Unclaimed containers reporting: Port-wise data on plant and plant products required urgently for inter-agency review.
Request for port-wise reporting of unclaimed containers holding plant and plant products abandoned or confiscated by Customs or custodians, to be compiled by Customs formations and forwarded to the Board for transmission to the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmer Welfare; the reminder reiterates an earlier directive and attaches Central CCFC meeting minutes, classifying the submission as top priority and most urgent.

Electronic Delivery Order implementation: phased rollout requiring airlines and consolidators to issue online delivery orders, with temporary manual exceptions.
Introduction of an Electronic Delivery Order messaging regime at Air Cargo Complex, Bengaluru, with a two-phase rollout requiring airlines to issue electronic delivery orders to direct-delivery customers first and consolidators/freight forwarders thereafter, while permitting retention or temporary issuance of manual delivery orders in specified categories or upon electronic failures.

Appeal procedure for imported food enables referral re testing and hierarchical review up to the Director of Imports.
FSSAI's SOP for import clearance sets a two tier appeal and re testing mechanism: Technical Officers draw samples at bonded warehouses and send them to NABL accredited notified labs; importers may request the Authorised Officer to refer a second sample to a referral lab, and may further appeal the Authorised Officer's order to the Director (Imports). The Imports Division reviews such appeals in consultation with other divisions and communicates the final outcome to the Authorised Officer, with an objective to dispose of appeals within fifteen days.

Continuity bonds compliance required: failure to re export within the stipulated period triggers customs duty recovery and possible penal action.
Continuity Bonds for temporary importation of durable containers require re export within the stipulated period, timely application for extensions from Proper Officers as per standing procedure, and submission of monthly statements of containers pending re export. Failures to comply with these conditions have been observed. Non compliance will result in enforcement to recover customs duty with applicable interest and may attract penal action under the Customs Act.

Re-import procedure for drugs: mandatory sampling, government lab testing, and conditional reprocessing under official oversight.
ADC NOC for re-imported drugs requires sampling for complete testing with samples sent to Government/approved laboratories; consignments meeting standards are released. If re-imported material is NSQ, the manufacturer's undertaking may allow release for reprocessing only in the presence of Drugs Inspectors or Port Office representatives, subject to the decision of the concerned DDC(I), and the State Drug Controller/Zonal Officer must be informed.

Temporary duty-free import on bonds requires re-export within six months and renewal of bonds to reflect revised values.
Containers may be temporarily imported duty-free on execution of a bond specifying container number and type, subject to re-export within six months or permitted extension. Revised bond values per container type apply with immediate effect for 2016; fresh bonds should be submitted for the calendar year though existing 2016 bonds remain valid until expiry. Evidence of re-export must be filed within 30 days of actual export; failure to re-export entails payment of duty on actual container value plus interest. The Notice supersedes prior public notices.

Prohibition on import of handsets with fake or duplicate IMEIs: customs verification of GSMA issued IMEI certificates required for clearance.
Customs clearance is conditioned on presentation of consignment wise IMEI certificates obtained by Type Allocation Holders through GSMA registration and ICDR validation. Customs officers must verify via the ICDR that IMEIs are genuine, allocated to the declared Type Allocation Holder, match the declared make/model and form factor, and have not been previously recorded entering India. ICDR risk markings drive verification intensity: green channel consignments face randomized sampling checks, while red channel consignments may be treated as prohibited imports subject to penalties and confiscation under Customs law.

Ornamental fish export health certification: local authorities must inspect, certify consignments and submit certificates to MPEDA.
Ornamental fish exports to the EU require Health Certification issued by Local Competent Authorities designated and overseen by MPEDA and the Export Inspection Agency as Central Competent Authority. LCAs must inspect consignments at least 24 hours before export, certify stock to importing country specifications, issue Health Certificates, submit copies to MPEDA Regional Offices, and report non compliance; MPEDA may withdraw LCA designation for failures. The notice includes the model EU veterinary certificate, an empanelled list of officials authorised from 9 December 2015, serialisation rules, required seals, and a prescribed issuance fee.

Temporary importation without duty requires continuity bonds and re export within six months, with revised bond amounts prescribed.
Importation of durable containers temporarily without payment of duty is permitted on execution of a continuity bond specifying container number and type, subject to re export within six months. Revised bond amounts by container type are prescribed with immediate effect; steamer agents/importers must execute additional bonds for the differential within one month. Continuity bonds must notify the Customs Container Cell, may be specific or general, require evidence of re export within 30 days, and allow extensions of the six month period on sufficient cause.

No Objection Certificate requirement for exports of drugs, medical devices and cosmetics waived; exporters must follow import regulations.
Requirement that exporters obtain a No Objection Certificate for shipping bills for exports of drugs, medical devices and cosmetics will not be insisted upon for consignments to specified foreign destinations; stakeholders must nevertheless comply with the regulatory requirements of the importing countries when preparing export documentation.

Car pass system for cross-border cargo allows monitored single-entry vehicle transit to Bangladesh and same day return.
A triplicate Car Pass issued at the Indian exit LCS records vehicle, driver/crew, vehicle-identification, cargo and consignor/consignee details; original is retained by Indian Customs, two copies accompany the vehicle, Bangladesh Customs endorses entry, retains duplicate, returns triplicate, and on re-entry Indian Customs verifies and reconciles the triplicate with the original, confirming particulars and noting re-entry time.

