is used in medical oxygen plant technology, developed by DRDO, are being imported by Tata Advanced Technology for installation of Oxygen plants in Hospitals across country.

The imports for the Covid-19 relief are being cleared within few minutes to few hours through fast-track mode, round the clock, to ensure that they reach the needy at the earliest. In fact, the exempted items are being facilitated for clearance by Risk Management System for clearance without the need for assessment and examination. Those attract IGST alone are also being identified through the data generated centrally by Board and are being cleared on priority. The examination is by mere X-ray screening, to save time.
11. The Customs Brokers and the importers are being guided suitably to ensure the advance Bill of Entries are filed without deficiencies, to facilitate instant clearance on arrival of the Covid relief cargo/parcels.

Mangalore Customs have ensured the instant clearance of Medical Oxygen Tankers, Containers, Cylinders and Concentrators for COVID relief items by Naval ships Viz: INS Tabar, INS Kochi,, INS Kolkata etc.

Issued by:  Sri.M SRINIVAS
CHIEF COMMISSIONER