Direct Port Delivery extended to AEO importers at ACC with ULD packaging, advance filings, prepaid duties and custodial cooperation.
Extension of the Direct Port Delivery facility to AEO importers at ACC, Sahar requires one-time registration, ULD-packaged consignments, advance Bills of Entry, RMS facilitation with no assessment or agency intervention, prepayment of duties and advance delivery orders; custodians and carriers must segregate and move DPD-marked goods directly to delivery areas and assist designated customs officers in matching marks; out-of-charge is granted only after CCR compliance and duty payment, with monthly reporting in Proforma A.

Jurisdiction amendment in customs zone alters effective commencement for reorganized field formations and administrative arrangements.
The date previously specified as 01.01.2018 in Paragraphs 2 and 6 of Public Notice No. 224/2017 is to be read as 15.01.2018, revising the operative commencement for reorganized field formations in the Customs Chennai Zone.

Paperless import documentation: mandatory digital upload, IRN linkage and online assessment streamline customs clearance processes.
The Public Notice mandates use of the ICEGATE e SANCHIT facility for uploading digitally signed supporting documents to accompany Bills of Entry, requiring authorized persons to submit PDF documents, validate digital signatures, obtain IRNs/DRNs, and link uploaded documents to Bills of Entry; Customs will access these electronic documents on ICES for assessment, queries, examination and PCCV, while certain originals must still be produced and originals retained as proposed under revised regulations.

Electronic sealing requirement extended for exporters under the self sealing procedure; stakeholders urged to report implementation difficulties.
Extension of the electronic sealing requirement timeline aligns the prior Public Notice on self sealing and e sealing of containerized cargo at factory and approved warehouse premises with a deferred implementation date; stakeholders must follow the existing procedural framework until the extension expires and report any implementation difficulties to the Assistant Commissioner of Customs, FSP Cell.

Sale of goods in Indian currency - duty free shops must accept INR cards and display prices in INR; arrival payments limited.
Duty free shops must accept INR credit and debit card payments processed in Indian Rupees so passengers do not bear foreign exchange conversion or transaction charges; retail prices must be displayed only in Indian Rupees. Cash payment ceiling rules remain unchanged. Arrival hall card payments are subject to an upper limit for incoming passengers, while departure hall card payments for outgoing passengers are permitted without limit. Payments in foreign currency, if chosen, must be charged using the customs exchange rate notified under the Customs Act.

Electronic sealing requirement made mandatory in a phased manner, with voluntary adoption where reader facilities exist.
The notice implements Electronic Sealing for export containers under the self sealing procedure, allowing exporters who possess RRD e seals and operate where reader facilities exist to adopt the procedure voluntarily until staged mandatory roll out. Exporters with prior self sealing permission, AEO status, or supervised stuffing at their premises will be required to use electronic seals at specified ports and ICDs when the procedure becomes mandatory there; other ports/ICDs will follow. The directions constitute a standing order for officers and staff and stakeholders are asked to report difficulties.

Electronic sealing requirement: voluntary transition now, mandatory at specified ports from March and elsewhere from April.
Entitled exporters with RFID e seals stuffing containers at approved premises where readers exist may voluntarily adopt electronic sealing until 1 March 2018. From 1 March 2018 electronic sealing is mandatory for exporters permitted self sealing previously, AEO exporters, and those availing supervised stuffing at their premises at fifteen specified Ports/ICDs. At all other Ports/ICDs the procedure becomes mandatory from 1 April 2018. Exporters already using e seals may continue; those under officer supervision retain that facility until mandatory implementation. Difficulties are to be reported to the Preventive General office.

Empanelment of valuers for valuation of seized and confiscated goods appointed under prescribed one-year term.
Selection of chartered valuers for valuation of seized, confiscated, detained and time-expired bonded goods: five named firms were empanelled following interviews. Empanelment is for one year from the letter of appointment (26.12.2017) or until termination, subject to authorized extension; all appointees accepted the terms and conditions.

Electronic sealing for export containers becomes voluntary initially, then mandatory at designated ports and subsequently nationwide.
The notice phases in mandatory electronic sealing for export containers: exporters with RFID e-seals and reader-equipped approved premises may adopt e-sealing voluntarily until the mandatory phase. Fifteen specified ports/ICDs will require mandatory e-sealing for exporters authorized for self-sealing, AEO exporters, and those availing supervised stuffing; other ports/ICDs will follow in a subsequent mandatory roll-out. Exporters already using e-seals may continue, and those under officer supervision retain that facility until e-sealing becomes mandatory at their export station.

Countervailing duty rebate as duty drawback: brand-rate claims allowed when inputs bearing that duty are used in exports.
Countervailing duties are rebatable as duty drawback but are not included in All Industry Rates; therefore such duties may be claimed only by seeking a brand rate under the Drawback Rules, contingent on verification that inputs charged with countervailing duty were used in the exported goods. When imported goods charged with countervailing duty are exported as such, drawback may include the incidence of countervailing duty as part of total duties paid, subject to other conditions.

