New Delhi, July 12 (KNN) In order to reduce transaction cost and for ease of doing business, exporters will now be given option to furnish self-certified copy of any copy of shipping bill, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has said.

In a circular, DGFT said, “in the interim….it has been decided that exporter shall have option to furnish self-certified copy of any copy of shipping bill i.e. Exporter copy/EP Copy/CHA copy/ Exchange Control Copy of shipping bill along with application for EODC in ANF-4F where exports were made on or after 23.11.2016.”

Through a notification on May 14, 2018, it was decided to allow self-certified exporter copy of Shipping bill in lieu of EP copy of shipping bills for exports made after November 23, 2016 till such time of online verification facility is made available.

Trade and Industry had been demanding DGFT to allow acceptance of Exchange Control Copy of Shipping Bill in lieu of EP copy of Shipping Bill/ Exporter Copy of Shipping Bill.

DGFT said a viewing facility has been made available for Regional Authorities to view shipping bill details available in DGFT servers.

However, many shipping bills are associated with an Advanced Authorisation and it is difficult at present for RAs to verify from the details available online. The facility is being improved to make it more user-friendly so that physical copy may not be required in future, said the directorate. (KNN Bureau)