CUSTOMS CLEARANCE OF EXPORTS BY AIR

               The phases involved in the customs clearance of export cargo by air are the same as for custom clearance of export cargo going by ship.

                    

            However, suitable adjustments have been made in these phases to suit the requirements to expeditious movement of cargo by air.  These are mentioned below:

(i)                  Actual booking by the flight concerned is done in advance.  Even Airway

Bill is obtained before arrival of flight.

(ii)                All the documents required for customs clearance i.e. the Shipping Bill, the appropriate type, and all the supporting documents as required in connection with the shipment by a vessel are to be brought along with the cargo for which booking has already been done.  The documents are first submitted to the section meant for checking them at the Air Cargo complex.  After the documents have been checked and physical examination order has been given, physical examination is conducted in quick succession.

(iii)               Physical examination is conducted on a much larger scale in respect of export by air, as compared to export by vessel i.e. 50 to 25 per cent of the total in respect of air cargo, as against 1 to 2 per cent of the total in respect of cargo moving by vessel.  Each packet is to be passed for shipment – whether examined and passed for shipment or passed for shipment.

(iv)              The exporter cargo examined and passed for shipment is kept under the charge of Customs in the control of Ground Handling Authorities.

Usually some cooling period is observed, 24 to 48 hrs. before the cargo is to be loaded on board the aircraft.

(v)                Before arrival of the flight Export General Manifest (EGM) whether

provisional or final, is to be prepared by the airline concerned and is to be handed over to the Customs Authority.

(vi)              With the help of EGM, goods are to be moved from the storage under Customs charge to the place where from they are to be moved alongside the aircraft for being loaded on board.

(vii)             In the case of air flights, no entry inward permit is required for each flight.  There is standing facility granted to the airline concerned for landing and taking off specified flight.  Hence, non-rotation number is allotted in advance.  This number is allotted by the station-officer on duty when the flight has landed.

(viii)           The customs Officer who has to supervise the loading operation with reference to the EGM has write Rotation Number on the Shipping Bill- the copies available at that stage and the EGM.

(ix)              Unlike the practice followed in the case of ship, there is no arrangement for associating a Preventive Officer right from the stage when entry inward permit is granted.  The Customs Officer in-charge of the duty routine for the period when the flights are scheduled to land, assigns the task of supervision of unloading and loading operation to customs official on duty.

(x)                After the loading of the cargo on board the aircraft, the captain does not issue Mate’s Receipt.  He signs the Duplicate and Triplicate copy of the Shipping Bill against contents received.  He may initial the copy of the Shipping bill.