Transhipment bond requirement lifted for direct sea port to sea port export movements; system updated accordingly.
Requirement of a transhipment bond is addressed under the Export Transhipment (ETP) module; filing ETP at the first customs location previously made a transhipment bond mandatory. A regulatory exemption for direct sea port to sea port movements by sea means no bond is required for such transhipments, and the customs IT system has been updated so the transhipment bond is no longer mandatory for direct sea port movements.

Adjudication proceedings: personal hearings scheduled; noticees may appear in person or virtually and must submit replies.
Adjudication proceedings have been initiated against listed exporters for alleged non-realisation of export proceeds and ineligible drawback claims; final Personal Hearings are scheduled before the designated Adjudicating Authority. Noticees must submit replies and may appear physically, through authorised representative, or via video conferencing by intimating mode of appearance and providing valid ID and contact details in advance. Failure to represent will lead to ex-parte decision based on available records; communications may be sent by speed post or email.

Warehousing code declaration requirement updated; ICES error prompted administrative waiver of late fees for affected warehouse bills of entry.
ICES has been enabled to require mandatory warehousing code declaration for filing into-bond bills of entry in line with Board Circular No.19/2016-Cus.; a technical error (835) caused valid warehousing codes to be rejected until rectified on 26.12.2023 afternoon. As administrative relief for filings disrupted by the error, the Commissioner waived the late fee for affected warehouse bills of entry for vessels with entry inwards at Chennai Seaport during the error period. The Public Notice functions as a standing order and directs stakeholders to report any remaining difficulties to the Assistant Commissioner (Appraising Main), Chennai-II.

Electronic origin data exchange enables automated CoO validation and ledger debit, triggering negative acknowledgments for mismatches.
Electronic origin data exchange now supplies electronic Country of Origin data from Korea for Bills of Entry; importers or customs brokers must declare correct unit quantity code and quantity in BE_item and provide the CoO number with specified single window fields per the ICES advisory annexure. ICES will auto debit eCoO quantity from the CoO certificate ledger and issue a negative acknowledgment where declared quantity exceeds ledger balance or an incorrect UQC is declared, with declared details visible to assessing officers. The same steps apply to old certificates and the notice functions as a standing order.

National Time Release Study to measure EXIM cargo release times; stakeholders urged to attend awareness meeting and cooperate.
National Time Release Study (NTRS) 2024 will be carried out from 01.01.2024 to 07.01.2024 to measure end-to-end clearance and average release times for export and import cargo; Air Cargo Complex, Mumbai is among six selected formations. An awareness meeting for importers, customs brokers, trade and customs staff is scheduled at 1200 hours on 27.12.2023 at ACC Conference Hall; stakeholders are requested to participate and cooperate with the NTRS team.

ICES mandates warehouse code declaration for into bond entries; ACB can suspend or revoke warehouse codes via the system.
ICES now mandates declaration of the warehouse code when filing into bond bills of entry and validates at clearance that the warehouse code is active; the ACB role has been given a "Suspend/ Revoke Warehouse" function that auto populates warehouse details on code entry and requires an officer to confirm (enter "Y"), add remarks and save to suspend or revoke a warehouse code.

Waiver of late-filing penalty for Bills of Entry after port disruption; late fees exempted where filing impeded by storm.
Waiver of late-filing penalty for Bills of Entry is authorized for vessels with entry inwards at Tuticorin Seaport affected by the cyclonic storm and heavy rain that disrupted electricity and internet connectivity, exempting late fees for affected electronic filings via ICEGATE during the period of disruption.

Crew and ship store declarations may be uploaded via E-Sanchit as PDFs with IRN referenced in SCMTR JSON.
The SCMTR now permits upload of crew effects, ship stores and person detail PDFs via the E-Sanchit application; each upload generates an IRN which must be referenced in designated JSON fields of SCMTR messages. Person details require prsnTypCdd='IRN', prsnFamilyName=IRN and document code 745000; crew effects require crewEfctDescCdd='IRN', crewEfctsDesc=IRN and document code 744000; ship stores require articleNameCdd='IRN', articleNameText=IRN and document code 799000.

Container scanner operation at Kattupalli and Ennore expanded; selected import containers to be scanned under prescribed procedures.
Drive-through and mobile X ray container scanning facilities at Kattupalli Port and Kamarajar Port Limited, Ennore will operate daily for the scanning of selected import containers. Operations at Kattupalli must follow the procedures set out in the earlier public notice for the drive-through scanner, and operations at Ennore must follow the earlier public notice for the MXCS. Stakeholders facing difficulties are to notify the Commissioner of Customs, Chennai IV.

Veterinary health certificate requirement: integrated VHC mandated for milk imports, certified by exporting Official Veterinarian and subject to post import checks.
Imports of milk and milk products must be accompanied by an integrated Veterinary Health Certificate certified by the exporting country; a single certificate or certificate with annexure is acceptable, but single agency certificates must be certified by the exporting Official Veterinarian. The VHC must attest to DAHD sanitary conditions and FSSAI food safety requirements, includes specified processing and animal treatment attestations, and is time limited. Consignments are subject to post import examination and sampling by Animal Quarantine and Certification Services and/or FSSAI officers, and non conforming consignments will face action at the importer's cost.

