Customs facilitation measures for Strait of Hormuz maritime disruptions continue, with existing conditions remaining unchanged through the extended validity period.
Customs facilitation measures issued under Section 143AA of the Customs Act, 1962, to address maritime-route disruptions arising from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, are extended until 30 June 2026. The existing facilities, terms and conditions under the specified Customs circulars remain unchanged. Implementation difficulties may be reported through the designated official email channel.

Container scanning procedure permits two 20 ft. containers on one trailer, with special rules for drive-through and mobile scanners.
Simultaneous loading and scanning of two 20 ft. containers on a single trailer is permitted at all JNCH container scanners. At a Drive-Through Container Scanner, both containers on the trailer are to be scanned if one unselected container is loaded together with a selected container, while in Mobile Scanner cases only the selected container is to be scanned. The procedure also requires split-image handling, possible bottle sealing where door access permits, and marking of the EIR slip as "Not sealed by Customs" where sealing is not feasible.

Right to information officer designation for Chennai IV export commissionerate assigns FAA, CPIO, CAPIO and link officers.
Designation of officers under the Right to Information Act, 2005 for Chennai IV (Export Commissionerate), Chennai, with immediate effect. Shri Kishor S is designated as the First Appellate Authority, Shri R. Shivakumar as the Central Public Information Officer, and Shri V.L. Aditya Prasad as the Central Assistant Public Information Officer, with their contact details specified for RTI-related communications. Shri Nixson D and Smt. Thayeebunnissa MG are named as first and second link officers for the Central Public Information Officer during absence.

Export incentive recovery for unrealised proceeds requires proof of realisation or repayment with interest under the compliance drive.
Recovery and reconciliation of export incentives such as Drawback, RoDTEP and RoSCTL are required where export sale proceeds are not realised or are realised only in part within the FEMA time limit. Exporters who have received such benefits must furnish proof of realisation through e-BRCs and supporting bank documents, or repay the proportionate incentive amount with applicable interest from the scroll date where proceeds remain non-realised or short realised. A compliance drive is provided for exporters identified in the annexure, with verification and rectification available through the ICEGATE portal and EDPMS reconciliation through authorised dealer banks.

Body Worn Camera compliance now mandatory for import cargo examination at customs stations under immediate effect.
Mandatory use of Body Worn Cameras has been made effective for physical examination of import cargo at Container Freight Stations, ICDs and ACCs under the Hyderabad Customs Commissionerate. The recording must start before opening of packages or containers and continue through completion of examination, covering inspection of goods, interaction with stakeholders, seals, verification of description and quantity, and sampling where required. Recordings must be securely stored for two years, with longer preservation where investigations, disputes or litigation are pending.

Export cargo fire damage addendum supplements the shipping bill list and seeks prompt discrepancy reporting.
An addendum to Public Notice No. 50/2026 supplements the list of export shipping bills affected by the fire incident at JWR CFS on 18.04.2026. An additional list, as submitted by JWR CFS, is enclosed for information and necessary action. Shipping bills damaged in the fire but not included in the list, or any discrepancy in the particulars, are to be reported promptly for rectification. All other contents of the earlier public notice remain unchanged.

Customs EDI system begins operations at ICD Kadakola with approved custodian, banking, and clearance facilities.
Indian Customs EDI System (ICES 1.5) has been brought into operation for import and export processing at ICD CONCOR, Kadakola, Mysuru, after successful pre-production trials and completion of computerized processing of Bills of Entry and Shipping Bills. The customs area at Kadakola has been approved for unloading imported goods and loading export goods, M/s. CONCOR has been appointed as custodian for imported and export cargo, and State Bank of India, ICD Kadakola, Mysuru Branch has been authorised for customs duty, drawback and refund transactions under the EDI system. M/s. CONCOR has been permitted to commence operations at the ICD, and stakeholders may use the specified helpdesk channels for operational clarifications.

GST refund processing by GSTN gets new ADDL role functionality for marking eligible shipping bills.
Additional/Joint Commissioner level functionality has been introduced in ICES for marking Shipping Bills for transmission to GSTN for GST refund processing under Rule 96 of the CGST Rules, 2017. The new option, "GST Refund to be processed by GSTN", enables field officers in the ADDL role to identify shipping bills for transfer to GSTN in cases covered by the specified refund provisions, while cases involving DGARM alerts for risky exporters continue to be transmitted in accordance with the existing mechanism.

Part delivery of out of charge cargo permitted at container freight stations without separate customs permission.
Part delivery of out of charge cargo at container freight stations is permitted as a trade facilitation measure in the jurisdiction of JNCH. Once a bill of entry has been granted out of charge by the RMS Facilitation Centre, the concerned CFS may allow part delivery without separate permission from the AC/DC, Docks. CFSs must maintain appropriate records of such part deliveries.

Auto-transshipment of SEZ-bound cargo in ICES streamlines clearance by removing manual approval and generating TP electronically.
Auto-transshipment of SEZ-bound cargo from gateway ports and airports has been enabled in ICES to digitize manual processing and reduce dwell time and demurrage. After assessment of the bill of entry, the system automatically generates the transshipment permit and delivers a copy to the registered email address. With the auto-TP feature activated, manual officer approval is no longer required, TP is not needed at the stage of goods registration, and the TP copy appears automatically under supporting documents once the goods are registered.

