PMO calls meeting on trade cargo scrutiny norms tomorrow

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has called a meeting of various ministries and regulators tomorrow to sort out issues concerning scrutiny of trade cargo with the overall objective of improving ease of doing business. 

The meeting has been called on the request of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) which wants the PMO to resolve the differences among various departments over the issue of 10 per cent risk assessment, an official said. 

With a view to promote ease of doing business, the CBEC has proposed a new system under which only 10 per cent of the cargo would be scrutinised. 

However, the proposal is not agreeable to certain departments. 

Representatives of ministries and departments, including Shipping, Health, Plant Quarantine, Animal Quarantine, Agriculture and Food Safety and Standards Authority ofIndia (FSSAI), would attend the meeting. 

According to an industry expert, countries world over follow the system of 1 per cent to 10 per cent risk assessment of containers. 

"This move would help importers and exporters cut transaction time and cost. Based on the risk assessment of importer or supplier, minimum number of containers should be scrutinised," Director General of Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Ajay Sahai said.