Mobile phones must carry GSMA-issued IMEI certificates; customs will validate IMEIs and block duplicate or fake devices.
Imports of mobile handsets are prohibited if they bear all-zero, null, duplicate, fake or non-genuine IMEI/ESN/MEID. Type Allocation Holders must obtain TAC/IMEI from GSMA and secure an IMEI certificate via the GSMA/MSAI ICDR system, which validates TAC/IMEI data and issues encrypted certificates or rejects flagged applications. Importers/brand owners must submit consignment-wise IMEI certificates to Customs, which will validate certificates through ICDR, check allocation ownership, model/form factor consistency and prior entry, and perform prescribed physical verification or treat red-channel consignments as prohibited imports.

Discontinuation of DMS coupons for import dockets; export dockets still require coupon affixation under existing procedure.
DMS coupon requirements are discontinued for Import Dockets due to implementation of e Sanchit; import dockets need no coupon purchase or affixation. DMS coupons must continue to be purchased and affixed to Export Dockets and the procedure in Facility Notice 35/2015 remains applicable. For difficulties, contact the Deputy/Assistant Commissioner in charge of Appraising Main (Import), NS I via the provided email. The Public Notice directions operate as a standing order for officers and staff.

Drawback jurisdiction change: Drawback Section will handle exporter claims for supplies to SEZ units, expanding Customs remit.
The Drawback Section, headed by a Deputy/Assistant Commissioner of Customs, which processes drawback claims under the Customs Act, will also handle drawback claims of exporters supplying goods to SEZ units within the notified jurisdiction, supplementing the functions transferred from Central Excise to Customs (including brand rate fixation, B-17 bond/LUT acceptance, EOUs and duty free concessional imports), and stakeholders may report implementation difficulties to the Commissioner.

Self sealing container clearance permits selective diversion for examination with mandated seal verification, resealing, and checklist documentation.
Procedure permits registration with electronic seal verification and forbids subsequent cancellation; if Risk Management selects a consignment, exporters must identify containers holding selected packages and Customs at VCTPL certify seal intactness, record examination orders on the shipping bill checklist, and allow only those identified containers to move to CFS for examination. At CFS, officers verify recorded seals, break and examine specified packages, perform 100% examination if seals are tampered with (with prior approval), reseal with liner seals, record seal numbers and examination reports on the checklist, and return containers to VCTPL for final seal verification and Let Export or further reporting.

Electronic sealing: RFID anti tamper one time locks required for bonded warehouse deposit and removal movements.
RFID anti tamper one time locks (RFID OTL) are required wherever Warehousing Regulations prescribe a one time lock; these seals must be procured from Board approved vendors, conform to ISO standards, have TID numbers linked to warehouse codes at sale, and be readable by prescribed Readers. Warehouse licensees must procure Readers and may supply seals; sealing data (including IEC, Bill of Entry/Shipping Bill, RFID OTL number, sealing date/time, container/vehicle number, and warehouse/customs codes) must be captured in a web application. Tamper detection requires examination or refusal to unload and notification of Bond Officers, while specified exemptions and Commissioner discretion apply.

Bank account verification requirement: PFMS validation now mandatory for export benefit disbursal, register or update AD Code accordingly.
Registration and changes to Authorized Dealer Code and exporter bank account details for remittances and export benefits require bank-certified particulars (account holder name/contact, IEC, PAN, account number/nature, branch IFSC and branch contact, bank AD Code). PFMS will validate registered accounts and payments are held if verification fails. Changes require a cancelled cheque or bank closure certificate, which will be verified with the issuing bank. Authorized agents must submit authority proof and all documents must include the signatory's name, designation and functional contact details or be rejected.

Electronic Out of Charge transmission enables gate pass issuance without hard copy, with fallback written orders for system failures.
Permits issuance of Gate Pass/Delivery Order by custodians on electronic transmission of the Out of Charge (OOC) through ICEGATE without requiring the hard copy custodian copy; if electronic transmission fails, delivery may be issued on written order from the Assistant/Deputy Commissioner (Import Shed); the Public Notice functions as a standing order and implementation difficulties are to be reported to the designated DC (PRO).

Nepal transit container routing requires movement to CONCOR-CFS after detention-free period unless a specific alternative request is made.
Nepal-bound containers transiting by rail and remaining at N.S. Dock after the detention-free period must be moved to CONCOR-CFS at Majerhat unless the importer, Customs Broker or shipping line has made a specific request to Kolkata Port. Customs Preventive Officers at CONCOR-CFS must supervise loading at the CTKR Rail Terminal and endorse the Customs Transit Declaration. Dedicated storage and handling space must be provided for Nepal transit containers.

IGST refund disbursement blocked by PFMS errors; exporters must check ICEGATE, correct IFSC/PFMS details, and seek assistance.
IGST refunds generated in ICES were not disbursed because PFMS rejected beneficiary banking details or the IFSC/account was not registered; a shipping bill annexure lists affected entries with PFMS error codes. IEC holders must register on ICEGATE, consult the IEC wise PFMS invalidated accounts report, follow the step by step rectification guidance on the customs website for the specific error codes, and approach the Assistant Commissioner, Drawback & IGST Refund Section for unresolved difficulties.

System-generated Shipping Bill: signature and stamp of the officer issuing Let Export Order no longer required on final print-out.
The Customs EDI system's final print-out of the Shipping Bill, produced after the Let Export Order, bears the officer's name and SSO ID; consequently the officer's physical signature and stamp are not required on that final print-out. Trade associations and Customs House Agents are requested to publicize this dispensation and report any difficulties to the department.

