Electronic Delivery Orders streamline cargo clearance while preserving existing customs verification and allowing limited manual exceptions.
Introduction of Electronic Delivery Orders to replace paper-based delivery orders for cargo clearance, requiring Shipping Lines, Airlines, Consol Agents and Custodians to establish technical capability for secure electronic issuance and receipt, and encouraging electronic invoicing and e-payment of Delivery Order charges to avoid importer visits. Existing customs procedures, including verification, obtaining 'Out of Charge' and issuance of Gate Passes, remain unchanged. Manual Delivery Orders are allowed for specified categories or during technical failures. Chief Commissioners should facilitate stakeholder trials and implementation and report difficulties to the Board.

Part delivery of import consignments extended with revised timing rules and coverage for homogenous finished goods.
Part delivery of import consignments is available on revised time-based conditions. Consignments received between 12 noon and 12 midnight are eligible for part delivery at the beginning of the next working day, while consignments received after 12 midnight up to 12 noon are eligible after 5 PM of the same working day. The facility is extended to goods of homogenous nature, including finished goods, and the earlier facility notice is amended accordingly.

Service centre digitisation charges revised, with new vendor and prescribed maximum fees effective from the specified start date.
A new vendor, M/s XEAM Ventures Pvt. Ltd., was contracted to operate specified Customs Service Centres from 01.10.2015, and the notice prescribes maximum service charges for digitisation of documents. Rates are set separately for manual document processing (Bills of Entry/Shipping Bills, IGM, EGM, other documents, amendments, query handling) and for remotely filed ('RES') documents via ICEGATE (printing, query printing, amendment fees). Some printings and checklists attract no charge. Vendors must collect and remit applicable service tax to the government. Discrepancies are to be reported to the Additional Commissioner (Systems).

SEZ port code correction enables integration with customs EDI systems by substituting updated SEZ port codes in annexure.
Corrigendum substitutes correct SEZ port codes in the Annexure to Public Notice No. 13/2015 to align Special Economic Zone entries with DG System-allocated port codes for integration of SEZ online with Customs EDI Systems (ICES), replacing previously published port code values for the listed SEZs to ensure accurate electronic customs mapping.

Import General Manifest amendments require specified documentary proof; shipping lines bear filing responsibility and penalty liability.
Amendments to the Import General Manifest are classified as Major or Minor and require specified documents submitted initially to Import Noting-request/explanation letters, original or attested previous and revised Bills of Lading, consignee IEC or declaration, invoices/packing lists, overseas manifest correctors where needed, and NOCs or revenue group reports for certain amendments. Change-of-consignee and BL-number changes have targeted evidentiary safeguards. Filing responsibility and any penalties rest solely with the Shipping Line/Agent that filed the IGM. Special procedures apply for High-Seas Sales, transshipment to SEZs/FTWZs, and LCL HUB SMTP.

Fixing official responsibility required - Ministries must implement SAC recommendations and initiate action for lapses promptly.
Ministries must expedite implementation of Standing Audit Committee recommendations to ensure action is initiated against officers responsible for serious lapses in furnishing remedial or corrective Action Taken Notes on audit paragraphs, and put in place a system for fixing responsibility. All Ministries/Departments are directed to comply with the Public Accounts Committee's recommendations and monitor implementation; full recommendations are available on the PAC website.

Safeguard duties rebatable as drawback; claimable via Brand Rate when duties borne inputs are verified used in exports.
Safeguard duties on imports are rebatable as duty drawback but, because they are excluded from All Industry Rates, their refund must be claimed by applying for a Brand Rate; drawback is admissible only where inputs that bore safeguard duties were actually used in the exported goods as verified for Brand Rate fixation. If imported goods subject to safeguard duties are exported as such, drawback on export as such will include the safeguard duty component as part of total duties paid, subject to other drawback conditions.

Online transmission of MEIS scrips now auto-integrated into customs system; verify once at port before nationwide use.
MEIS scrips/licenses will be transmitted online from DGFT and integrated with ICES 1.5; they require only approval and a one-time verification at the port of registration and will thereafter be usable across India. Exporters/CHAs/CBs must select the "Y" option in Shipping Bills to enable transmission of data to DGFT. Manual registration will be discontinued for MEIS scrips but will continue for Chapter 3 schemes under the earlier FTP.

Out of Charge verification required before container exit: CFSs must check ICEGATE, originals and secure EDI approval if unavailable.
CFSs must verify authenticity of Out of Charge authorisations and accept lists from Shed Appraising Officers at 11 AM, 3 PM and 6 PM when system access is unavailable; custodians must maintain specimen signatures and ensure officer signatures on Bills of Entry. Before issuing gate passes CFSs shall check OOC status on ICEGATE and verify original Bill of Entry, OOC copy and original duty payment challan, and confirm the bearer's valid customs pass. If EDI is down or status is unupdated, clearance requires DC/AC (EDI) approval sent by official email to AC(EDI) with copy to AC(Docks). CFSs shall monitor and report suspicious movements to DC/AC (Docks).

Extra Duty Deposit online payment now required via ICES, blocking clearance until e-payment is completed.
Integration of an Extra Duty Deposit module in ICES 1.5 mandates online e payment of EDD: the Appraising Officer generates an invoice based EDD challan and forwards particulars to the bank; the system bars issuance of "Out of Charge" for a Bill of Entry until EDD is paid. Brokers and importers must verify challans before payment and may request the Appraiser to delete and reissue a challan if incorrect. Manual EDD payments are no longer accepted and the procedure is effective immediately.

