AD Code Registration requirements standardized: limited documentary set accepted and same-day processing timelines enforced for exports.
Field formations shall accept only two digitally uploaded documents on e-Sanchit for AD Code and bank account registration: (a) a Bank Authorization Letter specifying exporter name and address, IEC number, PAN linked to the IEC, bank account number and holder, confirmation that the PAN linked to the account matches the PAN linked to the IEC, bank AD Code/IFSC, and branch contact details including official e mail; and (b) a cancelled cheque or latest bank statement endorsed by the bank; IFSC accounts will be validated by PFMS before disbursal.

Self Sealing Permission for exporters set with fixed initial terms, renewal criteria, mandatory RFID e seals, and port specific authorisation.
Manufacturer exporters receive initial Self Sealing Permission for five years and merchant exporters for one year; extensions are five years for manufacturers and two years for merchants if they export at least six consignments annually using the self sealing facility and have no customs contraventions. Use of CBIC approved RFID e seals is mandatory, permissions are port specific (INMAA1, INKAT1, INENR1), and amendments to premises, authorized signatory or ROC require competent authority approval. Renewal applications must be submitted two months before expiry with export statements; earlier open ended permissions must be regularised within three months.

Suspension of Customs Broker licence: limited to appropriate cases requiring immediate action with recorded reasons.
Suspension of a customs broker licence is permitted only in appropriate cases requiring immediate action; the Commissioner may suspend when an enquiry is pending or contemplated, but must not apply suspension routinely or mechanically and should record reasons explaining why immediate suspension is necessary, taking into account potential disruption to smaller broker enterprises.

Mandatory additional qualifiers for customs declarations extended to allow resolution of implementation and testing issues.
Mandatory additional qualifiers for specified import and export declarations introduced by Circular No. 15/2023-Customs have had the compliance date extended to 01.10.2023 by Circular No. 18/2023 following trade representations, a departmental request and testing-related mismatches; stakeholders are directed to report implementation difficulties to the Additional Commissioner, Airport and ACC, Bengaluru Customs Zone.

State excise and VAT licence requirement: bond to bond liquor purchasers must hold licences and submit proof before warehousing.
The notice mandates that any purchaser engaging in bond to bond purchases of imported liquor must hold valid State excise and VAT licences and submit self attested copies when executing the triple duty bond; sellers/importers must verify buyer licences prior to bond to bond transfers. It prescribes additional documentary conditions for supplies to State liquor corporations, brand registration, and specified requirements for Haryana and Uttarakhand, repeatedly requiring clean past bonding records (no outstanding expired B2B bonds). Exemptions include original importers and holders of special bonded warehouse licences.

E waste registration requirement: interim release of imported EEE consignments on EPR portal acknowledgement, extended to 31 August.
Imported consignments of 106 notified EEE items may be released on production of an acknowledgement from the CPCB EPR Portal confirming the producer has applied for registration; this interim release arrangement is extended until 31 August 2023 and applies only to producers who have submitted applications on the EPR Portal.

Self-Customs Pass enables importers, exporters and employees to apply for customs passes online via CBLMS.
Launch of an online Self-Customs Pass application in the Customs Brokers Licensing Management System (CBLMS) enables importers, exporters and employees acting on behalf of persons or firms to apply electronically for customs passes in conformity with regulation 3(b) of CBLR 2018. A detailed user manual explaining the process flow is available under the Knowledge Centre tab on the CBLMS portal.

Mandatory additional qualifiers: implementation deadline for import/export declarations extended due to trade requests and testing mismatches.
Additional qualifiers mandated by Circular No. 15/2023 Customs for specified import and export declarations, originally effective 01.07.2023, have been deferred to 01.10.2023 following trade representations, a departmental request for a further three month implementation period, and testing phase mismatches in qualifier data; the extension aims to permit resolution of technical and data consistency issues prior to mandatory deployment.

Warehousing under section 49 requires formal application, examination, ECTS sealing, and register-based monitoring of storage timelines.
Procedure requires importers to apply to the Deputy/Assistant Commissioner (Appraising Group) with prescribed documentation for permission under section 49, mandates Import Shed responsibility for 100% examination, ECTS sealing and manual gate passes, and maintenance of a Section 49 Register to monitor storage timelines and prompt Appraising Group action where extensions are not sought.

Export examination clusters streamline cargo processing by assigning designated CFSs and warehouses for faster handling.
Three separate export clusters were notified for Customs examination and processing of export cargo at Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House to speed up cargo handling. The notice assigns specified CFSs and warehouses to Cluster X1, Cluster X2 and Cluster X3, grouped by location around Uran, Nhava Sheva, Dronagiri, Panvel, Taloja and adjoining areas. The notice operates as a standing order for officers and staff, and implementation issues are to be reported through the specified contact details.

