ISPM-15 compliance for wood packaging required for export/import clearance; customs to inspect and report non-compliance.
Export and import consignments packed with wood packaging material must conform to ISPM-15 standards and will be cleared by Customs only if the wood packaging bears the ISPM-15 mark; consignments without the mark or with doubtful marking must be reported to the Plant Quarantine Officer. Exporters must state the description of packaging material in the Shipping Bill. Accredited treatment providers issue ISPM-15 certification after approved methyl bromide or forced hot air treatment and their list is available on the Directorate's website. Customs staff are to be trained and trade notices issued.

Authorization for hazardous cargo handling: only Customs authorized CFSs may receive, store or dispatch such consignments; carriers must comply.
Only Customs authorized Container Freight Stations may handle, store, receive or dispatch hazardous cargo; a named CFS has been authorized and its authority commences as stated. CFSs without Customs authorization must not receive hazardous consignments, existing hazardous cargo at CFSs may be managed as before, and Shipping Lines/agents must deliver hazardous cargo only to authorized CFSs or move misdelivered cargo to an authorized facility.

Drawback claim procedure: standardized documentary requirements, deficiency handling, registration and verification for export duty refunds.
Streamlines filing and processing of drawback claims under section 74 of the Customs Act, 1962 by prescribing mandatory documents (e.g., Annexure II, calculation sheet, export/import invoices, bill of entry or attested photocopy with indemnity, TR 6 challan proof, Cenvat non availment/reversal certificate or self declaration, notarized affidavits), preliminary receipt and scrutiny procedures with Deficiency Memos, timelines for cure or deeming claims time barred, formal acknowledgement and registration, and specified post registration verification and NOC/NPC processes; effective immediately.

Drug import compliance: customs must verify registration, import licence, and drug control NOC before clearing consignments.
Customs must withhold clearance of drug and bulk drug import consignments until statutory pre import requirements are verified: completion of Form 41 registration, possession of Import Licence Form 10, and production of a NOC from the drug control port office. Standing orders should be issued to enforce these checks, implementation difficulties reported to the Board, and receipt of the circular acknowledged.

Common bond for EP schemes allows a single annual running bond per IEC to streamline imports and bond management.
Authorization holders under Advance Authorization, DFIA and EPCG schemes may execute one annual Common Bond for EP schemes IEC-wise for all specified-port imports in a financial year, executed at the port of first authorization registration. The bond's unique number links authorizations in the Customs EDI, permits authorization-wise debiting, allows bond value top-ups at the executing port with applicable stamp duty, and requires all associated Bank Guarantees to be furnished and maintained only at the port where the common bond was executed; export obligation discharge and Customs monitoring govern bond release and enforcement.

Extension of time for using re-credited CVD in DEPB granted, allowing importers additional period to utilize re-credited scrips.
The time limit for using re-credited DEPB/Reward Scheme scrips for application of re-credited 4% CVD (SAD) refunds is extended to 30th June, 2011; a Public Notice and Standing Order should be issued to guide trade and staff on using the existing manual Bill of Entry procedure to utilize the re-credited amounts.

Centralized Bond option lets right holders use one customs bond across all ports, subject to BRN and security procedures.
Right holders may elect a Centralized Bond at registration, deposit security with the registering customs formation, and receive a unique Bond Registration Number (BRN) enabling use of that single bond and security across all ports via an ARTS module; interdiction ports may debit the centralized bond and re credit only after verification, while insufficiency of funds requires a supplementary bond executed at the registering formation within three days, and an indemnity bond remains mandatory.

DEPB re-import procedure requires identity verification and DEPB rejection letter before assessment and finalisation.
Re-imported goods exported under the DEPB Scheme will undergo first check identity verification; if identity is established the Assessing Group will assess the Bill of Entry under the Notification. If a DEPB Scrip was issued, the importer must repay the proportionate benefit. If no Scrip was issued the importer must apply online to DGFT for a DEPB rejection letter, present that rejection to Customs, and thereafter the Assessing Group will finalise assessment without referral to the DEPB Verification Cell. Group AC/DC may issue a letter to DGFT per the annexure if required.

Post-import compliance under EPCG scheme requires documentary verification for EODC, installation certification, and possible random audits.
Post-import compliance under the EPCG scheme requires acceptance of pre-change EODCs with Bond/BG cancellation on production of original licence, duty debit sheet and EODC, subject to verification where regional endorsement requires customs checks. The Monitoring Cell may call for originals and self-attested shipping bills, export invoices with FOB details, duty debit sheets, Bank Realisation Certificates and the prescribed export statement; random and targeted verifications will be conducted and Bonds/BGs cancelled upon satisfactory verification.

Access control for customs agents tightened: restricted entry to secured air cargo areas with mandatory identity and procedural checks.
Control measures bar CHAs and authorised agents from entering ACC secured areas and appraisement halls except when specifically summoned or when authorised signatories with valid identity/access cards enter against a custodian-issued Examination Slip. Designated waiting rooms, document-handling points, drop boxes, electronic kiosks and custodian responsibilities for producing cargo, confirming receipt after examination, and issuing gate passes are mandated. Officers will process bills on a first-come-first-served basis; breaches will attract regulatory action and vicarious liability while gate and custodian staff must prevent unauthorised access.

