Import of wireless equipment requires WPC ETA and RLO import licence, including laptops under telecom rules.
Import of wireless equipment requires Equipment Type Approval (ETA) and a mandatory import licence from the WPC Regional Licensing Office; this import licence requirement applies irrespective of operation in licensed or licence free radio frequency bands. For licensed bands, import licences follow issuance of AIP/D/L letters; for licence free bands, ETA must be obtained from the RLO before securing the import licence for Customs clearance. Laptops with Bluetooth/Wi Fi are permitted under Department of Telecom rules.

Digitization of refund claims enables optional PDF submission and a linked electronic database for customs refund receipts.
Digitization of Refund claims establishes an electronic filing regime for specified refund categories while retaining an optional manual route. Claimants may provide the entire refund claim and supporting documents as a single .pdf on portable media to a designated receiving officer, who will copy the file and return the device. Receipt sections must record claims in a prescribed database, hyperlink the .pdf to the receipt record, maintain separate SAD and CRC databases, and ensure weekly backups under an SOP; additional documents are to be linked similarly.

Direct Port Delivery contact directory updated to provide shipping line contacts for advance intimation and DPD processing.
A revised directory of shipping line contact persons - including names, landline and mobile numbers, and email addresses - has been submitted by CSLA for reference by Direct Port Delivery clients to enable advance intimation and issuance of advance e-documents; stakeholders facing difficulties are directed to notify the Deputy/Assistant Commissioner in charge of the DPD Cell, NS-III, at the supplied official email.

Online transmission of SEIS scrips enables nationwide electronic use after a single port verification, ending manual pre registration.
SEIS scrips are transmitted online via an Electronic Message Exchange System and integrated with ICES 1.5 so manual pre registration at the port is unnecessary; a one time port verification makes the scrip available for all India use. Any manual debits recorded before integration or verification must be entered in the EDI ledger and on the hardcopy, further manual debits should be avoided, and exporters/brokers should approach the concerned officer with documents within the stated short window for system entry.

Re-testing of samples: administrative procedure permits written re-test requests and specified laboratory referral for priority sample analysis.
Guidelines require Customs to communicate all test results promptly, allow written re-test requests to the Additional/Joint Commissioner with officer discretion for unavoidable delays, and mandate that authorised re-tests be referred in writing to specified laboratories with appropriate facilities. Re-tests must use remnants or duplicate sealed representative samples held by Customs, marked for priority processing; fresh sampling requires importer presence. Competent authorities must consider re-test results alongside the first test, record reasons when relying on either result, and may order an additional re-test only when necessary. Re-testing is a trade facilitation measure generally to be permitted, with occasional denials to be recorded in writing.

Bond and Letter of Undertaking for exports clarified; guidance issued for importers, clearing agents and trade.
Clarification on procedural requirements for furnishing a Bond or Letter of Undertaking for exports: Public Notice No. 219/2017 directs stakeholders to Circular No. 5/5/2017-GST as authoritative guidance on eligibility, acceptable security forms and procedural modalities for submitting Bonds/LOUs, and states the Circular is available on the CBEC website for the guidance of importers, clearing agents and the trading public.

Vessel conversion procedure: provisional conversion on boarding subject to completing formalities within two working days.
Provisional conversion of vessels between Foreign Run and Coastal Run shall be granted immediately by the Superintendent/Boarding Office on boarding or arrival, subject to an undertaking that filing of the Bill of Entry, assessment finalisation and payment of duty will be completed within two working days; inventorisation of provisions and bunker must be done simultaneously. After assessment and duty payment, an application to DC/P (G) is required; PSO/Admn. will verify alerts and may issue an NOC before final conversion is granted. Port Clearance remains with the Export Department.

Rebate of State Levies continuation for garment and textile exports during GST transition period upheld by public notice.
Continuation of pre GST rates for Rebate of State Levies (ROSL) is prescribed for exports of garments and textile made up articles for the GST transition period; the notice directs that existing pre GST ROSL rates and related rebate computation and disbursal practices remain operative during the transition and references the central customs draw back circular. Trade associations are requested to circulate and publicize the notice among their members.

Lower GST prices: suppliers must pass on tax reductions or input credit benefits to consumers; remedies apply.
Suppliers must pass on tax rate reductions or input tax credit benefits to consumers by reducing prices; failure to do so allows the National Anti profiteering Authority, through the Standing Committee or State Screening Committees, to confirm prima facie profiteering and order remedies including price reduction, refund with 18% interest, penalty, and cancellation of registration. Consumers file complaints in a prescribed format to the Standing Committee for all India cases or to State Screening Committees for local cases; contact details are provided for filing and investigation.

Export container sealing procedures updated; trade associations must circulate guidance to ensure uniform customs compliance.
Procedural guidance addresses export procedure and sealing of containerized cargo, advising local trade stakeholders to align practices with a referenced central circular on standardized export formalities and container sealing protocols, and directing trade associations to circulate the guidance so exporters and service providers implement the specified procedures for consistent customs compliance.

