e SANCHIT pilot: digitally signed supporting documents uploaded on ICEGATE with IRN linkage to Bills of Entry.
The e SANCHIT pilot at Air Cargo Complex, Kolkata allows authorized persons to digitally sign and upload supporting documents on ICEGATE from 15.03.2018, obtain IRN/DRN identifiers, and link IRNs to Bills of Entry; Customs will assess and perform Post Clearance Compliance Verification using electronic documents while specified originals must still be presented at goods registration and retained for production to Customs or PGAs.

Forwarding of samples for testing to outside laboratories: field formations may forward specified samples to designated labs.
Customs field formations may directly forward samples of specified goods that Revenue Laboratories cannot test to identified external or empanelled laboratories. Field formations must follow the sampling technique prescribed by the receiving laboratory and confirm sampling requirements beforehand. For live consignments, samples must be sent promptly and laboratories requested to upload test reports for online access. If laboratory turnaround exceeds three days, the importer must be offered the warehouse option. Testing charges are payable by the importer or exporter. The procedure excludes cases where Partner Government Agencies draw samples.

Paperless processing under SWIFT: mandatory for Appraising Groups 1 and 4; supporting documents must be uploaded on ICEGATE.
Implementation of Paperless Processing under SWIFT requires supporting documents for each Bill of Entry to be uploaded on ICEGATE per the referenced procedures. Pilot operations have been converted to a mandatory regime for Appraising Group 1 and Appraising Group 4 from 01.03.2018. For Appraising Groups 2, 3, 5 and 6, uploading is optional though importers and Custom House Agents are encouraged to use the e-SANCHIT application. Implementation difficulties are to be reported to the Additional Commissioner (Technical), ICD, Tughla-kabad (Import).

Export promotion cells to administer duty free and concessional imports and to monitor compliance and recovery procedures.
Establishes Export Promotion Cells to assume Customs functions formerly managed by Central Excise/GST officers for EOUs/EHTP/STPI units, including issuance of procurement, installation and reconciliation certificates, scrutiny of periodical returns, processing of bonds and LUTs, PBW/IBMSO application processing and renewals, acceptance of job work intimations, permissions for destruction, factory stuffing/self sealing export verification, monitoring of utilisation and initiation of recovery proceedings, collection of duty on DTA clearances, execution of bonds and maintenance of related registers and records.

Inspection without Delivery Order allowed; goods still released only on production of Delivery Order to expedite import clearance.
Customs will permit inspection of imported goods without production of a Delivery Order to reduce cargo dwell time; custodians, importers or brokers must present goods when registered for examination, but cargo will be released only upon production of the Delivery Order.

IGST refund FAQs clarify claims filing and disbursal procedures; published guidance is available online for exporters.
Administrative guidance issues IGST refund FAQs to clarify filing and disbursal procedures for IGST refund claims; FAQs are posted on the Customs zone website under Refund Export and stakeholders may notify the issuing office of any remaining difficulties.

Paperless Customs document submission via e-SANCHIT enables electronic uploading, IRN linking, and online assessment processes.
The e-SANCHIT facility requires stakeholders to upload digitally signed supporting documents for Bills of Entry and Shipping Bills via ICEGATE, obtain and link unique Image Reference Numbers (IRNs) when documents are added after bill generation or in response to queries, and ensures assessment, examination and post-clearance verification will be conducted using electronic documents while originals that must be verified are still to be produced as required; authorized persons must retain originals for five years and follow prescribed linkage and submission procedures.

IGST refunds on exported goods require GST-return and Customs shipping bill data to match for automated processing.
IGST refunds for exported goods require reconciliation of GST return data with Customs shipping bill records; a shipping bill plus filed EGM and valid return constitutes the refund application under Rule 96, and the Customs refund module automatically validates and processes refunds, with specific error codes (SB000-SB006) identifying mismatches and prescribed corrective steps such as amending GSTR-1 via Form 9A or approaching the shipping line to file EGM, and exporters must ensure accurate GST-compliant invoice and shipping bill details and validated PFMS bank details to receive refunds.

GST customs jurisdiction changes in the Chennai Zone: revised allocations and annexure issued for handling Customs-related GST work.
GST Trade Notice No.007/2018 amends Trade Notice No.003/2018 to revise the allocation of Customs-related GST work in the Chennai Zone, issuing a revised annexure that specifies which reorganised Customs formations (including Customs (Preventive) commissionerates) will handle Customs work for each GST & Central Excise commissionerate, with detailed territorial inclusions and exclusions, contact details, and cross-references to prior notifications and public notices.

Guest house allotment policy sets eligibility, priority and charges for departmental transit accommodation and booking procedures.
Rates, eligibility and administrative rules govern the departmental transit guest house at Custom House, Cochin. The Competent Authority controls allotment, maintenance and booking; allotment follows a specified priority order, applications are ordinarily required seven days in advance with confirmation three days before stay, and occupancy limits and special rules apply for transfers, medical stays and private visits. Room entitlements correspond to officer categories and a tariff schedule differentiates on duty and private visit charges. Occupants must pay charges, maintain register entries, and are liable for damage; inventories and periodic verifications are mandated.

