Subject :    Conversion of Old Passbook Shipping Bills into Drawback Shipping Bills - regarding.

        Representations have been received from Exporters for grant of credit under the erstwhile passbook scheme, announced in para 54 of the Exim Policy (1992-97), for certain export consignments for which shipping bills were filed prior to 31.3.97, but where the date of bill of lading or mate receipt falls after 31.3.97. The date of export, as per Handbook of Procedures (Vol.1), related to Exim Policy 1992-97, is taken as the date of bill of lading/ mate receipt, which in such cases, falls after 31.3.97. The old pass-book scheme expired on 31.3.97, and further credits under this scheme are not being granted, with effect from 1.4.97.

2.    In view thereof, it has been decided that, in the specific cases where the exports were undertaken under the old pass-book scheme, and a shipping bill was filed prior to 31.3.97, but where the mate receipt or the bill of lading was issued on or after 1.4.97, such shipping bills may be considered for conversion into drawback shipping bills, in relaxation of rule 13 of the Customs and Central Excise Duties Drawback Rules, 1995, under powers vested in the Central Government under rule 17 thereof.

3.    A request for conversion of the said shipping bills from pass-book shipping bills to drawback shipping bills, may be made in individual cases, by the exporters, to the Directorate of Drawback, Department of Revenue, 3rd Floor, Jeevandeep Building, Parliament Street, New Delhi-110 001. Relaxation of said rule 13 in each case, would be granted on receipt of a factual report from the port of shipment of the export consignment, in pursuance of Ministry's instructions issued vide F.No. 602/ 7/70-DBK (208) dated 1.6.1970 and DBK (197) dated 28.6.1973.