Brand rate fixation adopts 5% random verification of originals based on risk parameters for core, high value, and high duty inputs.
The revised simplified procedure limits submission of originals by dispensing with routine originals for post facto checking and permits random defacement of only 5% of originals of self attested duty paid documents, with the Commissioner selecting samples based on risk parameters: (A) Bills of Entry for core inputs of export goods; (B) Bills of Entry for high value inputs used in export goods; and (C) Bills of Entry for inputs with higher Customs duty; parameters to be revised as inputs change and exporters must furnish prescribed documents and comply with conditions.

Launch of ICES 1.5 at ICD Malur enables computerized import/export declaration processing from 30 October 2025.
Launch of ICES 1.5 electronic processing at ICD Malur will commence on 30 October 2025, enabling computerized processing of Bills of Entry and Shipping Bills for import and export. M/s Adani Logistics Ltd. is appointed as Custodian for goods at the ICD, and State Bank of India, Malur Branch is authorized for duty collection and refunds through the EDI system following successful pre-production trials and allocation of the ICD location code.

Importation by post: permitted items, restricted/prohibited lists, duty treatment, exemptions, tracking, KYC and grievance process.
Importation by post permits most goods except specified exclusions and categorises consignments as permitted, restricted (requiring DGFT authorization) or prohibited (barred and liable to confiscation). Duty treatment separates B2B, personal monetary imports and gift imports; personal imports under CIF Rs.1,000 are duty exempt. IGST is levied on CIF+BCD+SWS; reassessment is available only before delivery. Postal authorities handle custody and damage claims; KYC and procedural contacts are prescribed for clearance and grievances.

Consolidation of customs exemption notifications consolidates standalone exemptions into a single superseding notification, simplifying trade compliance.
Thirty standalone customs exemption notifications have been merged into a single consolidated notification issued in substitution of the earlier consolidated instrument and the listed standalone notifications, with existing concessionary entries largely unchanged save for minor modification and an omission; consequential amendments to related tax rate notifications align indirect tax instruments with the consolidation, and the changes are to take effect from the stated implementation date, with contact points provided for reporting errors or seeking clarification.

International transshipment handling permission for LCL shipments is renewed subject to continuing customs compliance and withdrawal for any lapse.
International transshipment of LCL containers handling permission for M/s. All Cargo Logistics Limited CFS has been renewed for a further one-year period, extending validity up to 10 September 2026. The CFS must comply with prescribed conditions and procedures under the applicable Board circular, Chennai Customs public notice, the Handling of Cargo in Customs Area Regulations, 2009, the Customs Act, 1962, and further public notices. Any lapse may result in withdrawal of permission without further notice.

Faceless customs assessment requires complete e-Sanchit documentation, clear declarations, compliant certifications, and specific responses to assessment queries.
Faceless customs assessment requires complete, legible supporting documents to be uploaded in e-Sanchit and linked to the relevant Bill of Entry through the Image Reference Number. Importers should provide clear goods descriptions, classification particulars, value-supporting records, manufacturer details where relevant, and documents establishing compliance with exemption conditions, registrations, certifications, licences and monitoring requirements. Query replies must be specific and comprehensive. The generally required document list is non-exhaustive, and further documents may be requested based on the goods and assessment needs.

Permanent Trade Facilitation Committees strengthen customs clearance through fortnightly consultation, grievance monitoring, stakeholder coordination and escalation mechanisms.
Permanent Trade Facilitation Committees at each Customs station must meet fortnightly with expanded representation from Customs, trade participants, DGFT, custodians, partner government agencies, shipping lines, logistics providers, trade councils and Customs Brokers. They monitor clearance timelines, address bottlenecks and trade grievances, oversee TSKs, AEM and the ICEGATE helpdesk, and escalate unresolved matters to NACs. A Single Point of Contact must support coordinated clearance, while local issues are to be discussed with relevant agencies and trade bodies.

Faceless assessment compliance requires complete Bill of Entry documentation, clear product particulars and specific query responses for faster clearance.
Faceless assessment requires complete and properly linked e-Sanchit uploads with the Bill of Entry to support correct self-assessment, classification, valuation and duty claims. Importers should provide clear goods descriptions, technical particulars, catalogues, end-use information, value documents and manufacturer details where relevant. Exemption claims must be supported by documents demonstrating compliance with applicable conditions. Required registrations, certificates, licences and import-monitoring information should be completed before filing. Query responses must be specific and exhaustive, while provisional assessment requests must state the reason. Additional documents may be required depending on the goods and assessment needs.

Look Out Circulars (LOC) now processed through an online portal; designated nodal offices manage access and implementation.
Look Out Circulars (LOC) are to be processed exclusively through an Online LOC Portal effective 1 March 2024; prior routing by letters or emails is discontinued. Designation-based login credentials for nodal officers will be created by specified central offices, which are responsible for user creation, coordination, procedural guidance, and overall implementation for their respective field formations. Field formations must coordinate with their designated office for access and report portal difficulties to the Board via the nodal offices.

Postal import GST reduction applies lower IGST to eligible personal-use consignments, alongside revised duty calculations and clearance documentation requirements.
Postal imports for personal use under CTH 9804, where not prohibited, are subject to reduced 18% GST from 22 September 2025. Personal imports involving a monetary transaction attract 10% basic customs duty, social welfare surcharge on that duty, and 18% IGST; gift imports attract 20% basic customs duty, the surcharge, and 18% IGST. IGST is calculated on CIF value plus basic customs duty and social welfare surcharge. Import clearance requires prescribed KYC and supporting documents, while export clearance requires commodity-specific documentation.