Filing of Bill of Entry required even where imports are duty exempt under Notification for display/demonstration.
A Bill of Entry must be filed for imports of goods intended for display or demonstration even when those goods are exempt from customs duty under the applicable Notification; the duty exemption does not relieve importers of the statutory filing obligation and Customs formations must ensure the Bill of Entry is lodged.

Data quality obligations for importers and exporters require full accurate declarations and standard units; workshops announced to ensure compliance
Importers, exporters and CHAs must provide full and correct information-including description, brand, model, grade, specification and prescribed standard unit of quantity-in Bills of Entry and Shipping Bills under the relevant regulations and Customs Act provisions. Workshops are scheduled to educate stakeholders; G card holders and data-entry personnel are asked to attend, seek clarifications from Additional Commissioners at specified venues, and report any difficulties to the Commissioner while following the data quality guidelines.

Customs duty exemption limited: BCCI not eligible under federation-based notifications; separate World Cup notification governs event imports.
BCCI is ineligible for customs duty exemptions that depend on recognition as a National Sports Federation or Apex Body; this ineligibility applies also to persons certified by BCCI. Benefits under Notification No.3/89 do not apply where the Ministry lacks administrative concern with the event, so imports by BCCI for the ICC World Cup, 2011 cannot claim that notification. A separate, event-specific customs notification has been issued for World Cup imports, which may be assessed under its conditions.

Customs procedure for export containers: seal verification and checklist endorsement required before Let Export Order and loading allowed.
Containers sealed by authorised officers shall be moved directly to ICTT Vallarpadam; the Custom House Agent must present the Shipping Bill checklist with the examination report to the Preventive Officer, who will verify containers, endorse the checklist with 'seal intact', record permitted containers in a separate register and permit 'Allow Loading' at the ICTT gate. The endorsed checklist is then presented to the designated Appraiser/Superintendent at Ernakulam Wharf for the issuance of the Let Export Order subject to statutory compliance. Existing Trade Facility No. 4/2011 procedures continue and this arrangement is interim until permanent facilities are provided.

Conversion of Shipping Bills: Commissioner may permit scheme-to-scheme conversion subject to documentary eligibility and conditions.
Guidelines permit conversion of Shipping Bills between export promotion schemes where documentary evidence at export time shows eligibility, with the Commissioner exercising discretion under Section 149 and subject to conditions: timely request, proof of input use, examination endorsements confirming export and coverage under relevant schedules, fulfilment of scheme conditions, and no prior benefit or fraud. Free Shipping Bills cannot be converted to scheme Shipping Bills, though All Industry Rate drawback may be allowed without conversion; dual benefits are prohibited.

Export of processed onions: cut, sliced or powdered forms exempt from export prohibition, whole onions remain restricted.
Onions in cut, sliced or broken in powder form are excluded from the export prohibition and may be exported freely; whole onions, whether dehydrated or not, remain subject to the Notification's export restriction. Exporters and customs officials must apply the item description and classification note to distinguish covered whole/onion forms from the permitted processed presentations.

EODC verification requirement: Customs will require original EODCs and supporting export documents for verification and redemption.
The DEEC Monitoring Cell, formed by merging DEEC Verification and DEEC Monitoring functions, will verify shipping bills and cancel/redempt Bonds/BGs/LUTs. Original EODCs with export details must be submitted and sequentially registered; EODCs requiring Customs verification will be checked per procedure, while others are accepted unless misuse or random selection arises. Annexure A lists documentary requirements by export mode; Customs may demand additional documents and will publicise monthly lists of verified and accepted cases.

Customs procedure for container transshipment sets filing, boarding, movement and seal verification rules at the ICTT terminal.
Customs procedures for ICTT, Vallarpadom require carriers/agents to register and file IGMs/EGMs at Custom House before vessel arrival; vessels are boarded and remain under Preventive control with authorised officers conducting inspections. Containers for DTA must be moved to a CFS with CFS Movement Approval and gate verification; broken seals trigger Customs survey and carrier liability for shortages. International transshipment of FCL/LCL is permitted under segregation, supervision and documentation within thirty days, subject to prohibitions and applicable customs procedures. Movement, sealing, Let Export and Allow Loading follow adapted existing practices, with records and monthly reporting maintained by Custodian and Customs.

Suspension inquiry deadline: inquiry under Regulation 13(1) must be completed within three months from suspension order.
Suspension of authorised courier registration under the Regulations is subject to an inquiry; such inquiry required by the proviso to the suspension provision must be completed within three months from the date of the order of suspension. Instructions to this effect are to be communicated via standing orders and any implementation difficulties reported to the Board.

Pesticide classification under tariff heading requires registration and import permit; provisional assessment allowed only temporarily.
Imports of pesticides, including insecticides, fungicides and related products, must be classified under the Pesticide Tariff Heading and are freely importable only when the importer holds a Registration/Import Permit under the Insecticides Act, 1968. Importers must produce the Registration/Import Permit to Customs; provisional assessment for actual users is permitted subject to producing the permit copy within two months of clearance, limited to a specified transitional period.