F. No. II/39/06/2003 – EDI 18.03.2003

Public Notice No. 10/2003

Sub: Online verification of quotas issued by Apparel Export Promotion Council.

Importers/Exporter, Customs House Agents and members of the trade are hereby informed about the implementation of online verification of quotas issued by the Apparel Export Promotion Council in respect of certain types of exports. The verification will commence from 24-03-2003 and will be applicable for all S/B’s filed under Indian Customs EDI System (ICES) requiring a quota from the Apparel Export Promotion Council.

Apparel Export Promotion Council issues quotas to the exporters from its various offices throughout the country. The information pertaining to these quotas is collected at AEPC, Delhi office. The entire quota information is segregated by AEPC Customs location wise and is transmitted electronically to the Customs Gateway facility (ICEGATE facility) situated at IP Estate, New Delhi. These messages are transmitted to the Custom House (where ICES is transmitted) three times a day. The Indian Customs EDI System automatically updates its quota allocation database.

Under the ICES, the exporter is required to file a Shipping Bill before the registration of goods for export. When the Shipping Bill is submitted to the ICES, the quota details mentioned to the Shipping Bill are verified by the system with reference to the quota allocation database. If the quota details are available, then the Shipping Bill is assessed and the goods can be presented for export at the Dock/Shed. Upon the issue of let export order, (LEO), a utilization report is generated by ICES and transmitted electronically to AEPC through ICEGATE.

Since quota is allocated by AEPC and it requires the electronic facility of AEPC and ICEGATE to collect, compile and transmit the message to the database at the Custom House, (this requires AEPC to compile the data pertaining to the issued quota allocations at a central AEPC facility, after which AEPC transmits the messages Custom House wise to ICEGATE facility which in-turn forwards messages to the Custom Houses) the exporters are requested to finalize their allocation of quota by AEPC, 24 hours before the Shipping Bill is presented in the Custom House.

In case Shipping Bill is rejected on account of invalid quota, the Exporter / Custom House Agents are requested to follow the sequence give below:

(1) They must verify the availability of quota information at ICES from the Supdt. / Appraiser in charge of EDI Group in the concerned Custom House who is available at telephone No. 407729 Extension 209.

(2) If the allocation information is not available at the Custom House the Exporter / CHA is required to verify with AEPC, whether the quota information has been transmitted by AEPC to ICEGATE. If AEPC has not transmitted the information to ICEGATE the matter may be pursued with AEPC.

(3) If AEPC has transmitted the messages then the Exporter / CHA is required to contact Customs Superintendent / Appraiser EDI Customs informing the same. Upon receipt of such query, the Superintendent / Appraiser is requested to contact the help desk at ICEGATE at telephone No.011-23370133.

(P. KARTHIKEYAN)
COMMISSIONER