Page 62 - ELT_15th June 2020_VOL 372_Part 6th

T28 EXCISE LAW TIMES [ Vol. 372

Customs Circulars and Public Notices
COVID-19 — Measure to facilitate trade during the
lockdown period under Customs Section 143AA —
Review of Circular No. 17/2020-Cus.
Subject : Review of Circular No. 17/2020, dated 3-4-2020 namely, ‘Measure to
facilitate trade during the lockdown period - Section 143AA of the
Customs Act, 1962’- Regarding.
Kind attention is invited to Board’s Circular No. 17/2020, dated 3-4-2020
[2020 (372) E.L.T. (T5)] on ‘Measure to facilitate trade during the lockdown period -
section 143AA of the Customs Act, 1962’ wherein relaxation was given, in the
context of lockdown announced by the Government due to COVID-19 pandemic,
to accept an undertaking in lieu of a bond required during customs clearance,
subject to conditions as underlined in the circular. The facility was extended till
30-5-2020 vide Circular No. 23/2020, dated 11-5-2020 [2020 (372) E.L.T. (T17)].
2. In reference to MHA order 40-3/2020-DM-I(A), dated 17-5-2020,
wherein the lockdown was further extended for two weeks with effect from 18th
May, 2020, and taking into consideration that it might take sometime after the
end of the lockdown for the situation to normalise, the Board has decided to
further extend the facility of accepting undertaking in lieu of bond for the period
till 15-6-2020. Consequently, the date for submission of proper bond in lieu of
which the undertaking is being temporarily accepted is extended till 30-6-2020.
This relaxation will be reviewed by the Board at the end of the lockdown period.
3. The conditions underlined in Circular No. 17/2020, dated 3-4-2020
stand as they are.
4. Suitable Trade Notice/Standing Order may be issued to guide the
trade and industry. Difficulty, if any, faced in implementation of this circular
may be brought to the notice of Board immediately.
[M.F. (D.R.) Circular No. 26/2020-Cus., dated 29-5-2020]

AEO Certification — Validity of AEO Certification for ease
of renewal process extended
Subject : Extension of validity of AEO certification for ease of renewal process -
Regarding.
1. Reference is drawn to Para 5.1 Circular No. 33/2016-Customs, dated
22-7-2016 [2016 (338) E.L.T. (T6)] amended vide Para viii of Circular No. 3/2018-
Customs, dated 17-1-2018 [2018 (359) E.L.T. (T88)], which relates to “Validity of
AEO Certificate” and reads as -
“The validity of AEO certificate shall be three years for AEO-T1 and
AEO-T2, and five years for AEO-T3 and AEO-LO”
2. Representations have been received by the field formations
regarding the difficulties being faced by the AEO entities in renewing their
existing certifications owing to the national lockdown.
3. Accordingly, the Board has decided to extend the validity of all the
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