Search: Customs

August 2026

• 27Aug

  CustomsRaw sugar imported under Advance Authorisation and moved to TRQ: IGST to be paid on a reassessed Bill of Entry, interest waived

  Interest waivedClarified

  Circular 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.

• 20Aug

  CustomsStrait of Hormuz closure: bulk cargo bound for foreign ports may be stored and transhipped at Indian ports till 31 October 2026

  Till 31 October 2026Relief

  Circular 36/2026-Customs continues the facilitation for international transhipment through Indian ports and lets Commissioners permit, case by case, temporary unloading and storage of liquid, break and dry bulk cargo diverted to India.

• 16Aug

  CustomsDRI uncovers misuse of SAFTA in areca nut imports; duty loss put above ₹2,500 crore

  ₹2,500 crore

  South-East Asian areca nuts were declared as Bangladesh origin to claim full duty exemption under SAFTA. Nine persons are arrested and a Customs Broker’s licence is suspended.

• 12Aug

  Foreign TradeIndia and SACU sign Terms of Reference for a Preferential Trade Agreement

  India–SACU

  The negotiations with the Southern African Customs Union will cover eight chapters including market access for goods and rules of origin. No tariff changes yet — only a final agreement will do that.

• 10Aug

  FSSAIFSSAI asks importers and customs brokers to declare the “NFG” qualifier in ICEGATE for non-food-grade items, so the Bill of Entry is not routed to FSSAI

  Declare “NFG” in ICEGATEClarified

  FSSAI says a large number of Bills of Entry for non-food-grade items — especially goods with both food and non-food use under the same HSN code — are being routed to it for clearance. By a public notice dated 10 August 2026, it advises importers and customs brokers to declare the qualifier “NFG” while filing Bills of Entry under Single Window, so that the SWIFT system routes the entry correctly.

• 7Aug

  CustomsTelevision sets: compliance with IS 18112:2022 under the Compulsory Registration Order deferred to 26 January 2027 — CBIC Instruction 14/2026-Customs

  Now 26 January 2027Extended

  CBIC has told Customs officers that MeitY, by Notification S.O. 4182(E), has extended the date for compliance with IS 18112:2022 for television sets under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021. The requirement, due from 26 July 2026, now applies from 26 January 2027.

• 6Aug

  CustomsParcels from abroad: CBIC sets one procedure for all Foreign Post Offices; no reply to a document call in 30 days means assessment on record

  30 days to replyRule change

  Circular 35/2026-Customs prescribes a uniform SOP for personal postal imports processed through the FPO Import Application, which is live at eight locations and linked to the Risk Management System.

• 5Aug

  Foreign TradeEODC under Advance Authorisation and EPCG: only voluntary duty payments shown on the DGFT portal from Customs/ICEGATE data will be recognised — Trade Notice 15/2026-27

  Payments from 1 August 2026Action needed

  DGFT has integrated licence-wise voluntary duty payment data from Customs/ICEGATE with its online system. For EODC applications under the Advance Authorisation and EPCG schemes, only the payment details reflected on the DGFT portal will be recognised. Authorisation holders must enter the correct licence number and IEC in ICEGATE and verify payments made on or after 1 August 2026.