Permission for ICD Ankleshwar operations under export promotion schemes now allowed, subject to specified procedural and product restrictions.
ICD Ankleshwar is authorised for imports and exports under the EPCG, Advance Authorisation and Duty Free Import Authorization schemes, excluding specific polyester/nylon textiles, fabrics, synthetic waste and non-ferrous metals. Permission is conditional: assessments by officer not below Assistant/Deputy Commissioner; chemical sampling of synthetic textile exports at prescribed laboratories; selective container/package weight checks; Shipping Bills/Bills of Entry submitted at least three working days in advance; and production of Release Advice where port of registration differs from port of import.

Transhipment permit authority reassigned to AC (Docks/CFS) to streamline movement to SEZs and ICDs.
Authority to grant transhipment permits for movement of cargo to SEZs, ICDs and other customs stations is reassigned to the AC (Docks/CFS) stationed at the CFS, GDKL, Vallarpadam, replacing prior requirement to obtain approval from the Customs House section and AC (Transhipment / I&B); implementation issues are to be notified to the Commissioner of Customs.

EGM filing compliance required; steamer agents must close pending EGMs in EDI or face penalties under customs law.
Requirement for timely filing and closure of Export General Manifests (EGM) is emphasized to ensure accurate export data and entitlement to export incentives. Masters or authorized agents must file EGMs within the statutory period after sailing; EGMs open in ICES Version 1.5 must be updated and closed by steamer agents through coordination with the Assistant Commissioner (MCD) or designated MCD officers.

Export of non-basmati rice restricted to privately held stocks; exporters must file self-declaration and procurement list.
Export of non basmati rice is limited to privately held stocks (including permitted State Trading Enterprises) and must be through Customs EDI ports, except specified non EDI LCS exports subject to DGFT quantity registration. Exporters must submit at filing a self declaration in the prescribed proforma confirming the rice is non basmati and from privately held stocks and provide all documents. Exports from Kakinada EDI port carry an additional requirement to submit, within ten days of vessel sailing, a procurement list with supplier name, full postal address with PIN code and quantities for all Shipping Bills of the vessel.

Customs test automation: CRCL module enables electronic sample forwarding and online test reports, expediting BE processing.
Introduction of a CRCL Test Module in ICES 1.5 creates an electronic workflow for forwarding customs samples to the designated Central Revenue Laboratory and receiving online test reports. It prescribes role-based actions: Group Appraising Officer to record test requirements and select lab; Group AO to generate Test Memo Numbers; Shed Examiner to draw, record and dispatch samples and print Test Memos; CRCL Admin to acknowledge receipt and assign tests; Lab Officers to enter or verify reports. Recorded reports advance the bill of entry for Shed AO action. The module applies only to the designated laboratory.

Valuation of second-hand machinery must be conducted and certified only by qualified Chartered Engineers, delegation prohibited.
Valuation and physical examination of imported second-hand machinery must be carried out and certified only by a professionally competent, qualified Chartered Engineer listed by the empanelled inspection agencies, with the inspecting engineer issuing the certificate; delegation to unauthorized or unqualified persons is prohibited.

Container movement time limits established for transfers between VCTPL and CFSs; compliance required within specified transit windows.
Prescribes maximum permissible transit durations for container movements between VCTPL and specified destinations: VPL Integral CFS - 2 hours and 30 minutes; CONCOR MMLP - 2 hours; L 17 area, docks - 45 minutes. These time windows apply to steamer agents, shipping lines, customs house brokers, CFS operators/custodians and main line operators. All prior instructions in Public Notice No. 22/2008 and No. 06/2013 continue to apply, and operational difficulties are to be reported to the Assistant Commissioner of Customs (Preventive).

Temporary road movement of Nepal-bound containers permitted to CTKR for onward rail dispatch under customs endorsements and continuity bond.
An interim procedure allows M/s CONCOR to move Nepal-bound containers by road from N.S. Docks to CTKR Rail Terminal, Majerhat, after Customs clearance and passed-out formalities. Containers will be loaded into CONCOR trucks in the presence of Customs Preventive Officers, with truck numbers endorsed on ICCD and Transit Permits; removal occurs on ICCD and a Port Removal Note. Movement is permitted on the strength of a continuity bond. At Majerhat containers are transferred to CONCOR wagons, Removal Notes endorsed with wagon and inland way bill numbers, certified copies provided to Customs and Port Authorities, and fortnightly ICCD-wise reconciliation statements furnished by CONCOR.

Imports: annexed chemical items are treated as not a drug; NOC not required except for specified annexure entries.
Public Notice No.13/2015 classifies a comprehensive annexed list of imported chemical and related items as Not A Drug for the purpose of seeking a No Objection Certificate from the Assistant Drug Controller at ACC, Mumbai. Specified serial-numbered exceptions in Annexures I, II and III remain subject to NOC; all remaining listed items may be considered Not A Drug and processed without ADC NOC. Importers and brokers may report implementation difficulties to the issuing office.

Trade facilitation: consolidate customs queries to prevent piecemeal reassessment and reduce clearance delays.
Officers must consolidate genuine clarification requests to importers instead of raising piecemeal queries; field formations should identify frequently raised query areas and disseminate them to trade. Commissioners must implement monthly reviews of query types and frequencies, prioritize reassessments after satisfactory replies, and sensitize importers about common errors. Difficulties in implementation should be reported to the Board.