Faceless assessment enables electronic Bill of Entry verification, remote re-assessment, and coordinated port action for examination and provisional clearance.
Faceless Assessment Groups will verify electronically filed Bills of Entry using risk-based selection, may accept self-assessment or seek additional documents electronically, order examinations or testing through port shed officers, and may re-assess with a speaking order after affording an opportunity of hearing; exceptional transfers to Port Assessment Group are permitted for intelligence, suspected confiscation, valuation or inability to verify, with supervisory approvals and recorded reasons.

Faceless Assessment roll out covers Delhi and Mumbai zones for specified tariff chapters, with electronic ICES workflows and port roles.
Faceless Assessment was expanded w.e.f. 03.08.2020 to include Delhi and Mumbai zones and extended at Chennai and Bengaluru for imports under Chapters 50-71, 84, 85 and 86-92; Bills of Entry are assigned by the Customs Automated System to Faceless Assessment Groups (FAGs) for electronic verification while Port Assessment Groups (PAGs) at the port of import retain responsibility for physical examination, testing, bond/BG registration via Turant Suvidha Kendra, and actions under restriction/prohibition provisions; electronic communication and specified ICES roles govern queries, amendments, provisional assessment, reassessment, speaking orders and appellate/review channels.

AD Code/IFSC registration requires electronic upload and bank email verification via E Sanchit on ICEGATE for IGST refunds and remittances.
Exporters must use ICEGATE/E Sanchit to register or modify AD Code/IFSC with bank account details by uploading scanned documents: prescribed bank authorisation letter, IEC, GST registration certificate, entity PAN, authorised signatory PAN, and cancelled cheque; modifications also require a bank NOC. Banks should send the authorisation letter/NOC directly from branch email to the designated EDI email; absent direct bank email, the Commissionerate will verify genuineness with the bank and, after verification, the EDI Section will process the request the same day.

e-Office adoption encourages electronic submissions in searchable PDF with contact details to obtain diary numbers for correspondence.
Launch of e-Office in the Principal Commissioner's Office, Kochi establishes a paperless environment to enhance efficiency, transparency, accountability and data security. Taxpayers are urged to submit communications electronically in searchable PDF format and to include mobile and email contacts to receive acknowledgements by SMS/email; the Department will issue a Diary Number for future reference. Trade bodies are requested to circulate the notice and report difficulties or suggestions.

Faceless assessment expansion enables remote electronic verification and reassessment of import declarations, centralising assessment and port coordination.
The notice expands the roll-out of Faceless Assessment to additional customs zones, designates Faceless Assessment Groups and Port Assessment Groups, prescribes new ICES roles (VAO, VDC, VDN), mandates exclusive electronic exchange via ICEGATE and e Sanchit for assessment-related communications, and allocates responsibilities for examination, provisional assessment, bond registration at the Turant Suvidha Kendra, reassessment procedures including speaking orders, appeal and review routes, and exceptional transfer or recall of bills between FAG and PAG.

Faceless assessment for Chapter 29 centralizes expert classification, valuation, RMS compliance, and mandated reporting.
Phase 2 faceless assessment for Chapter 29 places a Nodal Commissionerate-led Faceless Assessment Group (FAG) responsible for uniform classification, valuation, exemption scrutiny, immediate processing of bills of entry, strict compliance with RMS instructions, maintaining a shared knowledge repository (including product descriptions, valuation circulars, NIDB checks, anti-dumping notices and precedents), focused electronic queries, avoidance of routine first-checks, issuance of speaking orders within statutory timeframes, administrative review and appeals handling, and detailed fortnightly reporting via the Annexure A register.

Faceless assessment expands virtual appraisal roles and system monitoring to centralize customs assessment processes.
Implementation of Phase II of the Faceless Assessment creates VAO, VDC and VDN roles in ICES for faceless appraisal, prescribes nomination and allocation of officers to specified groups and sites, and requires that VAO/VDC undertake assessment-related tasks (queries, online replies, amendments, e Sanchit submissions) while non-assessment functions remain with the Port of Import. VDN may reallocate BEs and, in exceptional approved cases, push BEs to Port of Import; First Check returns BEs to FAG, whereas post-Second Check recall or reassessment is handled at Port of Import. Monitoring dashboards and pendency reports are provided for oversight.

Customs Inland Manifest requirement to be filed before export cargo departs, enabling eSeal tracking and risk-based facilitation.
Exporters using eSeal must file a Customs Inland Manifest (CIM) for each rail/truck movement before cargo leaves their premises, quoting Shipping Bill numbers; a CIM may cover multiple Shipping Bills but must be filed per conveyance. Exporters must obtain ICEGATE registration, follow the uploaded technical guidance and message format, and may use the Excel utility to generate JSON for submission. CIM and eSeal readings will be shared with RMS for real time tracking; port officers can verify CIM details and record match or tamper status to support risk based facilitation where intact eSeals may avoid examination.

Faceless assessment expanded: electronic assignment, verification, and re assessment workflows enforced with port responsibility for on site functions.
Faceless assessment is expanded to additional Customs Zones and tariff chapters with bills of entry assigned by the Customs Automated System to designated Faceless Assessment Groups for verification by risk based selection; such groups may accept self assessment, seek documents, order examination or testing, re assess with a speaking order, or transfer cases to the Port Assessment Group for on site functions. Ports of import remain responsible for physical examination, bond registration via Turant Suvidha Kendra, statutory permissions and processing of demands, with all communications and amendments mandated through ICEGATE and e Sanchit.

