Electronic communication requirement: designated official email and searchable PDF submissions mandated for customs correspondence and acknowledgements.
Launch of the e-Office application in the Customs Commissionerate, Pune, requires stakeholders to use the designated official email [email protected] for all electronic communications, preferably submitting documents as searchable PDF files; taxpayers should provide mobile and email contact details to receive automated acknowledgements and a Diary Number, and trade bodies are requested to circulate the notice to their members.

Mandatory testing and certification of telecommunications equipment now required for specified transmission and PON devices before import, sale, or use.
Mandatory testing and certification is imposed under the MTCTE regime for Phase II equipment, covering transmission terminal and PON family broadband devices; portal-accepted certification is required for processing, and testing and certification are mandatory preconditions for import, sale or use in India. Customs officers must treat the Public Notice as a standing order for enforcement and use the MTCTE portal as the administrative mechanism.

e-Office adoption: taxpayers must submit searchable PDFs and contact details for electronic processing and diary acknowledgement.
Launch of e-Office establishes a paperless departmental framework to improve efficiency, transparency and data integrity. Taxpayers are encouraged to use electronic communication, submit communications as PDF (preferably searchable), and provide mobile number and email. The system will send a Diary Number acknowledgement by mail/SMS for reference. Stakeholders may report difficulties or suggestions to the Commissionerate.

e-Office implementation mandates electronic file opening and migration to create a paperless office with prioritized training and support.
Implementation of e-Office is mandated for the Chief Commissioner's Office, Mumbai Customs Zone II (CCCU); new files must be opened electronically and physical files are prohibited except with prior concurrence of the Joint/Addl. Commissioner, CCCU. Legacy files must be migrated to the application on priority. Training materials and learning resources are available on the application portal and via the Punjab NIC website, and the Central Secretariat Manual on e Office Procedure is referenced. The Joint/Addl. Commissioner, CCCU will resolve difficulties and approve exceptions.

Disposal of un claimed goods: accelerated clearance mandated with safety audits and real time reporting for hazardous consignments.
Board mandates expedited disposal of un claimed, un cleared, seized and confiscated goods, emphasizing hazardous materials which may be disposed anytime under Section 48 of the Customs Act. Commissioners must ensure secure storage, coordinate safety audits with competent authorities, enter disposal details in the UCC module of ICES for real time monitoring, and submit required progress reports while preventing retention beyond prescribed timelines and following Disposal Manual procedures for seized/confiscated goods.

Advance NOC from AQCS required: pet imports must have prescribed veterinary certificates before airline carriage and Customs clearance.
Import of pet dogs and cats requires a prescribed Veterinary Health Certificate and an advance No Objection Certificate (NOC) from AQCS before airlines may uplift animals; passengers import under Transfer of Residence, re imports and other commercial or short stay imports follow scenario specific documentation rules, and Customs will clear animals only upon production of AQCS's final NOC and any applicable DGFT or wildlife clearances.

e-Office implementation encourages searchable PDF submissions, mobile/email inclusion and issues diary numbers, enhancing acknowledgement and transparency.
Launch of e-Office in the Central Goods and Services Tax Commissionerate, Bhavnagar creates a paperless electronic workflow to improve efficiency, transparency, effectiveness and data security. Taxpayers are encouraged to send communications as searchable PDF files and to include mobile numbers and email addresses so the system can send immediate acknowledgements and allocate a Diary Number for reference. Trade associations are requested to circulate the notice and report any difficulties or suggestions.

Faceless assessment enables electronic Bill of Entry verification, remote re-assessment, and coordinated port action for examination and provisional clearance.
Faceless Assessment Groups will verify electronically filed Bills of Entry using risk-based selection, may accept self-assessment or seek additional documents electronically, order examinations or testing through port shed officers, and may re-assess with a speaking order after affording an opportunity of hearing; exceptional transfers to Port Assessment Group are permitted for intelligence, suspected confiscation, valuation or inability to verify, with supervisory approvals and recorded reasons.

Faceless Assessment roll out covers Delhi and Mumbai zones for specified tariff chapters, with electronic ICES workflows and port roles.
Faceless Assessment was expanded w.e.f. 03.08.2020 to include Delhi and Mumbai zones and extended at Chennai and Bengaluru for imports under Chapters 50-71, 84, 85 and 86-92; Bills of Entry are assigned by the Customs Automated System to Faceless Assessment Groups (FAGs) for electronic verification while Port Assessment Groups (PAGs) at the port of import retain responsibility for physical examination, testing, bond/BG registration via Turant Suvidha Kendra, and actions under restriction/prohibition provisions; electronic communication and specified ICES roles govern queries, amendments, provisional assessment, reassessment, speaking orders and appellate/review channels.

AD Code/IFSC registration requires electronic upload and bank email verification via E Sanchit on ICEGATE for IGST refunds and remittances.
Exporters must use ICEGATE/E Sanchit to register or modify AD Code/IFSC with bank account details by uploading scanned documents: prescribed bank authorisation letter, IEC, GST registration certificate, entity PAN, authorised signatory PAN, and cancelled cheque; modifications also require a bank NOC. Banks should send the authorisation letter/NOC directly from branch email to the designated EDI email; absent direct bank email, the Commissionerate will verify genuineness with the bank and, after verification, the EDI Section will process the request the same day.

e-Office adoption encourages electronic submissions in searchable PDF with contact details to obtain diary numbers for correspondence.
Launch of e-Office in the Principal Commissioner's Office, Kochi establishes a paperless environment to enhance efficiency, transparency, accountability and data security. Taxpayers are urged to submit communications electronically in searchable PDF format and to include mobile and email contacts to receive acknowledgements by SMS/email; the Department will issue a Diary Number for future reference. Trade bodies are requested to circulate the notice and report difficulties or suggestions.

