CBIC Merges 31 Customs Duty Notifications Into One To Simplify Trade Compliance

In a major move to simplify customs compliance and enhance trade efficiency, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has brought together 31 separate customs duty notifications into a single, consolidated document.

The comprehensive notification, which takes effect from 1 November, aims to make life easier for importers, exporters and customs officers by offering one reference point instead of multiple overlapping notifications.

While largely technical, the reform is expected to ease business operations by streamlining documentation and eliminating duplication or inconsistencies across earlier circulars.

It retains all existing benefits and duty exemptions but arranges them in a more accessible, structured format.

The consolidation exercise involved omitting outdated serial numbers, substituting obsolete entries and revising several tariff references for greater clarity and uniformity.

The updated document also includes current rates for the Agriculture Infrastructure Development Cess (AIDC) and revised tariff lines covering items such as tyres, gold, motor vehicles, toys, aircraft components and measuring instruments.

A significant change has been made to the definition of ‘nominated agency’ and added that three banks—Yes Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and Union Bank of India along with the Handicraft and Handlooms Exports Corporation of India Ltd, MSTC Ltd and Diamond India Ltd have now been recognised as eligible institutions for duty-free imports of gold, silver and platinum.

Describing the update as a progressive step, the CBIC stated in its FAQs released, “This is a trade-friendly measure. Instead of referring to 31 separate notifications, the exemptions/concessional rates contained in these 31 notifications are now available in this single notification.”

The unified framework is expected to reduce confusion, promote transparency and improve the ease of doing business across India’s import–export ecosystem.

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