Drawback claim processing accelerated: non responsive exporters and unresolved EGM errors will be decided on available records.
Measures expedite processing of drawback claims pending due to non receipt of exporter replies and EGM non filing or EGM errors. Exporters must respond to queries by the prescribed cutoff or claims will be decided on available records; supplementary claims may be filed later. Authority to approve certain EGM error rectifications is delegated to Superintendents with AC/DC random checks. Shipping lines must file and rectify EGMs timely; unrectified EGMs may lead to processing at zero drawback rates while preserving the right to file supplementary claims.

Hazardous goods testing infrastructure mapped to ports, with CRCL module in ICES for automated sampling and electronic test reports.
Instruction details CRCL and Customs House laboratory testing capabilities mapped to Schedule III hazardous waste entries and Schedule II constituent limits, deployment of a CRCL module in ICES to automate sampling, test memos and electronic receipt of test reports, and directs officers to be sensitised to these facilities to strengthen monitoring and handling of hazardous imports.

Weekly video conference grievance redressal mechanism for trade outreach established; links will be circulated and a nodal officer appointed.
A weekly video conference trade outreach is established as a standing grievance redressal forum for Leh and Kargil, scheduled each Wednesday at 02:30 PM with links circulated in advance. Trade associations and the public are required to circulate the notice to their members, and a designated nodal officer from the CGST Division has been appointed as the central tax contact for coordination and assistance.

Customs Tariff correlation guidance issued: stakeholders must update classifications, publicise changes, and consult CBIC resources for transition.
CBIC issued guidance implementing alignment of the Customs Tariff with the seventh edition of the Harmonized System, noting significant six digit amendments and incorporation into the First Schedule through the Finance Act. Stakeholders are to be informed and outreach conducted to facilitate transition. A correlation guidance document is published on the CBIC website to assist with reclassification and procedural transition, and the Tariff Unit is available as a contact point for difficulties and queries.

Coumarin testing requirement for imported cinnamon: consignments must be tested to ensure coumarin limits are met before clearance.
Imported consignments of cinnamon must be tested for coumarin content on a dry-weight basis, with the coumarin content not exceeding 0.3 percent by weight; testing is to follow the manual of methods of analysis for spices, herbs and condiments, and Authorized Officers are directed to ensure all consignments are tested and to report implementation difficulties to the Board.

Seized gold (excluding jewellery) will be sold only to RBI; SPMCIL to collect, refine and deliver standard bars under documented procedures.
Seized/confiscated gold (other than jewellery) shall be sold only to the RBI under a tripartite MoU with SPMCIL. SPMCIL will collect gold from Customs Commissionerates, transport it to designated India Government Mints for XRF pre assay, pre melting, assaying and conversion into LBMA specification standard bars; handovers must use witnessed HOGS Notes and CCTV records. Focal Commissionerates issue Preliminary and Final Weight Notes based on SPMCIL assay outputs; SPMCIL delivers bars to RBI at Mumbai and charges for melting/refining and logistics are reimbursed by CBIC. RBI values gold using the 30 day average LBMA rate converted via FBIL and shares final weight and price with DoL prior to payment; DoL maintains ledgers and effects payments to SPMCIL.

Food not specified classification allows import of Sajji Khar/Papad Khar without product approval, subject to contaminant testing.
Imported consignments of Sajji Khar/Papad Khar shall be considered food not specified until standards are notified and therefore do not require product approval under the Approval of Non-specified Food Regulations; such consignments must be tested and comply with contaminant and residue standards, including heavy metal limits, and officers must be sensitized to apply these testing and clearance measures.

Import certification requirement: tea from neighbouring country must have food-safety, sanitary and tea-council clearances before entry.
Imports of tea from Nepal marketed as "Darjeeling Tea" require statutory import clearance under the food safety import regime and mandatory sanitary and phytosanitary documentation; importers must hold licenses under the Tea Distribution and Export Control Order and obtain a Tea Council clearance certificate, all of which Customs must insist on before permitting entry.

Extension of NOC validity for certain imported alcoholic beverages permits revalidation after prolonged port storage upon inspection.
For imported alcoholic beverages bottled in origin and in bulk without an expiry date and containing more than ten percent alcohol, the Food Authority has directed that the NOC under the FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017 shall be valid for 300 days; consignments beyond that period may be re validated by conducting visual inspection at ports/customs upon payment of the visual inspection fee, the direction being issued under Section 16(5) of the FSS Act and valid until further orders.

Import of wireless equipment by TSPs permitted on self-declaration via Saralsanchar; Customs accept QR-verified certificates, cancellation for violations.
TSPs may import wireless equipment on the basis of self declaration via the Saralsanchar portal: submissions 30 days before port entry yield an immediate system generated certificate on payment of Rs. 500; submissions within 30 days require Rs. 5,000 and departmental authentication with issuance after 48 hours. Customs will accept and may QR verify these certificates; the facility is effective 15 November 2021. The certificate provides technical clearance only, is cancellable for violations or false declarations, and imports remain subject to DoT agreements, frequency assignments and WPC/WMO inspections.

