Customs tariff amendments substitute tariff classifications and correct product descriptions affecting import notification entries administration.
The notification amends specified Customs exemption notifications by substituting tariff subheading "3823 11 90" with "3823 11 00" in Notifications 46/2011, 53/2011 and 50/2017; amends S.No.467 in Notification 50/2017 to read "8472 90 or 8473 40"; corrects the opening paragraph date in Notification 50/2017; and substitutes the pharmaceutical name "Recuronium Bromide" with "Rocuronium Bromide." These textual and classificatory changes adjust the tariff headings and product description entries that govern exemption treatment in the referenced notifications.

Extension of notification commencement date: two customs notifications' operative date moved to 1st November 2017.
Central Board of Excise and Customs, exercising powers under sub section (1) of section 4 of the Customs Act, 1962, amends Notification No. 82/2017 Customs (N.T.) and Notification No. 85/2017 Customs (N.T.) by substituting the figures, letters and word "15th September, 2017" with "1st November, 2017" in paragraph 2 of each notification.

Customs duty exemption for FIFA youth World Cup imports subject to certification and mandatory re export and utilisation obligations.
Exempts specified goods imported for organising the FIFA Under 17 World Cup India, 2017 from the whole of customs duty and integrated tax, when imported by listed FIFA entities, subject to production of a certificate from the Director (Sports) confirming importer identity and goods description, and subject to undertakings requiring re export of non consumables within three months of event conclusion and furnishing a utilisation certificate for consumed goods within the same period.

Antidumping duty on ammonium nitrate imports enforces country- and exporter-specific duties to address dumped imports.
Imposition of definitive anti-dumping duty on Ammonium Nitrate (tariff item 3102 30 00) originating in or exported from Russia, Indonesia, Georgia and Iran, with country-, producer- and exporter-specific duty rates set out in the Table; duties payable in Indian currency for a period of five years and conversion of specified foreign-currency amounts to Indian currency using Government-notified exchange rates with the bill of entry date as the relevant date.

Jurisdiction of customs audit defined: central officers appointed with nationwide audit authority under Customs Act.
Appoints specified officers as Principal Chief Commissioners of Customs or Chief Commissioners of Customs corresponding to Commissioners of Customs (Audit) listed in the Table, with the area of jurisdiction for audit for the listed entries declared as All India. The notification is issued under sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Customs Act, 1962 and takes effect from 1st April 2018; it is administrative and non-adjudicatory and has been superseded by a later notification.

Exchange rate determination for customs: prescribed foreign currency conversion rates set for imports and exports effective early September.
Determination under section 14 of the Customs Act prescribing specified rupee conversion rates for listed foreign currencies, effective from 8th September, 2017, with separate rates for imported and export goods set out in Schedule I (per unit) and Schedule II (per one hundred units), superseding the earlier notification and applicable for customs valuation and assessment.

Basic Customs Duty reduction on raw sugar subject to Tariff Rate Quota certificate and strict import and conversion timelines.
The amendment inserts a new entry for raw sugar (HS 1701) providing a reduced Basic Customs Duty for imports covered by a Tariff Rate Quota Allocation Certificate or license, subject to an aggregate quantitative ceiling, completion of physical import within sixty days of certificate or license issuance, and mandatory conversion to white/refined sugar within thirty days from bill of entry filing or entry inwards, whichever is later.

Countervailing duty on stainless steel imports from China imposed, applied net of anti dumping duty and time limited.
Definitive countervailing duty is imposed on certain hot rolled and cold rolled stainless steel flat products originating in or exported from the People's Republic of China, following findings of subsidisation and material injury. The duty applies to defined tariff headings and product dimensions, is taken net of any existing anti dumping duty, recognises existing anti dumping measures and patent supplied product exclusions, defines "landed value" for assessment, and is levied for a specified five year period subject to an express proviso; the measure was later rescinded by a subsequent notification.

Tariff value fixation establishes benchmark import values for listed commodities, affecting customs valuation and compliance procedures.
The Central Board of Excise & Customs, invoking powers under the Customs Act, amends the principal customs notification by substituting three tables to prescribe tariff values in US dollars for specified imported commodities, including edible oils, brass scrap, poppy seeds, areca nut, and per-unit values for gold and silver where certain notification benefits are availed.

Anti-dumping duty on Styrene Butadiene Rubber imports from EU, Korea and Thailand to address dumped imports.
Definitive anti-dumping duty is imposed on Emulsion Styrene Butadiene Rubber (E-SBR) 1500 and 1700 series imported from the European Union, Korea RP and Thailand based on findings of dumping and resulting material injury; the notification lists producer- and exporter-specific rates and residual rates per metric tonne, excludes 1900 series and Solution SBR, requires conversion to Indian currency using the notified exchange rate applicable on bill of entry presentation, and gives the duty a five-year operative term subject to earlier change.