Faceless Assessment expansion centralises customs appraisal across additional zones and assigns local appellate jurisdiction for import appeals.
2nd phase roll-out of Faceless Assessment expands operational coverage to additional Customs Zones and specified Appraisement Groups, subsuming the first phase. The Board nominates specific senior Commissioners as Nodal Commissioners to monitor faceless-assigned Bills of Entry and ensure speedy, uniform electronic assessments. Notification No.63/2020-Customs (N.T.) empowers jurisdictional Commissioners of Customs (Appeals) at the place of import to decide appeals arising from faceless assessments even where the assessing officer is located elsewhere, and trade is to be guided by public notices with implementation issues reported to the Board.

Amendment under section 149: cancellation of OOC requires DC/AC approval before AO/EDI acts; bank account registration requires bank verification.
Cancellation of Out of Charge status to permit amendments under the Customs Act is to be undertaken by AO/EDI only after prior approval of the Deputy/Assistant Commissioner of the concerned group and the Deputy/Assistant Commissioner (EDI), identifying the DC/AC as the proper officer; AO/EDI will cancel the OOC in ICES after such approvals. Bank account registration with AD code and IFSC requires IEC submission via E Sanchit; EA/TA EDI verifies bank authorisation/NOC and obtains bank confirmation if needed, then places the verified request before AO/EDI, who approves registration/modification after satisfying compliance with public notices.

Prohibition on PABA in health supplements: imported products containing PABA will be refused clearance immediately.
Imported health supplements and nutraceutical products containing PABA (Para Amino Benzoic Acid) are banned and shall not be cleared for import; affected manufactured or imported products must be withdrawn from the market. Customs directs importers, brokers and trade associations to publicise the ban; the notice is to be treated as a Standing Order and queries are to be referred to the Additional Commissioner (Technical).

Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecommunications Equipment requires certification before import or sale, effective from October.
Mandatory testing and certification under MTCTE Phase II requires testing and certification of specified telecommunications equipment (Transmission Terminal Equipment, PON family broadband equipment, and feedback devices) via the MTCTE portal; applications accepted from 25 June 2020 and certification mandatory for import, sale or use with effect from 1 October 2020.

Customs duty exemption review: public invited to submit suggestions online; departmental officers to promote participation.
An online public consultation has been launched to solicit suggestions for review of Customs duty exemption notifications and Customs laws and procedures via the MyGov Innovate portal. Stakeholders including importers, exporters, brokers, shipping agents, custodians, trade associations and the public are invited to submit inputs within the prescribed submission window. The notice directs departmental officers to promote the initiative and treats the Public Notice as a Standing Order for creating awareness and facilitating participation; difficulties may be reported to the Commissioner.

Health supplements containing PABA banned; immediate prohibition on manufacture, sale and import clearance of such products.
The instruction mandates an immediate prohibition on the use of PABA (Para Amino Benzoic Acid) in health supplements and nutraceuticals, prohibits further manufacturing with PABA, requires withdrawal of products already manufactured or imported, directs e commerce operators to de list such products immediately, and instructs Authorized Officers and Customs to prevent clearance of imported products containing banned ingredients and to ensure mandatory compliance.

Telecommunications equipment: testing and certification for specified Phase II devices mandatory from 1 October 2020; applications accepted online.
Mandatory testing and certification under phase II of the MTCTE regime makes testing and certification compulsory for Transmission Terminal Equipment (SDH, multiplexing), PON family broadband equipment (PON ONT, PON ONU, PON OLT) and Feedback Devices from 1 October 2020; applications were acceptable on the MTCTE portal from 25 June 2020, and certification is required for sale, import or use in India. Customs and departmental officers must issue instructions to ensure trade compliance and report implementation issues to the Board.

Adoption of e-Office encourages PDF electronic communications with contact details for immediate acknowledgement and diary reference.
Launch of e-Office in the Audit Commissionerate, Kochi implements a transition to a paperless environment to improve efficiency, transparency, accountability and service delivery. Taxpayers are encouraged to use electronic communications in PDF, preferably searchable, and to provide mobile and email details to receive immediate acknowledgements and a Diary Number for future reference.

Customs duty exemption review: public crowdsourcing portal invites stakeholder suggestions to reform exemptions and customs procedures.
An administrative instruction establishes an online public consultation to solicit suggestions for review of Customs duty exemption notifications and related customs laws and procedures, directs field formations to promote the portal and encourage stakeholder participation, and asks that any difficulties in implementation be reported to the Board.

First-time importer verification: documentary and address checks require submission of registration, bank certification, and payment proof.
First-time importer verification requires submission one week before consignment arrival of GST/VAT/Sales Tax registration, a bank certificate confirming account maintenance and remittance purpose, proof of payment through the importer's account, last year balance sheet, and last tax return; customs brokers must assist and SIIB/ICD/CFS authorities will conduct document and physical address verification, trigger alerts on adverse findings, and supervise examinations, with manufacturer-exporters exempt from SIIB NOC but traders subject to SIIB verification.

Import of livestock products: no customs sealed samples for No Testing lines; clearance on Veterinary Health Certificate via SWS.
Consignments of livestock products classified in the No Testing category will not require customs sealed samples for AQCS clearance; instead AQCS clearance will be granted on the Single Window System based on a Veterinary Health Certificate uploaded with the Bill of Entry, while Customs must ensure physical identification of those consignments under existing laws. This change takes immediate effect for the listed tariff lines mapped under the Risk Management System.