SEZ and bonded warehouse movement rules streamline Bill of Entry filing, ledger entries, and bond-based customs processing.
Facilitates system-enabled movement of goods between SEZ locations and custom bonded warehouses by prescribing the filing, assessment and ledger-debit/credit mechanism. For SEZ to warehouse movement, the DTA entity or SEZ unit files the Bill of Entry with the relevant importer type, warehouse code and bond details, without IGM details or duty payment. For warehouse to SEZ movement, the SEZ unit files a 'Z' type Bill of Entry, followed by assessment, bond debit, goods registration and out-of-charge after the relevant Ex Bond shipping bill and arrival formalities.

Non-food grade item declaration in Bill of Entry routed through Single Window and RMS processing.
Non-food grade items not meant for human or animal consumption may be declared in the Bill of Entry through the Single Window table using the prescribed information fields and code format. The declaration supports PGA-related filing, including applicable FSSAI declarations, in the specified BE_SW_INFO_TYPE structure. After submission, the request is routed through the Risk Management System, and cases involving refund claims are to be flagged by RMS and marked to the officer for processing.

SEZ to DTA concessional duty sales require Development Commissioner certification, ICEGATE filing, and mandatory value-addition declarations.
Eligible SEZ units may obtain a certificate from the jurisdictional Development Commissioner, after which the SEZ officer uploads the certificate particulars in ICEGATE and the unit is enabled to file Bills of Entry for concessional SEZ to DTA sales. A CERT value ledger is auto-generated in ICES, and the unit must file an 'M' type Bill of Entry quoting the e-Sanchit IRN and furnishing declarations regarding non-availment of export benefits, compliance with notification conditions, and minimum value addition.

Automated Goods Registration in ICES streamlines import processing for eligible importers with system-based registration and SMS alerts.
Automated Goods Registration in ICES has been enabled for specified import categories, replacing the existing web-based registration process. The facility is available for AEO T2 and T3 entities, eligible manufacturer importers, and importers availing Direct Port Delivery, subject in the case of eligible manufacturer importers to prior registration or approval by the Directorate of International Customs. Goods registration is automatically carried out by the system after assessment, with SMS notification on successful auto-registration.

Entry Inward and Sail-out Clearance must follow statutory filings, with vessel boarding limited to risk-based checks.
Standardisation of procedures for grant of Entry Inward and Vessel Sail-out Clearance under the Customs Act, 1962, by clarifying that such clearance is governed by the statutory filing and verification framework and is not to be made contingent upon physical boarding of Customs officers on the vessel. Physical boarding is an independent statutory process, to be undertaken separately under the applicable legal provisions and imported stores regulations, where required. The circular directs prompt clearance upon filing of the requisite documents and completion of prescribed checks, with physical boarding undertaken only on a risk-based basis.

Sample collection and dispatch procedure streamlined for timely testing, courier payment, and same-day movement of customs samples.
Streamlining of sample collection and dispatch by the Central Sample Cell, JNCH requires twice-daily visits to CFSs for sealed sample collection, same-day deposit of samples for CRCL and Textile Committee laboratories, and same-day courier dispatch for specified laboratories. Courier charges and laboratory testing charges are to be borne by the Importer, Customs Broker or CFS and paid before collection, with CSC collection starting only after payment confirmation. Boarding Point and JNCH Port Terminal samples are to be collected once daily.

Custodianship renewal under cargo handling regulations extends CFS operation subject to compliance with prescribed conditions.
Custodianship of the CFS operated by M/s. Calyx Container Terminals Pvt. Ltd., Chennai, is renewed under Regulation 10 and Regulation 13 of the Handling of Cargo in Customs Areas Regulations, 2009. The custodianship is extended for a further period of five years and remains subject to strict compliance with the conditions prescribed under HCCAR, 2009 and other applicable provisions.

Customs circular validity extended for maritime disruption relief, keeping earlier facilities and conditions unchanged until 30 June 2026.
Extension of the validity of specified customs circulars issued under Section 143AA of the Customs Act, 1962, in response to maritime route disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The extended facilities under the earlier circulars continue in force up to 30 June 2026, while all other terms and conditions remain unchanged. Any implementation difficulty may be brought to the Board for further action.

Hazardous cargo declaration and system flagging streamline import clearance for listed goods across customs formations.
Identification and import clearance of hazardous cargo is to be streamlined through system-based marking of Bills of Entry and mandatory item-level declaration by importers. Where imported goods fall under the corresponding Chapters listed in Annexure-A, the importer must declare hazardous cargo at the item level, and the Bill of Entry will be flagged for expeditious processing. The facility is to be implemented across all customs formations, with corresponding modifications in RMS to improve facilitation.

RTI Act jurisdiction updates for customs offices revise designated information officers, appellate authority, and fee payment arrangements.
Updated jurisdictional assignments under the RTI Act, 2005 were notified for the Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive), Custom House, Kolkata after transfer of charges. The notice identifies the designated Central Public Information Officers and the corresponding first appellate authority, with Annexure-A serving as the updated reference for the relevant offices and jurisdictional coverage. The annexure lists the concerned officers, their office addresses, designations and territorial or functional jurisdictions across the Customs formations, and specifies the notified officer and RBI account arrangement for payment of fees.