Electronic mechanism to amend BL number in Prior/Advance BE with Auto Approval

Last updated: 29 May 2021

Save Share

Quick Summary

This notice introduces an electronic system for amending Bill of Lading (BL) numbers on Advance Bills of Entry (BE). Previously, incorrect BL numbers required manual intervention from customs officers. Now, importers and customs brokers can use a new online amendment process with the code 'A_PBEIGM' to correct BL numbers if they match the IGM details. This process is auto-approved, streamlining the regularization of BEs and eliminating the need for officer approval for BL number updates.

OFFICE OF THE PR. COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (NS– I),
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU CUSTOM HOUSE, SHEVA,
TAL-URAN; DISTRICT-RAIGAD, MAHARASHTRA-400707

FN. S/22-Gen-20/2020-21/AM (I)/JNCH/PART-I

Dated: 27.05.2021

PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 50/2021
DIN- 20210578NW000081338B

Sub: Electronic mechanism to amend BL number in Prior/Advance BE with Auto Approval – reg…

Attention of all Importers/Exporters, Custom Brokers and other stakeholders is invited to Advisory No. 13/2021 dated 25.05.2021 issued by CBIC, New Delhi, (copy enclosed) on the above subject.

2. Reference is also invited to the ICES Advisory No. 10/2021 dated 29.03.2021 describing the changes enabled in Customs EDI System for implementation of provisions of filing of Advance Bill of Entry under Section 46 of Customs Act (as amended vide Finance Act 2021) conveyed vide Public Notice No. 30/2021 dated 29.03.2021.

3. As explained in the advisory, while filing Bill of Entry declaration in the system where MBL is not available, MAWB/BL No. shall be declared as NOMBL (in case of sea) or NOMAWB (in case of air), as the case may be, with mandatory declaration of HBL. For regularization with Arrival Manifest, the importers have the option to update the MBL in the Bill of Entry at any point in time later to regularize/link the BE with Arrival Manifest through a simple online amendment process which is auto approved in Customs System. This online amendment process has also been elaborated in the above advisory.

4. Cases, however, have been reported where the advance BE was originally filed with BL number (and not NOMBL/NOMAWB) but the same was given incorrectly with some typographical error. In such cases, importer has to currently approach the Customs officer for updating the correct BL number and regularize the BE. To ease this process and make it contactless, the same mechanism as has been given for NOMBL/NOMAWB cases in Advisory 10/2021 has now been expanded to cover these cases also. If the declaration of MBL Number/HBL number has been filed wrongly at the time of filing of prior/advance BE, the importer/customs broker can file BE amendment of the IGM details with amend code as A_PBEIGM to update the correct MBL(MAWB)/HBL(HAWB) Number. The System has been enabled to auto approve such amendments and the BE will be auto regularised by the System if the given BL numbers match with the ones given in the IGM. This would do away with the requirement of approval process by the Customs officer. It may be noted that this mechanism is available only to update BL numbers. Other amendments like changes in container details etc. will have to done with officer approval as is being done currently. This mechanism can also be used by the importer to electronically request for BE regularization instead of approaching the Customs officer. In other words, this mechanism can also be used when the auto regularization of BE by the System has not happened, despite correct BL details.

5. Difficulty, if any, faced in implementation of this Public Notice may be brought to the notice of the Additional Commissioner (Appraising Main, Import) through email on jnch@gov.in.

6. This Public Notice should be considered as Standing Order for the concerned Officers and Staff of Customs JNCH.

Sd/-
(U. Niranjan)
Pr. Commissioner of Customs

Copy to:

1. The Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai Zone-II, Nhava Sheva.

2. The Pr. Commissioners/ Commissioners of Customs, NS-G/NS-I/NS-II/NS-III/NS-Audit /NS-V, Nhava Sheva.

3. Additional/Joint/Dy./Asstt. Commissioners of Customs, Nhava Sheva.

4. Sections/Groups/Docks/RMSFC, Nhava Sheva.

5. Customs Broker Associations- BCBA/WISA.

6. All Partner Government Agencies (PGAs).

7. Members of the Trade (MANSA/CFSAI/CSLA etc) as per mailing list.

8. AC/DC, EDI for uploading on JNCH website.

Directorate General of System and Data Management
CENTRAK BOARD OF INDIRECT TAXES & CUSTOMS
Dept. of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India

Date: May 25^th, 2021

Advisory No: 13/2021
Category: Customs
Issued by: DGoS, ICES

Subject: Electronic mechanism to amend BL number in Prior/Advance BE with Auto Approval

Reference is invited to the ICES Advisory No. 10/2021 dated 29.03.2021 describing the changes enabled in Customs EDI System for implementation of provisions of filing of Advance Bill of Entry under Section 46 of Customs Act (as amended vide Finance Act 2021).

2. As explained in the advisory, while filing Bill of Entry declaration in the system where MBL is not available, MAWB/BL No. shall be declared as NOMBL (in case of sea) or NOMAWB (in case of air), as the case may be, with mandatory declaration of HBL. For regularization with Arrival Manifest, the importers have the option to update the MBL in the Bill of Entry at any point in time later to regularize/link the BE with Arrival Manifest through a simple online amendment process which is auto approved in Customs System. This online amendment process has also been elaborated in the above advisory.

3. Cases, however, have been reported where the advance BE was originally filed with BL number (and not NOMBL/NOMAWB) but the same was given incorrectly with some typographical error. In such cases, importer has to currently approach the Customs officer for updating the correct BL number and regularize the BE. To ease this process and make it contactless, the same mechanism as has been given for NOMBL/NOMAWB cases in Advisory 10/2021 has now been expanded to cover these cases also. If the declaration of MBL Number/HBL number has been filed wrongly at the time of filing of prior/advance BE, the importer/customs broker can file BE amendment of the IGM details with amend code as A_PBEIGM to update the correct MBL(MAWB)/HBL(HAWB) Number. The System has been enabled to auto approve such amendments and the BE will be auto regularised by the System if the given BL numbers match with the ones given in the IGM. This would do away with the requirement of approval process by the Customs officer. It may be noted that this mechanism is available only to update BL numbers. Other amendments like changes in container details etc. will have to done with officer approval as is being done currently. This mechanism can also be used by the importer to electronically request for BE regularization instead of approaching the Customs officer.

4. Suitable Public/Trade Notices may be issued on the above changes for the benefit of the Trade.

Deputy Director, ICES

FAQ :

This notice announces an electronic mechanism for amending Bill of Lading (BL) numbers in Prior/Advance Bills of Entry (BE) with auto-approval, simplifying the process for importers and customs brokers.

You can file a BE amendment of the IGM details using the amend code 'A_PBEIGM' to update the correct MBL(MAWB)/HBL(HAWB) Number. This process is auto-approved if the provided BL numbers match those in the IGM.

No, this mechanism is specifically for updating BL numbers. Other amendments, such as changes to container details, will still require officer approval.

If auto-regularisation has not happened despite correct BL details, this mechanism can be used by the importer to electronically request for BE regularisation instead of approaching a Customs officer.

Any difficulties faced in the implementation of this Public Notice should be brought to the notice of the Additional Commissioner (Appraising Main, Import) through email at jnch@gov.in.