Indian Customs – Implementation of e-SANCHIT

Mr. Abhijeet Nair, CEO at FEI Cargo Ltd. (ALN member in India), has sent to us updates about Indian Customs.

” Dear Members and Partners,

e-SANCHIT (e-Storage ANd Computerized Handling of Indirect Tax documents) Post Clearance Compliance Verification (PCCV) will be carried out online based on the electronic version of supporting documents, instead of hardcopy documents of the Bills of Entry.

e-Sanchit is the system introduced by the Government of India for Import Cargo to reduce physical interface between Customs and clearing agents (presently carrying bunch of documents in person) and significantly reduce import clearance time by uploading digitally signed documents.

A notification from DGFT dated 4th June 2015 stated the list of mandatory documents to be submitted online for export/import of goods from/into India which included the following:

• Bill of Lading/Airway Bill
• Commercial Invoice
• Commercial Invoice cum Packing List would also be accepted
• Bill of Entry.

Another notification came in October 2017, which said e-Sanchit is for import cargo only. Government decided to run a pilot before actual implementation and starting from March 2018 this was to be a mandatory process/requirement for all Import cargo.
Finally, e-Sanchit is going to be mandatory from 15 March 2018.

With the Implementation of e-SANCHIT the process of Customs clearance would undergo a complete transformation. It is not merely an IT project being implemented by DG (Systems). The project is implemented by taking into consideration:

a. No officer should insist on hardcopy documents when it is on e-SANCHIT. Hardcopies of additional documents required during  assessment should also follow the e-SANCHIT procedure as well.
b. Separate counters should be earmarked for clearance involving mandatory verification of documents in original (for eg, Certificate of Origin), so that traders can visit only those counters to submit the relevant hardcopies. Even such documents must be uploaded on e-SANCHIT before clearance.
c. Assessment functions carried out by the Apprising Officers and ACs/DCs should be based on the documents uploaded. If a personal hearing is to be conducted for resolving or adjudicating disputes, it should be through a transparent system of appointments. If necessary, CCTV facilities should be put in place to ensure strict compliance.

1. This activity is required ‘before submission of flat file’ (.sb/.be file).
2. All documents must be scanned and uploaded keeping in mind the below conditions:
   a. Only PDF files;
   b. Size of individual file is <1 MB and max 13 pages;
   c. Max 5 files;
   d. File names should different from each other and should be meaningful.
3. All the files must be digitally signed.
4. After the above procedures, the process starts with ICEGATE login:
   a. Upload documents one by one;
   b. Validate documents with proper document type;
   c. System will generate DRN (Document Ref No.) and IRN (Image Ref No.);
   d. Submission of documents to e-Sanchit portal;
   e. On successful submission, email confirmation will be sent to the registered email id.
5. Once IRNs are obtained:
   a. EDI job to be modified with all IRN details by the forwarder;
   b. The regular process of file submission will be followed thereafter. “

Information provided by FEI Cargo Ltd. (only for ALN members)

You could be interested in additional updates about INDIAN CUSTOMS, click HERE.