F.NO. VAL/NIDB/20/2004

Mumbai 4th April 2005

To

All Chief Commissioner of Customs

All Chief Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise

Sir,

Subject : Improving Quality of import data

The import data captured in the EDI and Manual modes of assessment are deficient in several respects which seriously affects the quality of data and accuracy of analysis for the National import Database (NIDB). In particular, full description of goods, brand, model, grade and specifications are not often captured making it difficult to check the valuation and classification or to make comparison for NIDB analysis.

Another serious problem is the use of multiple units of quantity for the same category of goods. In certain cases unacceptable units such as cartons, sacks, bags, rolls, etc. are used. In this context, your attention is invited to the standard units of quantity prescribed for each tariff subheading (eight digits) in the Customs Tariff for capturing statistical data.

The deficiencies concerning data quality will have serious implications on the accuracy of assessments and significant impact on revenue. Further , the Department is planning to introduce to Risk Management System (RMS) shortly and it operates on the basis of information declared by the importer, for evaluating the respective risk. Full and accurate information concerning the goods under assessment is therefore vital for the implementation of RMS and improving the quality of NIDB.

You are therefore requested to take urgent measures to enhance the quality of data captured in respect of import consignments. The following measures may be introduced in respect of EDI assessments :

1. In case of declarations filed at the service center, the CMC personnel should be instructed to ensure that all columns are filled in and that documents with incomplete information should not be accepted. Further, one or two examining officers should be posted at the service center to test check the declarations.
2. In respect of Bills of entry filed through ICEGATE, the declarations should be screened for completeness before accepting for assessment.
3. The appraising officers in the groups should return the documents found deficient in the required information for capturing the missing details by amendment of the document. Assessment should be done only after the defects are rectified.
4. The officers examining the goods at the clearance stage should verify the original commercial documents and ensure that all relevant information has been captured in the EDI system. Missing particulars should be incorporated by amending the document before allowing clearance of the goods. Suitable penal action should be initiated for misdeclarations, if any, noticed.

In respect of Manual assessments, similar checks may be carried out by the assessing officers so as to ensure that full and accurate information are incorporated in the Bill of Entry. All such relevant information should be captured while doing the data entry of creating electronic files of these Bills of entry.

The above procedure may be ensured through adequate supervision at senior levels. Necessary Public Notice also may be issued requiring the importers to furnish full and complete declaration concerning the goods as well as the standard unit of quantity.

A report on the action taken may be sent to this Directorate.

Yours faithfully,
S. S. RENJHEN
DIRECTOR GENERAL

Copy to :

1. Member (Customs), CBEC, New Delhi.
2. Director General, DRI, New Delhi.
3. Director General (Systems), New Delhi.
4. All other Directorates.