Faceless assessment expansion enables remote electronic verification and reassessment of import declarations, centralising assessment and port coordination.
The notice expands the roll-out of Faceless Assessment to additional customs zones, designates Faceless Assessment Groups and Port Assessment Groups, prescribes new ICES roles (VAO, VDC, VDN), mandates exclusive electronic exchange via ICEGATE and e Sanchit for assessment-related communications, and allocates responsibilities for examination, provisional assessment, bond registration at the Turant Suvidha Kendra, reassessment procedures including speaking orders, appeal and review routes, and exceptional transfer or recall of bills between FAG and PAG.

Faceless assessment for Chapter 29 centralizes expert classification, valuation, RMS compliance, and mandated reporting.
Phase 2 faceless assessment for Chapter 29 places a Nodal Commissionerate-led Faceless Assessment Group (FAG) responsible for uniform classification, valuation, exemption scrutiny, immediate processing of bills of entry, strict compliance with RMS instructions, maintaining a shared knowledge repository (including product descriptions, valuation circulars, NIDB checks, anti-dumping notices and precedents), focused electronic queries, avoidance of routine first-checks, issuance of speaking orders within statutory timeframes, administrative review and appeals handling, and detailed fortnightly reporting via the Annexure A register.

Faceless assessment expands virtual appraisal roles and system monitoring to centralize customs assessment processes.
Implementation of Phase II of the Faceless Assessment creates VAO, VDC and VDN roles in ICES for faceless appraisal, prescribes nomination and allocation of officers to specified groups and sites, and requires that VAO/VDC undertake assessment-related tasks (queries, online replies, amendments, e Sanchit submissions) while non-assessment functions remain with the Port of Import. VDN may reallocate BEs and, in exceptional approved cases, push BEs to Port of Import; First Check returns BEs to FAG, whereas post-Second Check recall or reassessment is handled at Port of Import. Monitoring dashboards and pendency reports are provided for oversight.

Faceless customs assessment expands electronic bill-of-entry verification while ports retain examination, enforcement, provisional assessment, and post-clearance responsibilities.
Faceless Assessment electronically assigns selected bills of entry to designated assessing officers for verification through ICEGATE and e-Sanchit. Officers may accept self-assessment, seek information, reassess, or order examination and testing. Port Assessment Groups retain non-assigned and referred cases, examination, inspection, enforcement-related action, provisional-assessment finalisation, demand proceedings, and specified post-assessment functions. Turant Suvidha Kendras accept bonds and bank guarantees and undertake supporting verification and document functions. Reassessment differing from self-assessment requires a speaking order and an opportunity of hearing unless electronically accepted.

Faceless customs assessment expands to designated imports with system allocation, electronic procedures, and cross-station appeal jurisdiction.
Faceless assessment is extended to imports primarily classified under Chapter 29 in Appraisement Group 2A across Mumbai Customs Zones I, II and III. Bills of Entry are allocated by the Customs Automated System to Faceless Assessment Groups. Implementation covers assessment verification, speaking orders and review, demands and adjudication, provisional assessment, amendment of Bills of Entry, and electronic communication and record authentication. Appeals may be heard within the import jurisdiction despite the assessing officer being located at another Customs station.

Customs Inland Manifest requirement to be filed before export cargo departs, enabling eSeal tracking and risk-based facilitation.
Exporters using eSeal must file a Customs Inland Manifest (CIM) for each rail/truck movement before cargo leaves their premises, quoting Shipping Bill numbers; a CIM may cover multiple Shipping Bills but must be filed per conveyance. Exporters must obtain ICEGATE registration, follow the uploaded technical guidance and message format, and may use the Excel utility to generate JSON for submission. CIM and eSeal readings will be shared with RMS for real time tracking; port officers can verify CIM details and record match or tamper status to support risk based facilitation where intact eSeals may avoid examination.

Faceless assessment expanded: electronic assignment, verification, and re assessment workflows enforced with port responsibility for on site functions.
Faceless assessment is expanded to additional Customs Zones and tariff chapters with bills of entry assigned by the Customs Automated System to designated Faceless Assessment Groups for verification by risk based selection; such groups may accept self assessment, seek documents, order examination or testing, re assess with a speaking order, or transfer cases to the Port Assessment Group for on site functions. Ports of import remain responsible for physical examination, bond registration via Turant Suvidha Kendra, statutory permissions and processing of demands, with all communications and amendments mandated through ICEGATE and e Sanchit.

Customs exemption review invites stakeholder suggestions to modernise duty relief, laws and procedures through an online portal.
Review of Customs duty exemption notifications, Customs laws and procedures is opened to stakeholder crowdsourcing to align regulatory requirements with changing needs and promote ease of doing business. Importers, exporters, domestic industry, trade associations, customs brokers, customs staff and the public may submit suggestions through MyGov Innovate by 21 August 2020. Difficulties in using the online facility may be raised with the Addl./Joint Commissioner (Appraising Main, Import) through the specified email channel.

Faceless Assessment expansion centralises customs appraisal across additional zones and assigns local appellate jurisdiction for import appeals.
2nd phase roll-out of Faceless Assessment expands operational coverage to additional Customs Zones and specified Appraisement Groups, subsuming the first phase. The Board nominates specific senior Commissioners as Nodal Commissioners to monitor faceless-assigned Bills of Entry and ensure speedy, uniform electronic assessments. Notification No.63/2020-Customs (N.T.) empowers jurisdictional Commissioners of Customs (Appeals) at the place of import to decide appeals arising from faceless assessments even where the assessing officer is located elsewhere, and trade is to be guided by public notices with implementation issues reported to the Board.