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October 2026
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CustomsScreen protectors for smartphones added to the Compulsory Registration Order, 2021 from 1 April 2027: CBIC Instruction 20/2026-Customs
IS 19348:2025 from 1 April 2027Action neededCBIC has asked all Customs field formations to take note of MeitY’s Gazette Notification S.O. 5190(E) dated 21 September 2026, which adds “Screen Protectors for smartphones” at Sl. No. 66 of the Schedule to the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021. The Order applies to these goods, for conformity with IS 19348:2025, with effect from 1 April 2027.
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CustomsNon-EDI Customs locations to authenticate Export Declaration Forms and forward them to the Authorised Dealer, preferably by official e-mail: CBIC Instruction 19/2026-Customs
EDF mechanism from 1 Oct 2026Rule changeCBIC has directed Commissioners of Customs to make sure that Export Declaration Forms (EDFs) furnished at Non-EDI Customs locations are authenticated and forwarded to the Authorised Dealer named in the form. The instruction follows the Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, in effect from 1 October 2026, and asks that the mechanism be operational from the same date.
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CustomsImport permit is now a must for importing insecticides for non-insecticidal use
Import permit is now a mustAction neededThe Insecticides Third Amendment Rules, 2026 wrote the import-permit requirement into the Insecticides Rules, 1971. CBIC has asked customs officers to enforce it, and it names acrylonitrile.
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CustomsImport permit now a statutory requirement for insecticides imported for non-insecticidal use, including acrylonitrile: CBIC Instruction 18/2026-Customs
Form IA, fee ₹5,000Action neededCBIC has told Customs field formations that an import permit from the Registration Committee is a statutory requirement for importing any substance in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968 for non-insecticidal use. The requirement comes from the Insecticides Third (Amendment) Rules, 2026 (G.S.R. 597(E) of 8 July 2026): application in Form IA with a fee of ₹5,000.
September 2026
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CustomsTariff values from 1 October 2026: crude palm oil US$ 1,229, gold US$ 1,339 per 10 grams, silver US$ 1,965 per kg — Notification 80/2026-Customs (N.T.)
Tariff values from 1 OctoberRule changeCBIC has substituted the tariff value tables for edible oils, brass scrap, gold, silver and areca nuts under Notification No. 36/2001-Customs (N.T.). The new values apply from 1 October 2026. The areca nut value is unchanged at US$ 11,574 per metric ton.
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CustomsThree more certificates on ICEGATE’s SWIFT 2.0 dashboard: Legal Metrology importer registration, MNRE concessional duty certificate and Coffee Board export permit
SWIFT 2.0: three more LPCOsNew facilityCBIC has brought three more certificates onto the SWIFT 2.0 Unified Dashboard on ICEGATE. The Legal Metrology certificate of registration of importer of weights and measures is now applied for there, all over India, and no longer on the LM portal. The MNRE Concessional Customs Duty Certificate (from 7 August 2026) and the Coffee Board Export Permit Certificate (from 27 July 2026) can be tracked and downloaded.
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CustomsSurat rough-diamond Special Notified Zone to shift to Surat Diamond Bourse, Khajod: CBIC Circular 44/2026-Customs
SNZ at Surat Diamond BourseNew facilityCBIC has allowed a Special Notified Zone for rough diamonds at Surat International Diatrade Centre, 2nd Floor, Tower-B, Surat Diamond Bourse, Khajod. Imports only by air cargo, re-packing of lots within 60 days and export of unsold lots within 75 days of import. The old SNZ at Gujarat Hira Bourse, Ichhapore is to be de-notified after the new one starts.
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CustomsIndia–UK CETA: importers need not file Form-I with the Bill of Entry to claim preferential duty, CBIC clarifies
No Form-I at filingClarifiedCircular 43/2026-Customs says a valid Origin Declaration by the UK exporter is the proof of origin, Form-I under CAROTAR is not a precondition, and an earlier denial cannot be applied to later imports without hearing the importer.
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CustomsTextile exporters must declare a flame-retardant qualifier in the shipping bill from 1 November 2026
1 November 2026Action neededCircular 42/2026-Customs makes two qualifiers mandatory for listed fabric tariff items of Chapters 52, 55 and 60 — FR001 for flame retardant fabric and FR009 for other fabric — so that FR products can be identified for the PLI Scheme for Textiles.
