The Ministry of Finance through ‘Central Board Of Indirect Taxes And Customs’ Notification CBIC No. 104/2022- Customs (N.T.) and No. 103/2022-Customs (N.T.) dated 9th December 2022 has notified the Postal Export (Electronic Declaration and Processing) Regulations, 2022 and has amended the ‘Exports by Post’ Regulations 2018 respectively for allowing postal authorities to set up, operate and maintain the PBE (Postal Bill of Export) Automated System for filing of electronic declaration for export of goods through Post.
The CBIC notifications would render the Postal exports through electronic and automated way thereby offering ease, transparency and reach for the MSME exporters spread across the length and breadth of the country. Further, the notification also provides for authorizing more post offices for accepting & booking export parcels which can be cleared at the linked Foreign post Office.
At present, for exporting a parcel through the postal route, an exporter or agent is required to visit any of the 28 Foreign Post Offices (FPOs) to file the export declaration and hand over the consignment for export.
According to the CBIC notification, under the new system, the exporter will not be required to visit an FPO. Rather, the exporter will be able to file the Postal Bill of Export (PBE) online from home/office and deposit the parcel in a nearby post office for export. The deposited export parcel will be moved by the Department of Post (DoP) to an FPO for Customs clearance.
Vipul Shah, Chairman, GJEPC said, “As means of achieving the export target set by the Govt. for the gem & jewellery sector, GJEPC has identified e-commerce as the key area. We were working with the Govt. to formulate conducive policies and regulations to start and enhance gem and jewellery e-commerce retail exports. Responding to our plea, the Finance Minister had announced in the last Union Budget the notifying of regulations by Customs for ease of doing such exports. The Courier regulations had already been notified. Now this notification to broad-base jewellery exports through e-commerce by post will certainly contribute towards realising the Government of India’s ambitious vision, under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme, as India Post with many more touch points spread across smaller towns and districts would facilitate eased logistics for export parcels even from remotest places across India.”
Shah further added, “I express my gratitude to Hon’ble Finance Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman for coming up, first, with a simplified regulatory measure for exports of jewellery through e-commerce via courier as announced in her Union Budget. Now with the new notifications issued on 9th December 2022, exports through India Post have become a reality. The Govt. is doing everything to mobilise MSMEs from every district to take benefit of this opportunity and contribute to the overall exports of the country.”
India Post has already started exporters training since past couple of months at all major cities, for their new online utility (automated system) on which exporters can register themselves and file export declaration (PBE), upload supporting documents like export invoices etc., and book export parcels through Post. Hence, these Notifications have paved way for CBIC to notify India Post's automated system soon for making the exports through Post a reality, in a completely digital environment.