The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIT) Notification No. 38 / 2018-Customs (N.T.) has made the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations 2018, which will come into force on 1 August 2018. These regulations supersede earlier Legislations of Import Manifest (Vessels) Regulations of 1971, Export Manifest (Vessels) Regulations of 1976 and Transportation of Goods (Through Foreign Territory) Regulations of 1965.
The key highlights of the new regulations is that shipping lines have to comply with the timelines and requirements for the Cargo Manifestation for imports arriving in India, as well as for exports out of India.
Imports to India: Shipping lines must submit the Import General Manifest details to India Customs, prior Sailing of Vessel from the Last Port of Call (one before calling India Port), for all containers which are going to discharge at any Indian Port, or are discharged for transshipment, at any of the ports in India.
Exports from India: Shipping lines must submit the Export General Manifest details, to India Customs, prior Sailing of Vessel, from India Port of loading, for all containers, which are loaded on a said Vessel from India.
These new timelines and requirements are under discussion, with various parties involved in the process.