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CustomsCampbell Bay and Car Nicobar notified as customs ports for imports and exports: Notification 76/2026-Customs (N.T.)
Two new ports in A&N IslandsNew facilityCBIC has added Campbell Bay and Car Nicobar to the list of customs ports in the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar. Under Notification No. 76/2026-Customs (N.T.) dated 23 September 2026, both are appointed for unloading of imported goods and loading of export goods, or any class of such goods.
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CustomsScrip fraud cases under section 28AAA: Customs must first adjudicate the misdeclaration, then ask DGFT to cancel
Section 28AAAClarifiedInstruction 17/2026-Customs tells field formations how to decide show cause notices that were held up because DGFT had not cancelled the instrument — in three situations the wait is no longer the rule.
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CustomsICD Dhanakya, Jaipur added as a point of entry for food imports; list now has 172 points — CBIC Instruction 16/2026-Customs
172 food import entry pointsNew facilityFSSAI, by a notification dated 15 September 2026, has notified authorised officers at ICD Dhanakya, Jaipur (port code INDNK6) in addition to the 171 points of entry already specified for food imports. CBIC has circulated the updated list of 172 points of entry and their authorised officers through Instruction No. 16/2026-Customs.
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CustomsEMI Scheme documents cut from ten to three from 15 September 2026; CBIC marks 10 years of AEO
10 → 3 documentsReliefCircular 39/2026-Customs dated 3 September 2026 rationalises the uploads under the Eligible Manufacturer Importer Scheme. CBIC also listed AEO process improvements under consideration.
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CustomsCustoms to accept one-year EPR certificates of plastic-packaging importers as one-time registration
one-time registrationReliefImporters were stuck at clearance because their EPR certificates showed a one-year validity. CBIC has told officers to treat those certificates as one-time registrations that need no renewal, and to clear the consignments.
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CustomsPlastic packaging imports: Customs to accept EPR certificates showing one-year validity as one-time registration — CBIC Instruction 15/2026-Customs
EPR certificate: no renewalReliefCBIC has asked Customs officers to clear consignments of plastic packaging, goods in plastic packaging, plastic raw material and intermediate material on verification of the importer’s EPR registration certificate. Certificates that show a one-year validity are to be treated as one-time registration certificates that need no renewal, and accepted as valid proof of EPR registration.
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CustomsDeferred duty payment for manufacturers: EMI Scheme application cut from ten documents to three, enrolment opens 15 September 2026 — CBIC Circular 39/2026-Customs
10 documents → 3ReliefCBIC has trimmed the application for the Eligible Manufacturer Importer (EMI) Scheme, which gives deferred payment of customs import duty. Many data fields are dropped from Appendix-I, uploads fall from ten documents to three, and the Chartered Accountant’s certificate must now give reasons where net worth or net current assets are negative. Eligible importers can apply from 15 September 2026.
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CustomsCustoms opens NAC Portal: classification and valuation decisions, CAAR rulings and audit objections in one searchable place
naccustoms.gov.inNew facilityCircular 41/2026-Customs announces the National Assessment Centre Portal at naccustoms.gov.in, open to importers and Customs Brokers, with keyword search and downloadable documents.
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CustomsImporting cosmetics, drugs or medical devices: Customs to check CDSCO documents before out-of-charge — upload them on e-SANCHIT
7 checklistsAction neededCircular 40/2026-Customs circulates seven CDSCO checklists of licences, permissions and registration certificates that the Customs officer is to verify before releasing such imports, while their integration under SWIFT 2.0 is in process.
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CustomsSea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations, 2018 go live port by port from 1 September 2026; no penal action in the roll-out phase — CBIC Circular 38/2026-Customs
SCMTR: all ports by 15 OctAction neededCBIC has made the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations, 2018 operational from 1 September 2026 in a phased manner. Goa and Bombay started on 1 September; Chennai follows on 9 October, and Nhava Sheva and all remaining ports on 15 October 2026. No penal action is to be taken during the implementation phase.
August 2026
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CustomsRaw sugar imported under Advance Authorisation and moved to TRQ: IGST to be paid on a reassessed Bill of Entry, interest waived
Interest waivedClarifiedCircular 37/2026-Customs lays down how an Advance Authorisation holder pays the earlier-exempted IGST at the port of import after the one-time conversion to the Tariff Rate Quota scheme, so that input tax credit can flow to GSTN.
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