New Delhi–In a bid to enhance the ease of doing business for exporters and importers, the government has done away with the physical printouts of documents for customs clearance, an official statement said on Monday.

“The ease of doing business will be further enhanced for the importers and exporters by eliminating physical printouts for customs clearance. These instructions will become operational from December 1, 2016,” said a Finance Ministry statement.

“It will help the importers and exporters to move towards electronic messaging and paper-free environment,” it added.

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has issued a circular regarding the same, wherein importers and exporters will henceforth not be required to submit paper documents such as trans-shipment permit), shipping bill and bill of entry.

“95 per cent of the importers are now paying duty through e-payment and these documents can be viewed on the ICEGATE e-payment gateway,” it said.

The step will help the importers and exporters to move towards electronic messaging and paper-free environment, it added. (IANS)