The Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL) in New Delhi, operating under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs, has been recently recognized as a Regional Customs Laboratory (RCL) by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) for the Asia-Pacific Region. This esteemed recognition places CRCL in an exclusive group of customs laboratories within the region, comparing with labs in countries like Japan and Korea.
Basic Information on Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL)
CRCL was established in 1939 and since then, it has played a crucial role in improving trade facilitation. The laboratory’s function became more essential with the advent of instrument-based testing, which expedited clearances without compromising law enforcement.
The Role of Regional Customs Laboratory
Traditionally, the primary duty of a customs laboratory is to conduct chemical analysis for tariff classification determination and calculating the applicable duties and taxes. However, changes in trade patterns and advancements in technology have diversified its role over time. Today, modern customs labs play significant roles in environmental protection, endangered species protection, control of hazardous goods, and even narcotic and drug precursor regulation.
About the World Customs Organisation
The World Customs Organization (WCO), set up as the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) in 1952, is an independent intergovernmental body. Its mission is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations worldwide. Currently, it represents 183 customs administrations that collectively process nearly 98% of global trade.
India held the position of the vice-chair (regional head) of the Asia Pacific region of the WCO from June 2018 until June 2020. The WCO stands distinctively as the only international organization with proficiency in customs matters, correctly referring to itself as the voice of the international customs community. The organization’s headquarters is in Brussels, Belgium.
Important Conventions/Mechanisms under WCO
There are several key mechanisms under the purview of the WCO. This includes the SAFE Framework of Standards, designed to secure and facilitate global trade.
The International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS Convention) is another key convention under the WCO. It is an international system that facilitates the classification of traded products for customs purposes.
Lastly, there’s the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs procedures. This convention, more commonly known as the Revised Kyoto Convention or RKC, helps to simplify and harmonize customs procedures internationally.
As the CRCL joins the ranks of recognized Regional Customs Laboratories, it underlines India’s growing influence in global customs administration and the pivotal role it plays in improving, securing, and facilitating international trade.
