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CBEC to build information repository on imports

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CBEC to build information repository on imports 
Can a specific type of meat be exported to India? What procedures need to be followed? 
Global suppliers eyeing India's growing economy will soon be able to get such basic queries on exports answered through a single window, freeing them from the maze of multiple complex notifications scattered across various websites of ministries or departments that’s fiendishly difficult to access. 
The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) is undertaking a mammoth exercise to build a central repository to provide a supplier all the information required about norms governing product imports in simple language. This will be available on one site or via a mobile app. “The idea is to make it simple for traders to access information,” a government official told ET. 
“Any information about any regulation would be available at the click of mouse or a tap on the mobile.” Though all the information is available, traders need to plough through various ministry and department websites to find it. The official said the effort would be to make regulations navigable and information readily available to traders. The difficulty in finding the information is also seen to be hindering ease of doing business. 
This exercise is also part of the government's effort at trade facilitation. CBEC has already launched a portal to allow importers and exporters to file a single form at ports for clearances from all government agencies including the Drug Controller General of India, Plant Quarantine and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. This programme has also allowed for risk based assessment at customs. India has adopted the National Action Plan for Trade Facilitation, which aims to roll out steps to make it easier to do business. 
India is ranked 133 in the World Bank’s ease of doing business ranking on the ‘trading across borders’ parameter because of paperwork taking too much time and high costs. Border compliance takes 311 hours compared with nine in high-income OECD countries. Documentation compliance takes 67 hours versus four hours. The government has identified ease of doing business as a key focus area to attract investment.
The Economic Times, New Delhi, 17th August 2017

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