Election expenditure vigilance: enhanced CBIC preventive measures to detect and curb illicit cash, freebies and smuggled goods.
The SOP directs CBIC formations to intensify preventive vigilance during elections by designating Pr. ADG/ADG, DRI as State point persons and nodal officers, establishing Central Control Rooms and Flying Squads, collating and submitting daily reports to the ECI and CBIC investigation wings, mapping and monitoring warehouses and bonded premises, scrutinising e-way bills and stocks under Section 67 of the CGST Act, and increasing border and airport vigilance for illicit cash, contraband and goods used as voter inducements.

Import policy change for cigarette lighters: prohibition with limited free imports where CIF value meets a specified threshold.
Import policy for pocket lighters (gas fuelled, refillable and non refillable) under Chapter 96 is revised from "Free" to Prohibited, subject to a conditional allowance where the CIF valuation meets a specified per unit threshold; Customs officers are directed to implement the change and issue notices or standing orders accordingly.

Authorised officers designation under FSS Act and Import Regulation updates PoE assignments; customs instructed to sensitize officers.
Notification updates designation of Authorised Officers under Section 25 read with Section 47(5) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Regulation 13(1) of the FSS (Import) Regulation, 2017 for import control of food at Points of Entry, identifying 161 PoEs and specifying which are to be manned by Customs officers as authorised officers and which by FSSAI officials, with an annexed list and direction to sensitize officers and modify the earlier instruction accordingly.

HS code correlation required: align Certificate of Origin tariff with Bill of Entry tariff to secure CEPA customs preference.
For Customs clearance under India Japan CEPA, the HS code shown in the Certificate of Origin (HS 2007) must be correlated with the HS code recorded in the Bill of Entry (HS 2022) at the time of clearance; Customs formations and National Assessment Centres are to implement this procedure to enable application of the CEPA tariff preference.

Mandatory qualifiers in import/export declarations deadline extended after industry and department requests; testing revealed data mismatches.
The Commissionerate extends the compliance timeline for the mandatory declaration of additional qualifiers in import and export declarations, deferring the previously prescribed effective date in view of trade representations, a departmental request for delay, and testing-detected mismatches in qualifier information for export products; stakeholders are directed to report implementation difficulties to the Additional Commissioner (Technical) via email.

Self Customs Pass for Importer/Exporter enables electronic application for customs passes under CBLMS, with user guidance online.
Launch of a Self Customs Pass for Importer/Exporter functionality in the CBLMS portal permits electronic application for customs passes where the importer/exporter transacts on their own account or an employee transacts generally on behalf of a person or firm, in conformity with regulation 3(b) of CBLR 2018; a user manual explaining the process flow will be made available under the CBLMS "Knowledge Centre" tab.

Mandatory additional qualifiers: implementation deadline extended to allow further testing and industry readiness measures stakeholders
The Board has extended the compliance deadline for mandatory additional qualifiers required in specified import and export declarations to permit further testing and stakeholder preparation, and it directs issuance of public notices and invites reports of implementation difficulties to the tariff unit for resolution.

Faceless assessment compliance requires complete electronic documentation, accurate Bill of Entry linkage, and specific responses to assessment queries.
Faceless Assessment is to be expedited by uploading legible and properly linked supporting documents through e-Sanchit with the Bill of Entry. Importers and customs brokers should submit product, value, exemption, registration, licence, and compliance records applicable to the imported goods, use correct document codes, and answer queries specifically. Duty-exemption and preferential-duty claims require records demonstrating fulfilment of applicable conditions. The required documents vary by goods and assessment group, are non-exhaustive, and may be supplemented where necessary for assessment.

Self Customs Pass for Importer/Exporter introduced allowing eligible parties to apply digitally for customs passes via CBLMS.
A new digital Self Customs Pass application feature in the CBLMS portal permits importers or exporters transacting on their own account and employees acting for a person or firm to apply for customs passes in line with regulation 3(b) of CBLR 2018; a detailed user manual is available under the CBLMS "Knowledge Centre" tab for procedural guidance.

Compensation cess based on Retail Sale Price per unit; system mandates self declaration and provisional assessment procedures.
Levy of compensation cess is based on Retail Sale Price per unit; provisional assessment is allowed pending the GST Council. Where RSP is not legally required on packaging, RSP for provisional assessment shall be importer self declared, taking account of prices of identical or similar imported goods sold in India. The system requires Single Window declarations (GST, CCESS, RSP, Retail Sale Price, number of units) and will calculate cess as rate x RSP x units. Bills of entry under this notification will be assessed as provisional and a PD bond is required.