A technical hitch in customs clearance with regard to online transferring of Telegraphic Release Advices (TRAs) for imports between the Chennai Customs office and the Inland Container Depot (ICD), Hyderabad, is seriously affecting the pharma importers in Hyderabad and nearby region. The issue which has not been resolved for almost four months is causing delay in the release of their consignments, it is learnt.

According to industry sources, the delay in consignment clearance from Chennai Port started when the ICD, Hyderabad upgraded their software in February, this year, for issuing TRAs and initiated printing seven digit serial numbers with every advice.

The Chennai Customs, which has not upgraded the software in their system, is facing trouble in opening the online release advices and has to manually register each consignment after contacting the ICD, Hyderabad for confirmation.

"Clearance for many of our consignments imported has been delayed due to this technical issue. We have not received a single consignment released from the Chennai Customs in the last one to one and a half months," said an industry source from Hyderabad.

Several pharma firms with their drug licences from Andhra Pradesh are relying on Chennai Port for imports of raw materials for their products. The companies with advanced licence for imports has to attain TRA from the ICD, Hyderabad, which then would be sent to Chennai Customs office by online for clearance of the consignments arrived in the Chennai Port.

Since the Chennai Customs office is unable to attain the online TRA copy, the importers are facing a lot of problems as their manufacturing is getting hampered severely, apart from incurring huge demurrages. The time lag in getting clearance is also adversely affecting the exports of the companies, as the production process is delayed due to lack of inventories, said industry sources.

"The delay in getting the consignments has made serious gaps in our timeline of production. Sometimes, it takes around one week to a fortnight to get the clearance. We are facing problems in meeting our export orders," said a source from another pharma firm.

Considering the troubles caused for the exporters by the issue, the Pharmexcil has also requested the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to look into the problem and take appropriate action.