Mitigating Risk with Database Integration
By Sonal Desai
Mumbai, Nov 13, 2008 1813 hrs IST

The finance ministry has already mooted a proposal to the effect with the registrar and discussions are on at the policy level, said M. Satish Kumar Reddy, director (International Customs).

When integrated, the database will enable the custom officials protect intellectual properties, as also the border, the legal framework, system infrastructure, interests of stake holders, and the society at large.

Speaking to CXOtoday.com on the sidelines of an event here, Reddy said that the customs already has a risk management system in place that has information like IP rights, goods distributors, brand names, trade marks, etc. Till date, the RMS has information on 137 products.

We want to use the inputs from other databases for risk management. This will enable us identify risky consignments and allocate resources accordingly. It will also cut down on human intervention, he said.

Sources however, said that the integration may take longer time. The level of automation in the excise and customs department is higher than that in the IP offices. It will be difficult to sync the two. Moreover, the proposal has to be accepted and work has to begun in a time bound banner.

Meanwhile, the department wants to further refine its risk management system and introduce the supplement scanning system across all its field offices in India.