Sub: Simplified procedure for registration of EOU/EHTP/STP units for clearance of import Goods, notified by Department of Revenue vide Customs Circular No. 51/2005-Cus

In various open houses organized by the EPCES at Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kandla, Cochin, Kolkata etc EOUs had highlighted a major problem faced by them in getting themselves registered with the Customs authorities at the time of import. EOUs had pointed out that they had to submit around 25 documents for registration and the registration was taking lot of time. Not only this, after registration if EOUs were affecting import from other ports again, they have to get registered with other port again.

In the open house meeting held in Kolkata on 20-9-05 which was chaired by Shri G. K. Pillai, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry and attended by Shri Onkar Nath, Director General (Export Promotion), Ministry of Finance, Shri Rahul Khullar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, it was again emphasized that this needs to be resolved at the earliest. This was again taken up by EPCES in the meeting with Revenue Secretary on 5/12/2005 and Revenue Secretary instructed that this needs to be simplified immediately.

Accordingly now Department of Revenue has issued Circular No. 51/2005-Cus dated 9/12/2005, copy enclosed, according to which it has prescribed the simplified procedure for registration of EOUs. The main highlights of this procedure are as follows:-

1. Every unit would be required to submit 6 documents alongwith the application on the plain paper for registration. These documents are a) copy of LOP b) Copy of Private Bonded Warehousing License issued under Section 58 of the Customs Act, c) Bank attested signatures of authorized signatories of the EOU/EHTP/STP unit. d) Passport size photograph of Director/Proprietor/Signatories and e) Copy of IEC No. (f) copy of green card.
   
   Hence as against approximately 25 documents being asked now, number of documents have been reduced to 6.
   
   
2. Circular categorically says that the customs authorities shall grant registration to EOUs within 5 working days from the receipt of the application.
   
   Hence this will reduce time period of registration from 25 days upwards to 5 days.
   
   
3. The Assistant Commissioner/Deputy Commissioner would issue the unit a certificate stating that the unit has been registered.
   
   
4. Once an EOU/EHTP/STP units is registered at one port of import it would not be required to get itself registered subsequently in any port of import
   
   Hence this would do away with formalities of repeated registration with various ports, as per practice at present.

I hope that this would really help all the EOUs to great extent as this problem has been highlighted by the EOUs throughout the country.

This is for your information please.

CUS CIR NO. 51/2005 DATE 09/12/2005

Simplified procedure for registration of EOU/EHTP/STPS for clearance of import goods

Representations have been received in the Board that for clearance of import consignments without payment of duty, EOU/EHTP/STP units are required to get themselves registered at the port of Import with the Customs Authorities repeatedly when imports are made through different ports. This practice of repeated registration is stated to be causing delay in clearance of imported consignments.

2. The matter has been examined in the Board. In order to obviate the problems of the EOU/ EHTP/STP, the Board has considered to put in place a simplified procedure for registration. The EOU/EHTP/STP units after setting up of EOU/EHTP/STP unit, may get themselves registered at the port of Import(ICD/Airport/CFS etc) where from the unit expects to import goods duty free.

3. Every unit would be required to furnish the following documents along with the application for registration with the Assistant Commissioner/Deputy Commissioner incharge of the port of import:

(a) Copy of LOP

(b) Copy of Private Bonded Warehousing License issued under section 58 of the Customs Act,
(c) Bank attested signatures of authorized signatories of the EOU/EHTP/STP unit.

(d) Passport size photograph of Director/Proprietor/signatories

(e) Copy of IEC No (f) Copy of green card

4. The application for registration may be made in plain paper in the form of letter to the Assistant Commissioner of Customs/Deputy Commissioner of Customs incharge of the port of import enclosing the above stated documents.

5. On receipt of the above documents alongwith the application for registration, the Customs Authorities shall grant registration to the EOU/EHTP/STP unit within 5 working days of the receipt of application for registration. The Customs Authorities in charge of the port may verify the authenticity of the copy of the Private Bonded warehousing license or any other relevant particulars from the jurisdictional Assistant Commissioner. A letter by registered post may also be subsequently sent for confirming the authenticity of the copy of the Private Bonded warehousing license issued by the Customs/Central Excise Authority. However, this verification should not be a cause of delay in issuance of registration certificate. In case the verification report is not received from the jurisdictional Assistant Commissioner in charge of the unit within 5 working days, the registration may be granted to the unit. The Assistant Commissioner/Deputy Commissioner of Port of Import would issue the unit a certificate stating that the unit has been registered.

6. Once an EOU/EHTP/STP unit is registered at one port of import, it would not be required to get itself registered subsequently in any other port of import for clearance of goods duty free. The import consignments would be allowed clearance on the basis of registration issued at any port of Import. However, the authenticity of the registration certificate shall be verified by the concerned Custom House from port of registration.

7. All the existing procedure for clearance of imported goods duty free from the port of Import, as prescribed by the Board from time to time in respect of EOU/EHTP/STP unit would apply.

8. The above, circular may please be given wide publicity by way of issuance of Public Notice.

9. Difficulties if any, faced in implementing the above circular, the same may please be brought to the notice of the Board immediately.

F.No.305/EOU/01/2005-DGEP

(M.M. Parthiban)
Director (Customs)