Customs Department To Move To Faceless Assessment Of Cargo

Consignments will be scrutinised virtually, regardless of where a Bill of Entry is filed

- P Manoj

The Customs Department will take the ‘ease of doing business’ initiative to the next level by rolling out soon the concept of faceless assessment of cargo. Consignments will be assessed virtually, regardless of where a Bill of Entry is filed, a top official said.

A Bill of Entry is a document filed by an importer/exporter specifying the nature, quantity and value of goods.

“We are moving ahead with the concept of faceless assessment,” said Baswaraj Nalegave, Commissioner of Customs (City and ICD), Bengaluru. “From now on, in a phased manner, we will ensure that the assessment of cargo need not be done at the same place where the Bill of Entry is filed.”

“Suppose, a Bill of Entry is filed in Mangaluru, and it pertains to, say, a particular fuel oil. There can be Custom Houses that specialise in specific cargoes and these alone will assess that Bill no matter where it is filed,” he said.