IGST refund error rectification: exporters must check ICEGATE status and follow the Guide's error-code rectification measures.
Advisory requires exporters to check IGST refund status and error codes against shipping bills via ICEGATE, create an ICEGATE account if needed, and follow the Annexure A Guide explaining error codes and rectification measures; difficulties may be reported to the Assistant Commissioner of Customs, Drawback & GST Refund at Air Cargo Complex, NSCBI Airport, Kolkata.

Extended Producer Responsibility requires prior authorisation for importing listed electronic goods, enforceable through prescribed application procedures.
EPR authorisation from the Central Pollution Control Board is required for importers offering to sell electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule I of the E Waste (Management) Rules, 2016, including components, consumables, parts and spares; producers importing such goods must apply for EPR authorisation in the prescribed Form 1 and comply to avoid import clearance difficulties.

Direct Port Delivery extension allows importers to receive non-selected containers under No Use Bond pending PGA clearances.
DPD importers may take delivery of containers not selected for examination to their premises on execution of a No Use Bond, while containers selected for examination, PGA clearance or NOC shall be moved to an approved CFS. Sampling by PGAs may be conducted at terminal, bonded warehouse or preferred CFS with resealing and movement under No Use Bond. No Use Bonds may be single or continuity bonds, are registrable with Customs, and cover circumstances pending PGA NOC or when containers are selected for examination; misuse triggers examination and penal action.

Power to summon CDR/SDR details enables customs officers to obtain telecom records directly without DRI referral.
Field formations of Customs may obtain SDR/CDR and customer details directly from telecom service providers by invoking the summons powers under Section 108 of the Customs Act, 1962; telecom providers' reliance on the Telegraph Act does not preclude compliance with such summons. DRI likewise uses this summons power, so routine referrals to DRI for obtaining telecom records are unnecessary.

Change in customs jurisdiction: Customs formations now manage brand rate fixation, bond/LUT acceptance and concessional import controls.
Operational handling of brand rate fixation, acceptance of B 17 bond/LUT, EOUs, and duty free or concessional imports has been transferred to Customs formations from 15 January 2018; Commissionerate of Customs IV, Chennai is the jurisdictional authority for the specified GST & Central Excise territories. A Brand Rate Fixation Cell will process brand rate applications through filing, verification and competent authority determination. An Export Promotion Division will administer EOU/EHTP/STP matters, duty free and concessional import controls, bond execution and monitoring, verification of EPCG installations, and related demand and recovery functions.

Risk Management System in exports streamlines clearance while enabling targeted verification and post-clearance audit.
The Risk Management System (RMS) creates an electronic risk-based process in ICES to determine whether Shipping Bills receive a Let Export Order or are routed for assessment and/or physical examination. RMS processes Shipping Bill data at submission and after amendments, issues instructions that appraising and examining officers must follow, and classifies consignments as facilitated, inspected before LEO, or interdicted for verification. The system integrates Compulsory Compliance Requirements from Allied Acts, mandates document submission at goods registration and LEO, and enables selection of post-LEO Shipping Bills for Post Clearance Audit.

Pass validity rules for customs broker employees: H passes two-year (or until licence), G passes coterminous with licence.
H category passes will be issued or renewed valid for two years from date of issue or until the Customs Broker License validity, whichever is earlier; G category passes will be issued or renewed valid until the Customs Broker License. Issuance and renewal are subject to CBLR, 2013 provisions including antecedent verification, and brokers must notify the CB Section and ensure surrender of passes when employees are removed.

Authorized Economic Operator program: AEO cell created to assist applicants and deliver tiered customs facilitation benefits.
The notice promotes the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program at Kandla Custom House, describing tiered AEO certification (AEO-T1, T2, T3; AEO-LO) and attendant facilitation measures-including Direct Port Delivery/Entry, deferred duty payment for higher tiers, expedited refunds and drawback, acceptance of self-certified origin documents, paperless declarations and mutual recognition benefits-and establishes an AEO Cell at New Customs House, Kandla with designated officers and a Client Relationship Manager to assist applicants and accept submissions per Board Circulars.

IGST refund clarification released to address exporter representations and direct circulation to customs leadership for awareness.
The Board issued FAQs on IGST refund to address representations from exporters and trade associations about pending refund claims, clarifying eligibility, documentation, procedure and timelines; recipients (Principal Chief Commissioners and Chief Commissioners of Customs) are directed to circulate the FAQ to the EXIM community to create awareness, pursuant to Member (Customs) approval.

Customs functions reallocation clarifies which Cochin customs formations will handle specified functions within their jurisdictions.
The corrigendum substitutes paragraph 4 of the earlier public notice to provide that specified customs functions previously handled by Central Tax and Central Excise officers will be handled by the officers of the Commissioner of Customs, Custom House, Cochin and the Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), Cochin, each within their respective jurisdictions and effective from the date referenced in the original notice.