Coastal carriage requirements: mandated use of designated parking plaza, BCG verification, container marking and boarding-office notification.
Containers moved by exclusive coastal vessels must use JNPT Parking Plaza where gate officers verify and endorse the Bill of Coastal Goods (BCG) and enter details in a centralised register maintained by Preventive Officers and the Superintendent; gate officers shall approve BCGs in the Terminal Operating System and maintain hard copies. Containers must be marked "For Coastal Carriage Only." Shipping agents must pre-intimate boarding office of arrivals and movements and provide customs-endorsed BCG copies for clearance; Preventive Officers may carry out random checks to prevent import/export goods being loaded.

Exports by post procedures require Postal Bill of Export filings and tracking based proof before a let export order is granted.
Exporters with a valid Import Export Code must file Postal Bill of Export (PBE) in duplicate-PBE I for e commerce and PBE II for other commercial exports-attach invoices, continue CN22/CN23 labels, present goods and PBE at the FPO for manual customs processing; postal authorities affix tracking numbers and furnish proof of export, after which Customs may grant a Let Export Order. Customs Brokers must onboard a third party web application to register users, input and print PBEs, upload tracking numbers, provide dashboards, and enable Customs data access for risk profiling before operations.

Exports by Post regulations require Postal Bill of Export filing and tracking for FPO shipments; broker onboarding mandated.
Exports under the Exports by Post framework require filing a Postal Bill of Export (PBE) at the Foreign Post Office by IEC holders; e commerce PBEs cover a single consignor with multiple consignees and must be filed in duplicate with invoices and updated postal declaration forms. PBEs are manually processed by Customs, postal authorities affix tracking numbers and return PBEs for grant of a Let Export Order, originals retained by Customs, and postal proof of export with tracking and dispatch identifiers must be furnished prior to uploading export details into the export data system.

Cash carry restriction requires declaration of excess cash at Customs House; noncompliance risks confiscation and referral.
Private persons and customs broker staff entering the Customs House must declare any cash carried in excess of the prescribed limit to the Superintendent of Customs (Preventive) and Custom House Security; failure to declare may result in confiscation of excess undeclared cash and initiation of action including referral to appropriate authorities, while departmental officers continue to be governed by the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964.

RFID sealing for bonded-warehouse movements mandated, requiring certified RFID one-time-locks, readers, and data capture for customs compliance.
Use of RFID anti-tamper one-time-locks (RFID OTL) is mandated in place of conventional one-time-locks for transport of goods to and from Customs bonded warehouses where seals are required. RFID OTLs must be sourced from CBIC-listed vendors, conform to ISO 17712:2013 and ISO/IEC 18000-6 Class 1 Gen 2, and be supported by readers and a web-application capturing specified data elements (IEC, document numbers, RFID OTL number, seal date/time, vehicle/container and warehouse/customs codes). Licensees must procure readers, vendors must link seals to warehouse codes, tampered seals prompt examination, and RFID trip reports satisfy arrival acknowledgement obligations.

Tobacco packaging: two-image rotation and precise health-warning design rules apply, with customs required to ensure compliance.
The rules extend existing specified health warnings until 31 August 2018 if replacements are not notified, and introduce from 1 September 2018 a two-image rotation period with the second image effective after twelve months; they prescribe textual warning wording, exact colour values, four-colour printing and minimum 300 DPI resolution, and require customs compliance for import clearance and disposal of seized tobacco products.

E commerce exports through post permitted for IEC holders; follow prescribed procedures and personal import clarifications.
Permission is granted for IEC holders to undertake e commerce exports through foreign post offices subject to the procedures prescribed in the referenced Board circulars; the circulars also clarify the procedural treatment of personal imports received via post. The new procedures come into force on 21st June, 2018 and stakeholders are directed to follow the guidance and report implementation difficulties to the issuing office.

Validity of Duty Credit scrips extended; applies irrespective of trade policy period and revalidation is restricted.
Duty Credit Scrips issued on or after 01.01.2016 under Chapter 3 shall be valid for a period of 2* months from the date of issue and must be valid on the date on which actual debit of duty is made. Revalidation of duty credit scrip shall not be permitted unless covered under paragraph 2.20(c) of the Handbook of Procedures. This rule applies to all Chapter 3 scrips irrespective of the Foreign Trade Policy period.

RFID sealing for bonded warehouse movements mandated; importers and licencees must use approved RFID one time locks and readers.
The Board mandates RFID anti tamper one time locks (RFID OTL) for transport of goods to, from, and between customs bonded warehouses, replacing conventional one time locks. RFID OTLs must be procured from CBIC listed vendors, conform to ISO standards, have unique serial/TID linkage to warehouse codes, and be recorded via prescribed reader applications. Licencees must procure readers and ensure data capture; exporters must declare RFID serials at shipping. Tamper detection triggers examination or refusal to unload; Principal Commissioners may exempt movements by reason of cargo or transport characteristics.

Surrender of drawback: simplified procedure lets exporters deposit repayments with interest and obtain verification and closure.
Procedure allows exporters to suo-moto surrender Drawback amounts by calculating repayment with interest, depositing the sum via challan or demand draft specifying IEC/GSTIN and Shipping Bill numbers, and submitting a letter with supporting documents, self-certified calculation sheet and deposit challan to the Drawback section, which will assign a file number and acknowledge receipt.