Electronic sealing for export containers: voluntary adoption available now, phased mandatory rollout at designated locations then nationwide.
Implementation of electronic sealing permits exporters with RFID e-seals stuffing at approved premises and reader facilities to adopt e-sealing voluntarily; existing users may continue. Mandatory adoption is phased: exporters previously permitted self-sealing, AEO exporters, and those availing supervised stuffing at their premises must use e-seals at a specified list of fifteen ports/ICDs when the requirement becomes mandatory for those locations, while e-sealing at all other ports/ICDs will become mandatory on a later specified date. Difficulties should be reported to customs.

Customs exemption for bonafide gifts allows duty and IGST relief on qualifying air or postal imports within prescribed value.
Full Customs duty and IGST relief applies to bona fide gifts imported by post or air that meet the prescribed CIF value limit and are not subject to prohibitions under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992; this relief was effected by inserting a specific entry into the customs notification framework.

Electronic sealing for containers becomes mandatory at specified export locations, with phased implementation and voluntary adoption until enforcement.
The Board permits exporters with RFID e-seals and access to reader-equipped export stations to continue or voluntarily adopt e-sealing until it becomes mandatory: phased mandatory implementation begins at specified major ports and ICDs after 1 March 2018 for self-sealing permitted exporters, AEOs, and those doing supervised stuffing at premises, and extends to all other ports/ICDs from 1 April 2018; exporters under officer supervision may continue that facility until the mandatory date and implementation issues should be reported to Customs.

Payment in Indian rupees at duty free shops enables direct INR card settlement and mandates prices be shown in rupees.
Payments in Indian rupees through INR debit and credit cards are authorised at airport Duty Free Shops for outgoing and incoming passengers, permitting direct settlement in Indian currency without mandatory foreign-exchange conversion. Duty Free Shops must ensure INR card transactions do not impose conversion or related charges and must display the price of all goods in Indian rupees only. Existing ceilings on cash payments remain in force and equivalent limits apply to card payments in arrival areas, while INR card payments in departure areas are not subject to that ceiling. Payments in foreign currency must use the customs exchange rate for conversion.

Empanelment of Chartered Engineers for valuation of second-hand machinery; applications invited with specified documents and appraisal requirement.
Empanelment is being initiated for Chartered Engineers to value imported old and used/second-hand machinery and related goods; applications from Mangaluru-based Chartered Engineers must be submitted in the prescribed proforma with supporting qualification, valuation and GST certificates by the stated deadline. Applications are to be sent in a sealed cover to the Deputy Commissioner of Customs, New Customs House, Panambur. A Public Notice will thereafter list empanelled engineers and notified agencies under the CBEC Circular, and empanelled engineers must submit half yearly Self Appraisal Reports for continuing assessment.

First time import verification now requires GST registration and relevant tax returns for documentary compliance.
First-time import consignments require a copy of VAT/Sales Tax/GST Registration Certificate and a copy of the Income Tax Return or VAT/Sales Tax Return or GST Return filed for the relevant previous or current period; all other documentary requirements and procedures in prior public notices remain unchanged, and implementation difficulties should be reported to the Additional/Joint Commissioner of Customs (Import).

E-sealing requirement phased implementation makes electronic container sealing mandatory at designated ports, with voluntary adoption permitted earlier.
Implementation of E-sealing for export containers is phased: exporters with RFID e-seals at premises with reader facilities may adopt e-sealing immediately and it is voluntary until 15 March 2018. From the first phase commencement date, e-sealing is mandatory for exporters with prior self-sealing permission, AEO exporters, and those using supervised stuffing at specified ports and ICDs. All other Ports/ICDs move to mandatory e-sealing from the second phase commencement date. Exporters already using e-sealing may continue; issues should be reported to the Commissioner.

Paperless processing under SWIFT: eSANCHIT enables voluntary electronic upload of supporting documents with digital signature.
Implementation of paperless processing under SWIFT via the eSANCHIT application is extended to Air Cargo Complex, Sahar, Mumbai, allowing voluntary electronic uploading of supporting documents with digital signatures to ICEGATE; procedural guidance and FAQs are available on the board's website and the Assistant Commissioner, EDI, is the nodal officer for reporting difficulties.

Electronic sealing for export containers: phased mandatory rollout with voluntary adoption where reader infrastructure exists.
Implementation of Electronic Sealing for export containers under the self-sealing regime is established as a phased requirement: voluntary adoption is permitted where RFID e-seals and reader infrastructure exist, exporters already using e-seals may continue, and exporters using supervised stuffing may continue until e-sealing becomes mandatory at their port or ICD. The Board mandates a phased rollout requiring e-sealing for exporters with self-sealing permission and AEO exporters at specified locations, followed by mandatory application at remaining ports and ICDs; stakeholders may raise operational difficulties with the Commissioner of Customs.

System maintenance: customs electronic filings suspended; stakeholders must halt filings and clear consignments before service interruption.
Planned ICES database migration will cause the Customs electronic application to be unavailable during a scheduled maintenance window; electronic filing of customs declarations will be suspended in advance and consignments must be cleared by specified cutoff times. Certain approvals are to be stopped prior to the outage. The application is expected to be restored after migration, subject to extensions, and stakeholders should contact the designated helpdesk for clarifications and further instructions.