Drawback rate amendments update All Industry Rates of Duty Drawback and related procedural and tariff adjustments effective from specified date.
Amendments revise All Industry Rates of Duty Drawback and related provisions, implementing rate and procedural adjustments introduced by the Board and effective from the date specified; the Public Notice directs trade associations and chambers to circulate the Circular to constituents to ensure dissemination and local compliance.

Duty drawback for DTA supplies to SEZs clarified under GST; trade associations urged to publicize the guidance.
The notice communicates that duty drawback treatment for supplies from Domestic Tariff Area units to Special Economic Zones under GST is governed by a central customs circular and requests Trade Associations and Chambers of Commerce to circulate and publicize that circular among members to ensure awareness and compliance.

Brand rate fixation under Drawback Rules directs drawback treatment in GST scenario; notice mandates circulation to trade.
Fixation of the brand rate of drawback under Rule Six and Rule Seven of the Drawback Rules is to be applied in the GST framework; the Public Notice refers to CBEC circular guidance addressing methodology and administrative handling, and directs Trade Associations and Chambers of Commerce to circulate the circular and Public Notice to their members for uniform implementation.

Drawback of integrated tax and compensation cess under Section 74 on re-export entitlement clarified for importers and exporters.
The notice publicizes CBEC Circular No. 21/2017 clarifying entitlement and procedural instructions for claiming drawback of integrated tax and compensation cess paid on imported goods when those goods are re exported, and directs trade associations to circulate these compliance steps and filing requirements.

Letter of Undertaking eligibility expanded for exporters, with streamlined processing and liberal bank guarantee waivers.
Clarifies eligibility, form, processing and evidentiary requirements for permitting exports under a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) instead of a bond: any registered person meeting the foreign inward remittance threshold (minimum percentage of export turnover and a fixed floor) or recognised status holders may use LUT; LUTs must be on letterhead and processed within three working days; self-declarations and self-attested proofs are acceptable with post-facto verification; supplies by merchant exporters to be treated as taxable; acceptance for supplies to Nepal, Bhutan or SEZs depends on compliance with RBI rules; bank guarantees may be waived liberally and jurisdictional officers are specified.

Electronic database for Advance Authorisation/EPCG: scanned PDFs must be submitted at registration to create customs records.
Applicants for Advance Authorisation and EPCG licence registration must provide scanned copies of all registration-related documents (Bond, Bank Guarantee if furnished, LUTs and supporting documents) in a single .pdf named with the Advance Authorisation No / EPCG License No to the designated officer at registration; the Monitoring Cells will maintain a database linking the .pdf as a hyperlink to licence records, ensure weekly backups and follow an SOP for secure maintenance.

Eligibility for Letter of Undertaking tied to foreign inward remittance thresholds; LUTs to be prioritised and processed promptly.
Clarifies that LUT eligibility requires specified foreign inward remittance thresholds in the preceding year, with status holders exempt; only actual exporters may claim zero rating under LUT or by payment of IGST and CT 1 has no relevance under GST. LUTs must be on letterhead, accepted by the jurisdictional Deputy/Assistant Commissioner, and processed within three working days of complete submission. Self-declarations and proof of status shall be accepted unless contradicted and may be verified post facto. Bank guarantees are normally capped but may be waived by the Commissioner in appropriate cases.

Rebate of State Levies continuation restores pre-GST rates; exporters must submit revised undertaking for transitional claims.
Continuation of pre-GST Rebate of State Levies (ROSL) rates applies for the transition period 1 July 2017 to 30 September 2017; claims are allowable on the basis of a revised undertaking. The revised undertaking format was included in the EDI shipping bill from 5 August 2017; exporters with shipments dated 1 July to 4 August 2017 must submit a manual undertaking (single undertaking may cover multiple shipping bills). EDI will apply MOT notified ROSL rates at scroll generation irrespective of shipping bill ROSL amounts and no separate claim is required.

System-generated Shipping Bill: no signature or stamp required as officer details appear on the final print-out.
Final print-outs of Shipping Bills produced by the Customs EDI system after Let Export Order (LEO) issuance are system-generated and display the name and SSO ID of the officer who granted LEO; therefore, no additional physical signature or stamp of the LEO officer is required on the final printed Shipping Bill, and parties facing implementation difficulties may report them to the issuing office.

Export of garments and textile made-up articles eligible for pre GST RoSL rates with revised undertaking required.
Continuation of Rebate of State Levies restores pre GST RO SL rates for garments and textile made up articles for 01.07.2017-30.09.2017; exporters must claim these rates on the basis of a revised undertaking provided in the EDI shipping bill format w.e.f. 05.08.2017. For exports of 01.07.2017-04.08.2017 a manual annexed undertaking may be submitted (one undertaking may cover multiple shipping bills). The EDI system will apply MOT notified RO SL rates at scroll generation irrespective of shipping bill amounts; no separate claim is required. The undertaking must declare non claim of other reimbursements, eligibility for the rebate, and constitution of an Internal Complaints Committee where applicable.