RoDTEP rates for AA/EoU/SEZ exports: industry must submit certified product wise data on unrefunded tax incidence within three weeks.
The Drawback Division requests product wise data from Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards, trade associations and chambers to determine RoDTEP ceiling rates for AA/EoU/SEZ exports for 01.10.2019-31.03.2020. Submissions must list all inputs, quantify input use and indigenous ratios, and detail currently unrefunded central, state and local duties/taxes/levies (including embedded CGST/SGST, electricity duty, fuel and stamp duty) per unit. Data must be certified by the manufacturer and its Chartered Accountant/Cost Accountant, supported by invoices, shipping bills and notifications, limited to units consenting to inspection, and sent to the Drawback Division within three weeks.

Import relaxation for genetically modified soya cake permits controlled imports through specified ports with mandatory GM status declaration and monitoring.
The Central Government relaxed Condition 6(b) of the General Notes on Import Policy to permit controlled import of crushed and de oiled GM soya cake (non living organism) under ITC(HS) codes 23040020 and 23040030 through specified ports only, subject to a time bound last shipment/document date, strict aggregate quantity monitoring, and mandatory Bill of Entry declarations of GM status and product grade; Customs must monitor and report clearances daily and publish permitted daily quantum to aid trade planning.

Authorised courier registration now has lifetime validity with provisions for deemed invalidity on prolonged inactivity and renewal.
Amendments grant lifetime validity to Authorised Courier registrations, allow voluntary surrender, and specify deemed invalidity for continuous one-year inactivity while enabling Principal Commissioners/Commissioners to renew such registrations; duplicate registrations across Customs Stations are to be rationalised by treating the first registration as the single registration with other locations regularised through the prescribed intimation and bond/security procedures, aided by DG Systems, and revocation communications must be coordinated to other stations and designated nodal officers.

Container Freight Station custodianship extended with bond, insurance and indemnity conditions until 31 January 2022.
The Principal Commissioner has extended the Custodianship and approval as Customs Cargo Service Provider for M/s. LCL Logistix (India) Private Limited, CFS, Haldia up to 31.01.2022 under Regulation 10(2) and Regulation 13 of Handling of Cargo in Customs Areas Regulations, 2019 (HCCAR, 2009) and Section 45 of the Customs Act, 1962, subject to bond of Rs. 8,64,00,000, insurance of Rs. 15 Crore, indemnity obligations under Regulation 5(6), and ongoing compliance with the Customs Act and HCCAR, 2009.

Intimation of arrest reporting: arrests must be notified in prescribed format to investigation authorities and compiled monthly by email.
Every arrest must be intimated promptly to the investigation member and zonal authority in the prescribed format; zonal offices must send a monthly zone-wise report of arrested persons to central investigation headquarters for compilation and onward transmission to the Board, and all reports must be submitted only by electronic mail, discontinuing hard-copy submissions.

Remission of duties on exports: transferable duty credits issued in electronic ledgers, usable for basic customs duty on imports.
Scheme issues transferable duty credit maintained in an electronic duty credit ledger for eligible exported goods, computed as percentages of Free on Board value or specified amounts and issued through the customs automated system. Exporters must claim via shipping bill declarations, may convert scrolls into e-scrips within the prescribed period, and use e-scrips only for payment of basic customs duty on imports. E-scrips are uniquely identified, valid for a fixed period, transferable only in whole, and subject to suspension, cancellation or recovery where export proceeds are not realised or credits were excess.

Transferable duty credit under RoSCTL - e scrips usable for basic customs duty, subject to export proceeds realisation.
RoSCTL for apparel/garments/made ups from 01.01.2021 provides remission as transferable duty credit recorded in an electronic duty credit ledger under section 51B. Claims will be processed on filed shipping bills and, once systems are enabled, by item level declaration in the electronic shipping bill. Systems processing will generate a scroll with duty credits which exporters may combine to generate e scrips. E scrips are valid one year, transferable only in whole, usable solely for Basic Customs Duty payments on imports, and subject to export proceeds realisation and provisions for suspension, cancellation and recovery.

Container re-export extension: temporary rule allows three-month extension if importer intimates laden re-export before expiry.
Where containers imported under the exemption regime have an initial six-month re-export period ending on or before 31.03.2022, the Assistant Commissioner may apply the existing provision permitting an extension beyond six months up to a further three months upon receiving an intimation from the importer before expiry that the container will be re-exported in laden condition within the next three months.

ECCS RBI integration: data sharing for documents with validated AD codes; exporters/importers must register AD codes on ICEGATE.
ECCS will transmit Courier Bills of Entry and Courier Shipping Bills to RBI via ICEGATE; from 01.11.2021 data will be shared only for documents with validated AD code status in ECCS, though ECCS processing continues even without AD codes. Exporters and importers are advised to register AD codes on ICEGATE, with exemptions where AD code is already registered in ACC at the same port code and for personal imports/exports; contact points are provided for implementation issues.

Container availability: directives require expedited disposal, de-stuffing, and monthly reporting to free long standing containers.
Directs field formations to expedite disposal of unclaimed, uncleared, seized and confiscated goods holding up containers per Board procedures and to submit Annexure I monthly by the 5th. Encourages removal of cargo to customs warehouses so containers can be released for reuse and requires monthly reporting on long standing containers via Annexure II, showing reasons for non release and progress, with proactive measures to enable de stuffing and release.