Anti-dumping duty on castings for wind turbines imposed, with exporter-specific rates and netting of countervailing duty.
The Central Government, relying on the designated authority's findings of dumping, injury and causation, imposes definitive anti dumping duty on castings for wind operated electricity generators under specified tariff headings. The notification sets exporter and producer specific percentage duty rates, establishes that the payable anti dumping duty equals the calculated anti dumping amount less any countervailing duty, specifies landed value as the customs assessable value (excluding certain duties), requires payment in Indian currency, and fixes a five year duration.

Continuation of anti-dumping duty on metronidazole from China remains in force pending sunset review or statutory limit.
The Central Government amends the existing customs notification to provide that the anti dumping duty on Metronidazole from China PR shall remain in force until the conclusion of the sunset review initiated by the Designated Authority or until the statutory one year limit, whichever is earlier, thereby preserving the measure during the pending investigation.

Anti-dumping duty on sodium nitrite imposed, applying to China-origin imports and extending for a fixed term
Continued imposition of anti-dumping duty is ordered on imports of Sodium Nitrite originating in or exported from China PR; the Designated Authority found continued dumping, material underselling and likelihood of recurrence of injury, and the Central Government imposes a specified duty per metric tonne on covered imports, payable in Indian currency with exchange conversion determined by the notified rate and the bill-of-entry date.

Customs appointments and territorial reallocation establish senior and subordinate commissionerates for ports, airports and special zones.
Notification under section 4(1) of the Customs Act, 1962 appoints specified officers as Principal Chief Commissioners/Chief Commissioners and as Commissioners (Appeals), and designates Principal Commissioners/Commissioners together with the Additional/Joint/Deputy/Assistant Commissioners working under them. Two schedules map officers to territorial and functional jurisdictions-ports, airports, ICDs, SEZs, EOUs, districts and designated maritime zones-superseding earlier notifications and recording subsequent amendments. The notification takes effect from 15th January, 2018.

Anti-dumping duty continuation: Government amends notification to impose modified duties on caustic soda imports from Iran, Saudi Arabia and USA.
The Central Government amended the principal anti-dumping notification to substitute a new Table prescribing modified, country- and producer-specific anti-dumping duties on imports of caustic soda under subheadings 2815.11 and 2815.12. The amendment implements the Designated Authority's mid-term review final findings recommending continuation of duties at modified rates to remove injury to the domestic industry and applies differentiated treatment for imports from Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United States and third countries, including specified producers and exporters.

Customs exemption for Bangladesh-origin goods brought via border haats permitted for bona fide personal consumption with specified local products allowed.
Amendment revises the exemption to apply to goods produced in Bangladesh and brought into India by an individual in reasonable quantities for bona fide personal or family consumption, subject to a daily aggregate value limit. The Table is amended to replace Sl. No. 3 with "Products of local cottage industry like gamcha, lungi, saree and any other locally produced handloom product" and Sl. No. 5 with a list including locally produced garments, melamine products, processed food items, fruit juice, toiletries, cosmetics, plastic products, aluminium products, cookeries and stationery.

Anti-dumping duty on textured toughened tempered glass imposed to address dumped imports from China with specified company rates.
Definitive anti-dumping duty is imposed on Textured Toughened (Tempered) Glass (tariff item 7007 19 00) originating in or exported from China PR, with producer- and exporter-specific duty rates in United States Dollars per metric tonne set out in the Table for named Chinese producers/exporters, a rate for other Chinese suppliers, and residual rates for consignments involving China PR. The duty is levied under section 9A of the Customs Tariff Act and related rules, is effective for five years, payable in Indian currency, and uses the Government-notified exchange rate with the bill of entry date as the relevant date.

Exchange Rate Determination sets statutory foreign currency conversion rates for import and export valuations, effective immediately for customs purposes.
The Central Board of Excise and Customs determines statutory rates of exchange for specified foreign currencies into Indian rupees and vice versa for import and export valuation, prescribing distinct "for Imported Goods" and "for Export Goods" rates in Schedule I and Schedule II, effective from 18th August, 2017, and superseding the immediately preceding exchange-rate notification.

Electronic payment of customs duty required for AEO registrants and importers where duty per bill meets threshold.
Electronic payment of customs duty is mandated for importers registered under the Authorised Economic Operator Programme and for importers who pay customs duty at or above the prescribed threshold per bill of entry. The notification, issued under the first proviso to sub-section (2) of section 47 of the Customs Act, 1962, supersedes an earlier notification and takes effect from the stated commencement date, with exceptions for prior actions or omissions.

Drawback rate revision reduces notified duty-drawback figures for specified gold and silver jewellery tariff items effective on publication.
Amendment revises notified duty-drawback rates in the Schedule to Notification No. 131/2016-Customs (N.T.) for specified Chapter 71 tariff items relating to gold jewellery, silver jewellery and silver articles by substituting lower numeric figures in columns (4) and (6) for tariff items 711301, 711302 and 711401; the amendment takes effect from date of publication.