Verification of Certificate of Origin now requires QR code and password for authenticity; customs must implement CEPA OCPs.
The UAE's Certificate of Origin now includes a QR code, a password for verification and a unique sequential serial number while retaining the prior format. These features facilitate authenticity checks and align with the Operational Certificate Procedures under the India-UAE CEPA. All Customs formations are directed to note and implement the UAE verification procedure alongside the OCPs when verifying COOs for preferential treatment.

Acceptance of Electronic Certificate of Origin under India Korea CEPA permitted when issued in prescribed e CoO format with e Sanchit upload.
Electronic Certificates of Origin issued by Korea are acceptable under India Korea CEPA if issued in the prescribed e CoO format with required particulars including a QR code and compliance with notification No. 187/2009 Customs (N.T.) and amendments; they carry the same legitimacy as manual originals. Importers must upload the e CoO to e Sanchit and enter e CoO particulars in the bill of entry. ICES will verify e CoO data against exporting country Customs, prevent multiple use, and auto debit certificate quantities, removing the need for physical defacement.

Air-cargo transshipment permission renews carrier responsibility for cargo shortages, bonded movement, customs compliance and delivery at notified domestic airports.
Import and export air-cargo transshipment permission is renewed for SpiceJet Limited to carry cargo handled by AAICLAS from the Air Cargo Complex, Kolkata, to other customs-notified Indian airports on its domestic flights. The carrier must maintain transshipment bonds and bank guarantees, remains liable for cargo shortages or pilferage, and must meet the resulting duty, levy, value, interest, penalty and cess obligations as applicable. The permission is subject to the customs transit framework, cargo-handling regulations, relevant circulars, local procedures and the Foreign Trade Policy, and may be renewed or withdrawn based on compliance.

Bill of Entry amendment procedure: online filing with e Sanchit evidence; approvals may be automated or officer based.
Amendments to Bills of Entry must be filed online via the Common Portal or Service Centre with supporting documents uploaded in e Sanchit. Amendments are either auto approved-limited to additions like Bill of Lading details processed automatically under Section 149-or require officer approval for deletions, modifications, or other changes; processing routes depend on whether the amendment is before assessment, after assessment but before Out of Charge, or after Out of Charge, and whether the amendment affects assessment.

Drawback non-applicability for EOU/SEZ sourced goods requires exporters' self-declaration uploaded on e Sanchit to avoid queries.
Notification states that drawback rates do not apply to exports manufactured or exported by hundred per cent Export Oriented Units or by units in Free Trade Zones, Export Processing Zones, or Special Economic Zones, and instructs exporters to upload a signed self-declaration (Self-Declaration on Customs Cases, Code 022CO1) on e-Sanchit with shipping bills certifying non-manufacture/non-export by such excluded units to reduce queries and physical visits.

Exemption from BIS standard for Ortho phosphoric Acid temporarily permits its use as fertilizer raw material without BIS compliance.
The Ortho Phosphoric Acid Order requires conformity to the relevant Indian Standard and BIS licensing with the Bureau as certifying and enforcement authority and penalties for contravention. An amendment inserted a proviso exempting Ortho Phosphoric Acid when used as raw material in fertilizer production from the BIS standard for a temporary period from publication of that notification, and customs authorities have been instructed to sensitize officers and monitor compliance.

Document Management System compliance requires digitalisation of cleared Shipping Bills, payment of charges, and action against habitual docket defaulters.
Customs Brokers and exporters must submit Shipping Bills granted Let Export Order for digitalisation and pay applicable Document Management System charges for scanned Shipping Bills. EDI copies of DMS coupons must accompany Bill of Entry and Shipping Bill document sets submitted after Let Export Order or Out of Charge. Unsubmitted or unscanned dockets are subject to SIIB referral for investigation and recovery, while habitual defaulters may face appropriate action, including alerts for officers granting Let Export Order.

Gender-specific workplace infrastructure mandated for customs cargo facilities to ensure safe, inclusive environments and POSH compliance.
Custodians of CCSP-operated CFS/AFS/ICD under HCCAR 2009 must provide gender responsive infrastructure (lighting, panic buttons), care services including creches in line with maternity provisions, establish Internal Complaints Committees for workplace sexual harassment, hold regular gender-sensitization training, and regularly upgrade and publicize gender-specific facilities to ensure availability, upkeep, and an inclusive workplace ecosystem for women in trade.

CFS name change requires successor custodian to assume prior, pending and future liabilities, effective from the notified date.
The CFS formerly named M/s. Continental Warehousing Corporation (Nhava Seva) Private Limited is renamed M/s. DP World Multimodal Logistics Private Limited effective 08-04-2024; all prior public notice declarations regarding designation as a Customs Area and appointment as Custodian remain unchanged, and the successor must assume and honour all existing, pending and future liabilities and statutory obligations arising from the earlier name.

Customs Area expansion permits additional premises for handling import LCL cargo and bonded warehouse operations.
Declaration expanding the Customs Area of M/s. Ennore Cargo Container Terminal Pvt. Ltd. by 16.141 acres under Section 8(b) of the Customs Act, 1962, incorporating an LCL import warehouse and a bonded warehouse (License No. C041), with specified survey numbers and boundary descriptions; total CFS area becomes approximately 29.971 acres. The Public Notice is effective from 05.04.2024.

