National Time Release Study

National Time Release Study

News: Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) released the National Time Release Study (NTRS) 2023 report.

About:
• The NTRS is a performance measurement tool that quantifies the time taken for cargo release at customs stations. It measures the duration from cargo arrival to its out-of-charge for domestic clearance in imports and from cargo arrival to carrier departure in exports.
• The study covers seaports, air cargo complexes (ACCs), inland container depots (ICDs), and integrated check posts (ICPs), which handle a significant proportion of entry and shipping bills in the country.

Key Findings:
• The findings highlight the importance of the “Path to Promptness” strategy, which includes advance filing of import documents, risk-based facilitation, and benefits for trusted clients. Cargoes that incorporate all three features achieve the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan release time target across all port categories.
• In line with the government’s focus on export promotion, NTRS 2023 places greater emphasis on measuring export release time.
• The report differentiates between regulatory clearance (customs release) and physical clearance (completion of logistics processes). The study indicates that the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan release time target has been achieved for most port categories when considering regulatory clearance.