Govt. of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue / / EPABX: 044-2256 9500
Fax: 044-2256 1429
e-mail:
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (AIRPORT & AIR CARGO)
NEW CUSTOM HOUSE, MEENAMBAKKAM, CHENNAI – 600 027

F.No. 12/2010-EDI-ACC Dated: 30.09.2011

PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 22/2011

Sub:Abolition of DEPB Scheme w.e.f. 01.10.2011 – changes in ICES 1.5 – reg.

Attention of the Importers, Exporters, Custom House Agents and the trade is invited to the Board’s Circular No. 42/2011-Cus dated 22.09.2011 wherein it has been indicated that DEPB scheme will be abolished with effect from 01.10.2011 and a new Drawback schedule incorporating items on which DEPB shall be abolished would be introduced w.e.f. 01.10.2011. In this regard,the changes in ICES 1.5 as instructed by Directorate General of Systems &Data Management, Customs & Central Excise, NewDelhi aregiven below for information to all stakeholders.

Changes in ICES 1.5

Necessary modifications are being made in the Indian customs EDI System (ICES1.5) to give effect to these changes in line with the above Circular. These changes are briefly indicated as follows:

  1. From 1st October 2011, DEPB shipping bills will not be accepted in ICES 1.5 either through the Service Centre or RES.
  1. Let Export Order (LEO) for DEPB shipping bill will only be enabled upto 30.09.2011 i.e. from 1st October 2011, the EDI system will not process any pending DEPB Shipping Bills for which LEO could not be given forany reason. In all such cases Exporter /CHA are advised to cancel the old DEPB Shipping Billand file fresh Shipping Bill. The concerned AC/DC areinstructed to allow cancellation of such Shipping Bills.
  1. It may be noted that the System will also not handle any shipping Bill in which DEPB benefit is claimed in combination with any other scheme w.e.f. 01.10.2011.
  2. ICEGATE will only transmit any DEPB Shipping Bill with LEO date upto 30.09.2011 to DGFT.
  1. The EDI System will however continue to process import under DEPB till validity of DEPB scrip issued by DGFT.

No change in procedure for claiming drawback:

There is no change in procedure for claim, sanction and disbursal of drawback amount. For the sake of those Exporter who are going for Drawback Scheme due to abolishion of DEPB Scheme, the Public Notice No.109/2008 dated 10.07.2008 & Public Notice No.152/2008 dated 15.10.2008 issued by this office regarding procedure forpayment of Drawback in the Exporter’s Core Banking enabled Bank Account may be referred. Also refer to PN 20/2011 dated 28.09.2001 issued by this office with regard to revised Drawback Schedule to be effective from 01.10.2011 wherein 1200 items have been added. The salient features on account of the change in scheme are as follows:

  1. Exporters who were exporting under DEPB scheme will now file Shipping Bills under Drawback Scheme.
  1. There is no need to file any separate drawback claim. EDI Copy of Shipping Bill itself is treated as drawback claim and processed accordingly.
  1. Drawback amount under the Indian Customs EDI System (ICES) is disbursed through branch of the authorized bank at each custom location. The drawback amount in respect of individual exporters is credited directly to the bank account of the exporter in authorized bank branch at a Custom location or to any core banking enabled bank account of the exporter, in any branch/bank anywhere in the country (through NEFT/RTGS).
  2. To avail of the procedure at c) the exporter is required to declare to the Customs authorities, the Indian Financial Service Code (IFSC) of the bank branch in which he which he wishes to receive drawback amount, the core banking enabled account number, bank name and address. Without the IFSC Code and bank account number, ICES 1.5 does not allow filing of drawback Shipping Bill.
  1. At the time of registration of the bank account with the customs authorities the exporter will be required to produce a certificate from the bank branch, where he operates his bank account, certifying the correctness of the IFS code and bank account number of the exporter. A copy of the same shall also be submitted to the authorized bank branch at the EDI location through which the drawback amount will be transferred.
  1. Whenever there is a change in the exporter’s bank account number the above procedure is required to be followed by the exporter for fresh registration of new bank account number at each port of the export from where he is exporting goods.
  1. Exporters can check the status of their drawback claims at

Trade enquiries may be addressed to .

Difficulties if any, in this regard may be brought to the notice of the Assistant Commissioner (DBK/EDI).

Sd/-

(SANJAY KUMAR AGARWAL)

COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS

AIRPORT & AIRCARGO