Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate
Customs eFiling
Electronic data interchange (EDI) makes transfer of customs documents faster and easier. Documents such as Bills of Entry, Shipping Bills, Import General Manifest (IGM), Export General Manifest (EGM) and Consol General Manifest (CGM) can be transferred through Remote EDI System (RES). In order to secure these transactions, implementation of
Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) has been made mandatory. With effect from 01.05.2015, all online customs documents filing must be digitally signed with class 3 digital signature certificates at ICEGATE.
All Importers, exporters, customs brokers, shipping lines, airlines and their authorised agents who file above documents through Remote EDI System (RES) must implement Digital Signature Certificates (DSC). The DSC must be a valid class 3 certificate issued by one of the Certifying Authority (CA) listed under CCA-India (Controller of Certifying Authorities). Customs documents thus digitally signed by a valid
class 3 digital signature certificate will replace physical signing of the customs documents.
Implementing
class 3 digital signature certificates for
filing Customs documents through Remote EDI System (RES) has multiple benefits.
Class 3 digital signature certificates offer highest level of authentication and protection. Using a class 3 digital signature certificates prevents any compromise in Authenticity of users, credentials of ACP clients or genuine importers/exporter. It will ensure that the Integrity of data transmitted electronically will be maintained. It will also prevent impersonation and frauds. Additionally, the documents submitted cannot be denied or repudiated later on.
As various users deploys different platforms of Remote EDI System (RES) utilities, web-based Common Signer utility is provided free of cost through the ICEGATE website for digitally signing the Customs process documents. The Common Signer utility would be developed & installed at CA’s website. Once the digitally signed documents are received, the ICEGATE server side verifier shall verify various details such as the user’s credentials, validity of certificate, Certifying Authorities credentials, Public Key, Certificate Revocation List (CRL) status. The result of authentication and other information is integrated into ICES database with a flag to indicate that the submitted documents were digitally signed.