Extension of transitional provisions for the SCMTR till 31.05.2025 - Customs - PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 20/2025

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, CHENNAI-III PREVENTIVE COMMISSIONERATE CUSTOM HOUSE, NO.60, RAJAJI SALAI, CHENNAI 600001 Telephone: 044-25254566 Email : [email protected] F. No. 1/(22)RPTS/83/2024-IMP-O/O PR COMMR-CUS-PREV-CHENNNAI DATE : 29.03.2024 PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 20/2025 Kind attention of Authorized Sea Carrier (Including Shipping Lines), Authorized Sea Agent (Steamer/Shipping Agents), Authorized Carrier (Transhippers), Terminal Operators, Custodians, Freight Forwarders, Importers, Exporters, Customs Brokers, Authorized Persons of all above, Associations and Federations representing the above persons, and all other concerned stakeholder is invited to Sea Cargo Manifest and Transshipment Regulations(SCMTR), 2018 notified vide Notification No. 38/2018-Customs (N.T.) dated 11.05.2018, as amended and issued by Central Board of Indirect Taxes Customs (CBIC), New Delhi in supersession of Import Manifest (Vessels) Regulations, 1971, Export Manifest Regulation, 1976 and Transportation of Goods (Through Foreign Territory) Regulations, 1965, and the subsequent issue of Circular No. 10/2025-Customs dated 28.03.2025 and Notification No. 20/2025-Customs (N.T.) dated 28.03.2025. 2. The Board has examined the implementation of the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulation (SCMTR), 2018 and it has been noted that the messages to be filed by Carriers on arrival of the cargo has been made mandatory. However, the messages to be filed by Carriers (including Shipping Lines/Freight Forwarders) on export of cargo at sea ports has not yet been tested sufficiently, leading to non-implementation of SCMTR. Similarly, transshipment messages have also not been tested by transhippers (Shipping lines, Custodians, train operators, as the case may be.) 3. In this regard, attention is invited to penal provisions provided in the regulation no. 13 of the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations (SCMTR), 2018 issued vide notification no. 38/2018-Customs (N.T.) dated 11th May, 2018, wherein, an authorized carrier who contravenes any provision of these regulations shall be liable to a penalty which may extend to rupees fifty thousand. It is expected that the respective stakeholders comply with the legal provisions, so far as it relates to the implementation of the SCMTR, thus not attracting penal provisions. 4. Hence, as a last facilitation measure, the transitional provisions for the SCMTR are being extended till 31.05.2025, so that the interim time available can be gainfully utilized by all the stakeholders for filing declarations in the prescribed format electronically without any penal provisions. 5. Any difficulty faced in this regard may be brought to the notice of the Deputy/Assistant Commissioner of Customs (SCMTR Cell) at Room No. 206, Ganga Block, ng Floor, Custom House, Chennai. Istikhar Baig Principal Commissioner of Customs, Chennai, Preventive Commissionerate