21/2023-Customs : Regarding implementation of Advance Authorisation Scheme under Foreign Trade Policy, 2023

[TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE OF INDIA, EXTRAORDINARY, PART II SECTION 3, SUB-SECTION (i)] GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRYOF FINANCE (DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE) NOTIFICATION No. 21/2023 - Customs New Delhi, the 1st April, 2023. G.S.R. …….(E).- In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 25 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), the Central Government, being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, hereby exempts materials imported into India against a valid Advance Authorisation issued by the Regional Authority in terms of paragraph 4.03 of the Foreign Trade Policy (hereinafter referred to as the said authorisation) from the whole of the duty of customs leviable thereon which is specified in the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975) and from the whole of the additional duty, leviable thereon under sub-sections (1), (3) and (5) of section 3, integrated tax leviable thereon under sub-section (7) of section 3, goods and services tax compensation cess leviable thereon under sub-section (9) of section 3, safeguard duty leviable thereon under section 8B, countervailing duty leviable thereon under section 9 and anti-dumping duty leviable thereon under section 9A of the said Customs Tariff Act, subject to the following conditions, namely:- (i) that the said authorisation is produced before the proper officer of customs at the time of clearance for debit; (ii) that the said authorisation bears,- (a) the name and address of the importer and the supporting manufacturer in cases where the said authorisation has been issued to a merchant exporter; and (b) the shipping bill number(s) and date(s) and description, quantity and value of exports of the resultant product in cases where import takes place after fulfillment of export obligation; or (c) the description and other specifications where applicable of the imported materials and the description, quantity and value of exports of the resultant product in cases where import takes place before fulfillment of export obligation; (iii) that the materials imported correspond to the description and other specifications where applicable mentioned in the authorisation and are in terms of para 4.12 of the Foreign Trade Policy and the value and quantity thereof are within the limits specified in the said authorisation; (iv) that in respect of imports made before the discharge of export obligation in full, the importer at the time of clearance of the imported materials executes a bond with such surety or security and in such form and for such sum as may be specified by the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, binding himself to pay on demand an amount equal to the duty leviable, but for the exemption contained herein, on the imported materials in respect of which the conditions specified in this notification are not complied with, together with interest at the rate of fifteen per cent per annum from the date of clearance of the said materials; (v) that in respect of imports made after the discharge of export obligation in full, if facility under rule 18 (rebate of duty paid on materials used in the manufacture of resultant product) or sub-rule (2) of rule 19 of the Central Excise Rules, 2017 or of CENVAT Credit under CENVAT Credit Rules, 2017 has been availed, then the importer shall, at the time of clearance of the imported materials furnish a bond to the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, binding himself, to use the imported materials in his factory or in the factory of his supporting manufacturer for the manufacture of dutiable goods and to submit a certificate, from the jurisdictional Central Excise officer or from a specified chartered accountant within six months from the date of clearance of the said materials, that the imported materials have been so used: Provided that if the importer pays additional duty of customs leviable on the imported materials but for the exemption contained herein, then the imported materials may be cleared without furnishing a bond specified in this condition and the additional duty of customs so paid shall be eligible for availing CENVAT Credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2017; (vi) that in respect of imports made after the discharge of export obligation in full, and if facility under rule 18 (rebate of duty paid on materials used in the manufacture of resultant product) or sub-rule (2) of rule 19 of the Central Excise Rules, 2017 or of CENVAT credit under CENVAT Credit Rules, 2017 has not been availed and the importer furnishes proof to this effect to the satisfaction of the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or the Assistant Commissioner of Customs as the case may be, then the imported materials may be cleared without furnishing a bond specified in condition (v); (vii) that in respect of imports made after the discharge of exports obligation in full, if facility of input tax credit under relevant Goods and Service Tax law on inputs used for manufacturer and supply of goods exported has been availed, then the importer shall, at the time of clearance of the imported materials, furnish a bond to the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, binding himself, to use the imported materials in his factory or in the factory of his supporting manufacturer for the manufacture and supply of taxable goods (other than nil rated or fully exempt supplies) and to submit a certificate from a chartered accountant within six months from the date of clearance of the said materials, that the imported materials have been so used; Provided that if the importer pays integrated tax and the goods and services tax compensation cess leviable on the imported materials under sub-section (7) and sub-section (9) respectively of section 3 of the said Customs Tariff Act on the imported materials but for the exemption contained herein, then such imported materials may be cleared without furnishing a bond specified in this condition; (viii) that in respect of imports made after the discharge of export obligation in full, and if facility of input tax credit under relevant Goods and Service Tax law has not been availed on inputs used in the manufacture and supply of goods exported and the importer furnishes proof to this effect to the satisfaction of the Deputy Commissioner of Customs, or the Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, then the imported materials may be cleared without furnishing a bond specified in condition (vii); (ix) that the imports and exports are undertaken through the seaports, airports or through the inland container depots or through the land customs stations as mentioned in the Table 2 annexed to the Notification No. 26/2023-Customs dated 1st April, 2023 or a Special Economic Zone notified under section 4 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 (28 of 2005): Provided that the Commissioner of Customs may, by special order or a public notice and subject to such conditions as may be specified by him, permit import and export through any other seaport, airport, inland container depot or through a land customs station within his jurisdiction; (x) that the export obligation as specified in the said authorisation (both in value and quantity terms) is discharged within the period specified in the said authorisation or within such extended period as may be granted by the Regional Authority by exporting resultant products, manufactured in India which are specified in the said authorisation: