Extended Producer Responsibility for used oil requires producers and importers to register, undertake compliance and submit EPR certification.
Producers (including importers) of base oil, lubrication oil and other oils used as lubricants must register on the CPCB EPR portal and fulfil phased used-oil recycling obligations; until the portal is launched, Customs may clear specified HS-coded consignments on receipt of a producer/importer undertaking to comply and to submit EPR registration when available. The rules mandate registration of producers, collection agents, recyclers and used oil importers, set certificate-based compliance, prescribe portal-based reporting, provide for audits and environmental compensation for violations.

e BRC receipt for exports: exporters must ensure bank EDPMS updates or submit e BRC/negative statements to Customs.
The notice directs exporters to ensure e BRCs for Shipping Bills with LEO on or after 01.04.2014 are updated via Authorized Dealer banks' EDPMS so data flows to ICES; where bank updates fail, exporters may submit realized e BRC certificates, prescribed half yearly negative statements, or bank certificates for outstanding shipments to the Assistant Commissioner, BRC Section for reconciliation. IEC holders listed with BRC alerts must approach the Tuticorin BRC Section to remove alerts; Customs may still conduct checks or take action for misrepresentation, and clearance may require ARC/DC approval or settlement of arrears.

Duty drawback rates revised to clarify cotton yarn counts and adjust tariff items and caps, aiding targeted export sectors.
Amendments to All Industry Rates of Duty Drawback clarify that "counts" in Chapter 52 means counts in New English (Ne) and confirm historical use of Ne; raise AIRs and caps for selected marine products, bags, linens, radio/navigational apparatus and unmanned aircraft; rationalize caps and change descriptions and unit to "piece" for golf gloves; create new tariff items for breaded seafood and sports gloves; and add AIRs for specified defence-sector products, with implementation queries to be directed to the customs office.

Electronic Test Memo submission mandatory for forwarding samples to revenue labs; paper memos accepted only with senior approval during outages.
Mandatory electronic submission of Test Memos via the CRCL Module in ICES is required for forwarding samples to CRCL and other revenue laboratories; laboratories will not accept paper Test Memos except where unforeseen system issues prevent use of the module and acceptance is authorised by the Additional/Joint Commissioner.

Customs broker licensing enhancements streamline licensing, offence processing, profile updates, digital document issuance, notifications and security.
CBLMS enhancements expand digital processing for Customs Brokers by introducing a two-part Continuation of License after Death of Proprietor workflow, a comprehensive Offence Module for managing offence reports, hearings, submissions and online penalty payments, and profile-modification applications to update CB/person details, addresses and employee/OPS data. The portal also adds My Profile access, NOC requests, an Issue Document feature for policy-uploaded notices, public broker search, QR code real-time status on licences and passes, in-portal notifications, account lock-out security, and Knowledge Centre user manuals.

Duty drawback amendments clarify yarn unit as counts in New English and recalibrate rates and tariff items for exports.
Amendments revise the All Industry Rates of duty drawback by clarifying that counts for Chapter 52 yarn mean counts in New English (Ne), increasing AIRs and caps for specified product groups, rationalizing caps for certain golf gloves, creating new tariff items to distinguish export products (including breaded seafood and sports gloves), changing units for golf glove entries to piece, and adding tariff items to provide drawback benefits to specified defense-sector products.

Centralized bank guarantee custody required to standardize processing, ensure auto renewal and restrict direct encashment.
A Centralized Bank Guarantee Cell is established under the Deputy/Assistant Commissioner (Bond) to receive and custody all customs-related BGs; accepting units must ensure an auto renewal clause and IEC code in BGs, enter BGs in the EDI system, hand them to the BG Cell with receipt numbers, and obtain BG returns only by written demand. The cell will not directly release or encash BGs, and units must inventory and forward existing BGs within thirty days and maintain records of receipt, dispatch and disposal.

IGST refund processing requires reconciliation of SB005 invoice mismatches via concordance table and officer verification.
IGST refund claims unprocessed due to the SB005 error (invoice mismatch) may be manually verified and sanctioned where GST invoice data in GSTR 1/Table 6A matches actual exports. Exporters must submit a concordance table mapping GST invoices to shipping bill invoices in Annexure A, provide GSTR 1/Table 6A evidence, pay the prescribed fee per shipping bill for correlation and verification, and certify filing and export of invoiced items to the Assistant Commissioner (IGST Refunds) for processing.

Exporter bank account validation failures prevent drawback disbursal; register/modify AD code bank accounts on ICEGATE and upload proof.
Drawback amounts for 369 shipping bills remain undisbursed because exporter bank account details tied to AD codes were not validated by PFMS; exporters must register/modify AD code bank accounts on ICEGATE and upload passbook or bank authorisation via e Sanchit so that, upon status showing Customs Approved, ICES will process those shipping bills for drawback disbursal.

Export inspection requirement for silk waste: clearance only with Central Silk Board inspection or test report and certification.
Export clearance for silk waste under ITC (HS) code 5003 requires inspection or test certification from designated Central Silk Board officers or Textile Testing Laboratories; exporters bear testing charges. All consignments will undergo full consignment examination in the presence of the CSB authorized officer, who will certify items at the CFS and transmit the report to Customs. LEO will be issued only on receipt of the CSB inspection/test report directly to the Docks Administration until CSB is integrated for electronic report sharing.

Transshipment bond requirement relaxed for domestic sea movements; ICES changes ease SAM and SDM filing processes.
The SCMTR module now permits PDF upload of crew effects and ship stores via e sanchit, accepts MCIN-based SAM filings without Transport_Msr duplicates, allows passport numbers for foreign consignees, makes consignee code and vessel expected departure optional for SDM/SAM, fixes port repetition rejections, updates the Message Implementation Guide, and modifies bond logic so the SEZ unit's bond can substitute for carrier bond and domestic sea transshipment no longer requires a bond.

G-Card annual review and exam scheduling to ensure trained customs broker personnel availability for swift clearance operations.
Regulation 13 requires employed persons of customs brokers to pass the G Card examination to obtain a Form G or Form H identity card. Principal Chief Commissioners/Chief Commissioners must carry out an annual review of G Card holder requirements at each customs station in CCFC meetings with stakeholders and discuss outcomes in CCG meetings to plan and schedule G Card examinations and ensure availability of trained personnel for swift EXIM clearance; implementation issues should be reported to the Board.

Verification of Certificate of Origin now requires QR code and password for authenticity; customs must implement CEPA OCPs.
The UAE's Certificate of Origin now includes a QR code, a password for verification and a unique sequential serial number while retaining the prior format. These features facilitate authenticity checks and align with the Operational Certificate Procedures under the India-UAE CEPA. All Customs formations are directed to note and implement the UAE verification procedure alongside the OCPs when verifying COOs for preferential treatment.

Acceptance of Electronic Certificate of Origin under India Korea CEPA permitted when issued in prescribed e CoO format with e Sanchit upload.
Electronic Certificates of Origin issued by Korea are acceptable under India Korea CEPA if issued in the prescribed e CoO format with required particulars including a QR code and compliance with notification No. 187/2009 Customs (N.T.) and amendments; they carry the same legitimacy as manual originals. Importers must upload the e CoO to e Sanchit and enter e CoO particulars in the bill of entry. ICES will verify e CoO data against exporting country Customs, prevent multiple use, and auto debit certificate quantities, removing the need for physical defacement.

Air-cargo transshipment permission renews carrier responsibility for cargo shortages, bonded movement, customs compliance and delivery at notified domestic airports.
Import and export air-cargo transshipment permission is renewed for SpiceJet Limited to carry cargo handled by AAICLAS from the Air Cargo Complex, Kolkata, to other customs-notified Indian airports on its domestic flights. The carrier must maintain transshipment bonds and bank guarantees, remains liable for cargo shortages or pilferage, and must meet the resulting duty, levy, value, interest, penalty and cess obligations as applicable. The permission is subject to the customs transit framework, cargo-handling regulations, relevant circulars, local procedures and the Foreign Trade Policy, and may be renewed or withdrawn based on compliance.

Bill of Entry amendment procedure: online filing with e Sanchit evidence; approvals may be automated or officer based.
Amendments to Bills of Entry must be filed online via the Common Portal or Service Centre with supporting documents uploaded in e Sanchit. Amendments are either auto approved-limited to additions like Bill of Lading details processed automatically under Section 149-or require officer approval for deletions, modifications, or other changes; processing routes depend on whether the amendment is before assessment, after assessment but before Out of Charge, or after Out of Charge, and whether the amendment affects assessment.

Drawback non-applicability for EOU/SEZ sourced goods requires exporters' self-declaration uploaded on e Sanchit to avoid queries.
Notification states that drawback rates do not apply to exports manufactured or exported by hundred per cent Export Oriented Units or by units in Free Trade Zones, Export Processing Zones, or Special Economic Zones, and instructs exporters to upload a signed self-declaration (Self-Declaration on Customs Cases, Code 022CO1) on e-Sanchit with shipping bills certifying non-manufacture/non-export by such excluded units to reduce queries and physical visits.

Exemption from BIS standard for Ortho phosphoric Acid temporarily permits its use as fertilizer raw material without BIS compliance.
The Ortho Phosphoric Acid Order requires conformity to the relevant Indian Standard and BIS licensing with the Bureau as certifying and enforcement authority and penalties for contravention. An amendment inserted a proviso exempting Ortho Phosphoric Acid when used as raw material in fertilizer production from the BIS standard for a temporary period from publication of that notification, and customs authorities have been instructed to sensitize officers and monitor compliance.

Document Management System compliance requires digitalisation of cleared Shipping Bills, payment of charges, and action against habitual docket defaulters.
Customs Brokers and exporters must submit Shipping Bills granted Let Export Order for digitalisation and pay applicable Document Management System charges for scanned Shipping Bills. EDI copies of DMS coupons must accompany Bill of Entry and Shipping Bill document sets submitted after Let Export Order or Out of Charge. Unsubmitted or unscanned dockets are subject to SIIB referral for investigation and recovery, while habitual defaulters may face appropriate action, including alerts for officers granting Let Export Order.

Gender-specific workplace infrastructure mandated for customs cargo facilities to ensure safe, inclusive environments and POSH compliance.
Custodians of CCSP-operated CFS/AFS/ICD under HCCAR 2009 must provide gender responsive infrastructure (lighting, panic buttons), care services including creches in line with maternity provisions, establish Internal Complaints Committees for workplace sexual harassment, hold regular gender-sensitization training, and regularly upgrade and publicize gender-specific facilities to ensure availability, upkeep, and an inclusive workplace ecosystem for women in trade.