BIS registration requirement enforced for notified electronics imports; random sampling and compliance testing determine customs clearance.
Imports of goods notified under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2012 require BIS registration or a MeitY exemption; Customs must verify registration, use the Risk Management System to select consignments for random sampling, and send samples to BIS recognized labs to test defined non destructive safety parameters. Out of Charge clearance is granted only if samples comply; failing consignments may be re exported or destroyed at the importer's cost. MeitY authorises Customs to deform and dispose of non compliant or unregistered notified goods.

Drive-through container X ray scanning at Chennai now 24x7; selected containers must be scanned and mismatches examined.
Drive-through X Ray Container Scanner at Chennai will operate 24x7; selected containers are identified by the Container Scanning Module and must be endorsed "Selected for scanning" on EIRs. At CSD, container and seal numbers are verified, images are classified as "SCANNED CLEAN" or "SCANNED MISMATCH", and mismatches trigger NOC or 100% examination at CFS/ICD in presence of DC/AC. Failures to mark, present or scan selected containers expose terminal operators and custodians to penal action; scanned images and examination outcomes must be uploaded to the CSD portal and weekly reports produced.

Waiver of late fee for bills of entry due to cyclone disruptions; applies to air cargo arrivals at Chennai airport.
Waiver of late fee is granted for delayed filing of Bills of Entry due to disruption of power and internet caused by the cyclonic storm, covering Bills of Entry for cargo arrived by aircraft at Chennai Air Cargo/Airport for the affected period, implemented under the regulatory framework for electronic integrated declarations and paperless processing. The Public Notice shall serve as a Standing Order for officers and staff, with unresolved difficulties to be brought to the Additional Commissioner of Customs (Appraising Main), Chennai-VII.

Assessment practice for petroleum products: mandatory sample testing and conditional second check assessment for manufacturer importers.
All consignments of petroleum products under CTH 2710 require a representative sealed sample drawn on first check and sent to CRCL, NCH, Mumbai for testing; clearance depends on the test report and licences. Manufacturer importers with an overseas supplier who is the manufacturer may obtain final second check assessment where a manufacturer's invoice and the specified valid PTR and supporting uploads are provided; where the supplier is not the manufacturer a valid PTR permits provisional second check assessment with testing. Bulk cargo and other non qualifying imports are subject to mandatory sample testing and first or provisional assessments as specified.

Bill of Entry filings now require CVD levy notification details declared in ICES system.
ICES is updated to accept Bills of Entry with CVD Levy Notification details; importers must declare Duty Type 'C', Additional Duty Flag 'C', Notification No., Notification Sr. No., Item SI No., and Supplier SI No. in the BE filing. Trade associations must publicize this requirement, the notice serves as a standing order for Customs (Port), Kolkata staff, and implementation issues should be reported to the Deputy/Assistant Commissioner of the concerned section.

Videography of full cargo examinations mandates recorded inspections, equipment provision, and stakeholder cooperation in a limited pilot.
A pilot mandates videography-based examinations of consignments selected for full physical inspection at specified CFSs. Nodal Officers will select containers flagged by screening for recorded examination; Docks officers must record the full inspection sequence (external inspection, seal cutting, de-stuffing, item-level imaging, re-stuffing and resealing). CFSs must provide recording equipment, assign a Surveyor and videographer, and store video data on two external devices for custody by the Deputy/Assistant Commissioner (Docks) and the Nodal Officer. Feedback reports will be consolidated by Appraising Main (Import) Section.

Customs assessment practice: samples to CRCL for testing, with conditional second-check clearance based on a valid previous test report.
All imports under CTH 2710 require a representative sealed sample sent to CRCL, Visakhapatnam for testing on first check, and clearance depends on that test and licences. Valid Previous Test Reports (PTR) covering identical goods may permit second-check assessment for qualifying manufacturer-importers, provided documentary proof and PTR details are uploaded to e-Sanchit and declared in the Bill of Entry. Non-manufacturer imports and cases without an acceptable PTR must undergo mandatory first check with CRCL testing.

Import of second-hand barebone computer systems requires environmental ministry permission and unauthorized imports are illegal and subject to re-export or disposal measures.
Imports of second-hand barebone computer systems are restricted under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 and regulated by the E-Waste Management Rules, 2022 and the Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules, 2016. Such goods fall within Part B Schedule III as used electrical assemblies and may be imported only for recycling, recovery, reuse or utilization by Actual Users with Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change permission, subject to conditions (environmentally sound facilities, treatment arrangements, State consents). Imports without permission are deemed illegal under Rule 15, requiring re-export or authorised disposal.

Export Obligation Discharge Certificate camp to expedite pending EODC applications; regional authorities to organise focused disposal campaign.
Organisation of a targeted administrative campaign to accelerate disposal of pending applications for Export Obligation Discharge Certificate (EODC) under Advance Authorization and EPCG programmes, with regional authorities directed to conduct concentrated EODC camps to prioritise verification and issuance of certificates and trade associations instructed to publicise the notice and facilitate stakeholder participation.

Mandatory import/export qualifiers require CAS and IUPAC identifiers or a supplier confidentiality declaration for chemical filings.
Mandatory additional qualifiers require importers to classify chemical consignments into defined categories and to provide CAS number and IUPAC name: bulk/basic chemicals must include both CAS and IUPAC; formulations, mixtures and proprietary/R&D items must supply CAS and IUPAC for at least one main/active ingredient. If CAS/IUPAC details are unavailable because the supplier withheld them for confidentiality, a self declaration to that effect must be furnished in the bill of entry; declared constituents will be printed as masked fields and these qualifiers supplement existing declaration requirements.