Hub point designation for centralized consolidation of LCL export cargo enabling sealed transference and coordinated customs re-stuffing.
ICD-TNPM is declared a Hub Point for consolidation/re-working of LCL export cargo from other ICDs/CFSs. Custodians permit carriers and consolidators to accept, store, examine and consolidate LCL cargo, exporters may nominate shipping lines or defer to custodians, consignments must not be split, and packages opened for examination shall be sealed by Customs with identification marks. After customs clearance transference copies and documents accompany sealed packages; custodians consolidate irrespective of carrier, stuff and seal containers in Customs presence, maintain signed container-wise tally sheets, and one transference copy is retained by Customs while the other is returned to the origin ICD/CFS.

Customs valuation empanelment of chartered engineers - importer bears professional charges; empanelment subject to performance reporting.
A list of specified Chartered Engineers/Fellows is empanelled to provide customs valuation of second hand machinery and other goods within the Commissionerate; empanelment is effective immediately for one year. Empanelled valuers must submit half yearly self appraisal reports in a prescribed format for performance assessment. Professional charges for valuation are to be borne by the importer, calculated by a base fee or a percentage of assessed value, subject to a ceiling. Trade may engage the empanelled valuers for customs valuation services.

Waiver of Cost Recovery charges: exemption applied prospectively where ICD Dhannad met prescribed operational benchmarks.
The Chief Commissioner authorized a prospective exemption from Cost Recovery Charges for M/S Pegasus Inland Container Depot (ICD Dhannad) after verification that the facility met prescribed two year operational benchmarks and document processing thresholds under CBEC circulars and delegated instructions permitting exemption for eligible ICDs/CFS.

Hub Point designation for LCL export consolidation enables centralized re-working, sealing and documentary transference before shipment.
ICD-TNPM of M/s. Container Corporation of India Ltd. is declared a Hub Point for consolidation/re-working of LCL export cargo from other ICDs/CFSs. Custodians must allot space for storage, examination and consolidation, allow exporter nomination of shipping lines or nominate destination-wise, and ensure consignments under one shipping bill are not split. Customs will inspect, seal and endorse transference copies of Shipping Bills and AR4, after which custodians and shipping lines will consolidate, stuff and seal containers in Customs' presence and maintain signed container-wise tally sheets recording old and new container numbers and shipping bill details. Drawback is payable at inland ICDs/CFSs upon inland clearance, and re-examination at ICD-TNPM is restricted absent tampering or intelligence.

Ornamental fish export health certification: designated local authorities must inspect, certify, and report consignments prior to EU export.
Ornamental fish exported to the EU must carry health certificates issued by designated Local Competent Authorities empanelled by MPEDA; LCAs must inspect consignments at least 24 hours before export, issue certificates per the enclosed EU veterinary format, submit copies to MPEDA regional offices, and report non-compliant consignments. MPEDA and the Export Inspection Agency act as Central Competent Authorities with authority to designate, monitor, suspend or withdraw LCAs. Operational rules on certificate numbering, seals and a provisional fee of 500 INR are specified.

Taxpayers' Day establishes direct access to the Principal Commissioner for grievance redressal and trade facilitation under non adversarial tax administration.
The Board has institutionalised a Taxpayers' Day at the Air Customs Commissionerate, Bengaluru, during which the Principal Commissioner will be accessible without appointment to receive and address importers', exporters' and other taxpayers' grievances, as part of a broader move toward non-adversarial tax administration, procedural simplification, reduced official-taxpayer interface, expansion of the tax base and improved compliance.

Post-clearance amendments in shipping bills now require submission through the MCD Export section with attested supporting documents.
Post-clearance amendments to shipping bills under Section 149 are to be processed through the MCD (Export) Section; applications must be addressed to the Additional Commissioner of Customs (Export) and submitted to the D.O.S./S.T.A. of MCD (Export) against proper acknowledgement, and must be accompanied by self certified copies of the customs attested shipping bill, invoice, packing list, airway bill and other relevant documents.

Round-the-clock customs clearance extended to Krishnapatnam port, enabling facilitated bills of entry and specified export clearances.
The Board extended 24x7 Customs clearance to Krishnapatnam Sea Port for imports via facilitated Bills of Entry and exports comprising factory stuffed containers and goods under free Shipping Bills, and directed Chief Commissioners to deploy sufficient officers on a continuous basis, issue Public Notices or Standing Orders, widely publicize the measure, and report any difficulties to the Board.

Indirect Tax Ombudsman complaints process enables resolution of customs and excise grievances through mediation or enforceable awards.
Notice sets out that the Indirect Tax Ombudsman will receive written complaints after the complainant first approaches the departmental Grievance Cell or a superior and either receives no reply within one month or is dissatisfied with the response. Complaints must state facts and relief sought and may be signed by an authorised representative. The Ombudsman may settle matters by conciliation, mediation or by passing an award; proceedings are summary, not bound by formal evidence rules, and confidentiality is maintained subject to natural justice.