Selection of Special Public Prosecutors for CBIC: applications from advocates with ten years' practice due Oct 25.
Applications are sought for appointment as Special Public Prosecutors for CBIC matters; applicants must be registered advocates with Karnataka State Bar Council with at least ten years' practice. Submit Proforma-A with supporting documentary proof of qualifications, enrolment, case experience, publications and income by October 25, 2025; interviews are scheduled for October 29, 2025. Initial appointments may be renewed after an annual performance assessment contingent on recommendations from the relevant Commissioner or ADG.

Airport baggage screening officers required to use BWCs for Red channel interactions with 30-day recording retention.
BWCs must be worn by officers processing passengers in the Red channel to record baggage examinations from the officer's perspective; recording begins on arrival/diversion to the Red channel and stops only with the Air Customs Superintendent's permission. A register records wearing, removal and handover, supervised transfer of data to a password-protected internal drive, daily hard-disk backup, and a minimum 30-day retention. BWCs are for official use only and weekly random reviews and monthly supervisory reviews with reporting obligations are required.

Customs duty structure clarified for post and courier imports, distinguishing personal, gift, and B2B consignments.
For CTH 9804, goods for personal use not prohibited by import law attract Basic Customs Duty, Social Welfare Surcharge and IGST; duty concession applies where commercial transaction is involved, with a specified combined duty percentage of assessable value. Consignments imported as gifts are subject to a higher combined duty rate due to an increased Basic Customs Duty component and resultant IGST calculation. B2B consignments are assessed as per tariff. For CTH 49011010 (printed books) a reduced Basic Customs Duty applies and SWS and IGST are nil.

Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations require electronic filing of correct arrival and departure messages and stakeholder outreach.
Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations implementation mandates phased operationalisation of electronic SCMTR messages, with SAM, SEI and SDM live and SF piloted; remaining messages to be operationalised by the systems directorate. Transitional provisions are extended, but stakeholders must file correct electronic declarations in the prescribed format in compliance with the Customs Act and SCMTR 2018. Chief Commissioners, in coordination with DG Systems, must conduct weekly outreach, publish notices, and report implementation difficulties to the Board.

Auto-approval of incentive bank account registrations enables system-granted cross-port IFSC acceptance and PFMS validation.
The system will automatically approve registration requests for the same Incentive Bank Account and IFSC Code for an Importer Exporter Code (IEC) at different customs locations if that identical account-IFSC combination has already been approved at any one customs location. Submission workflow remains unchanged, approvals in these cases bypass port officer manual routing, and once approved by the system the request will be sent to PFMS for validation as per existing process.

Unified electronic customs bonds enable automated execution, officer review, electronic signing, and bank guarantee linkage through digital systems.
The Single Unified Multi-Purpose Electronic Bond framework enables importers, exporters and customs brokers to execute an all-India electronic bond and link an electronic bank guarantee through ICEGATE and NeSL. Users submit entity, bond scenario, supporting-document and authorised-signatory details, complete Aadhaar validation, and undergo Customs officer scrutiny before stamp-duty payment and Aadhaar-based electronic signing. The system supports multiple prescribed Customs bond scenarios, tracks application status, and permits integrated-bank electronic guarantees to be linked to electronic or physical bonds after validation of applicant and bond-reference details.

Faceless assessment: importers must upload and link complete supporting documents in eSanchit to expedite clearance.
Importers must self-assess duty liability and upload legible supporting documents in eSanchit, properly linked by tagging IRNs to the relevant Bill of Entry. Include catalogue/technical literature, value-supporting papers, manufacturer details for antidumping, clear product parameters for electrical components, correct generic descriptions, and required registrations/certificates (BIS, MTCTE, WPC, LMPC, EPR) before filing. Select correct document codes, reply exhaustively to queries with IRNs, and state reasons when opting for provisional assessment under Section 18. The listed required documents for Group 5ACM are illustrative and not exhaustive.

Non-Basmati Rice exports allowed only after registration of export contracts with the agricultural export registration authority.
Exports of specified Non-Basmati Rice tariff lines under Chapter 10, Schedule II of ITC(HS) 2022 are allowed only upon registration of export contracts with the designated agricultural export registration authority; the Export Policy is amended to make such contract registration a prerequisite to export, effective 24 September 2025, and stakeholders must submit registration documentation before shipments are permitted.

Extension of CAVR Order validity for Linear Alkyl Benzene under Customs Act provisions renewed for one year.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, under the second proviso to section 14(1) of the Customs Act, 1962 read with sub rule (2) of rule 10 and rule 5 of the Customs (Assistance in Value Declaration of Identified Imported Goods) Rules, 2023, extends the validity of CAVR Order No. 01/2023-Customs (issued 18 September 2023) in respect of Linear Alkyl Benzene. The extension runs from 26 September 2025 until 25 September 2026, maintaining the valuation assistance and compliance framework for the specified imports.

First-time importer verification requires KYC documentation, broker due diligence, electronic filing, accurate declarations, and record retention for customs clearance.
First-time importers must undergo identity and compliance verification by submitting prescribed personal, business, banking, tax, and incorporation documents to the concerned Assessing Group. They must file Bills of Entry through ICEGATE with applicable supporting documents, ensure correct classification, valuation, import-policy compliance, duty declaration and online payment, and preserve records for audit. Customs Brokers must verify client identity, IEC correctness, antecedents, and functioning at the declared address. Importers already verified at another port, and who are not newly entering import activity, need not undergo further verification.