Import restriction for used high-end medical equipment: permitted only with ministry permission and specified compliance conditions.
Imports of High End and High Value used medical equipment (excluding used critical care equipment) are placed in Part 'B' of Schedule III and may be imported only by the actual user, OEM, Indian subsidiary of OEM, or a trader on behalf of the actual user for reuse subject to prior MOEFCC permission. Permissions are conditional: equipment must not be obsolete in the source country, contain regulated hazardous substances, must have a minimum residual life with supplier support and warranty, and must be disposed as per E Waste Rules; critical care equipment listed under Basel B1110 remains prohibited.

SEZ export courier procedure: exports allowed only through designated courier with Shipping Bill, Let Export Order and customs approval.
SEZ units must file a Shipping Bill on the NSDL portal and obtain a Let Export Order before handing segregated goods and documents to M/s. DHL Express India Private Limited, the designated courier. DHL will record arrival at the International Courier Terminal Bengaluru, present the hard copy Shipping Bill to obtain the customs officer's Allowed for Shipment endorsement, process exports, share EGM details with the SEZ unit for NSDL closure, and submit quarterly reports of consignments not exported. Goods may be detained if not exported within seven days unless extended by the proper officer; disposal or Back to Town permissions follow extant guidelines after notice.

Empanelment of Chartered Engineers for valuation of second hand machinery at Kandla Customs-applications due April 30, 2024.
Invitation for empanelment of Chartered Engineers authorised by the Institution of Engineers (India) to perform examination, appraisal and valuation of second hand/old and used machinery and related goods in Kandla Customs jurisdiction. Applicants must submit prescribed proforma and undertaking with membership certificates and experience proofs; empanelment follows document scrutiny, verification against adverse records, committee evaluation and formal interview. Empanelled Engineers will be listed by Public Notice, must submit half yearly self appraisals, and may be suspended for false information; fees for services are payable by importers/CHAs/trade. Applications close 30 April 2024 (17:00 hrs).

Authorised Officers designation under FSS Act ensures specified points of entry have notified officials for food import clearance.
Notification designates authorised officers under Section 25 read with Section 47(5) of the FSS Act and Regulation 13(1) of FSS(Import) Regulation to regulate food import clearance at 155 specific points of entry. FSSAI and Customs officials of specified ranks at listed Airports, Seaports, ICDs, SEZs and LCSs are authorised from 01.04.2024 for the jurisdictions in Annexure I, superseding prior notifications.

Imported liquor warehousing now requires an Excise License FL-2(O) from Uttarakhand for compliance and storage.
Importers warehousing imported liquor in Customs bonded warehouses must produce an Excise License FL-2(O) issued by the Excise Department of Uttarakhand as required by clause 19 of the Excise Policy 2024-25; this amends Point (vii)(a) of Public Notice 24/2023 and takes effect immediately.

Preventive vigilance during elections: intensified CBIC controls on movement, storage and reporting of inducement goods and cash.
The SOP directs CBIC formations to intensify preventive vigilance during elections by establishing Central Control Rooms and nodal officers, deploying Flying Squads and Static Surveillance Teams, mapping and monitoring warehouses and bonded premises, conducting targeted checks of movement and stocks of potential inducement items, and enhancing intelligence and analytics. It mandates real time reporting through ESMS and daily collated reports to CBIC investigators, with major seizures communicated to the Election Commission in the prescribed format within 24 hours.

Drive-through container scanning procedure sets safety, routing and re-scanning rules for selected import containers.
Operation of the Drive Through Container Scanner is commenced for selected import containers, with selection made through the Container Scanning Module of the National Customs Targeting Centre and intimated to the designated stakeholders. Movement of DTCS-selected containers follows the existing MXCS procedure, subject to specific safety and operational modifications on trailer speed, container spacing, parking after scan, re-scanning, exit routes, container height, and responsibility for safe transit and seal integrity.

Suspension of refund scrolls temporarily halts IGST and export-incentive processing; traders urged to publicize notice and contact helpdesk.
Temporary suspension of electronic scrolling for refunds and export incentives is in effect: IGST refund scrolling is suspended from 00:00 hours of 21 March 2024 to 23:59 hours of 31 March 2024, and RoDTEP, RoSCTL and Drawback scrolling is suspended from 00:00 hours of 25 March 2024 to 23:59 hours of 31 March 2024. Trade associations are requested to publicize the advisory and traders facing difficulties should contact the ICEGATE helpdesk email for assistance.

FTA certificate verification under CAROTAR Rules requires importer submission of exporter invoice and Bill of Entry amendments when discrepancies arise.
TSK officials verifying and defacing FTA Country of Origin certificates under CAROTAR Rules 2020 face third party invoicing issues (missing/mismatched FOB, extra invoice items, and CTH mismatches). Importers must submit the exporter's originating country invoice on which the FTA certificate was issued and amend the Bill of Entry where discrepancies arise. Certificates lacking the requisite FOB column (unless inherently absent) are to be referred to the Group for verification from the exporting country. If importers fail to provide required information, the proper officer may initiate verification under CAROTAR Rules.

Monthly public notice: exporters and carriers must correct listed EGM errors or file pending EGMs to obtain export incentives.
The notice directs exporters, customs brokers and carriers to remove listed EGM errors or to file pending EGMs-identified in Annexure A and Annexure B respectively-to comply with the statutory obligation to deliver the manifest to the proper officer before departure and to avoid delays in receipt of post export benefits and incentives; difficulties in implementation may be reported to Customs, Export, ACC, Mumbai.