Standard Examination Orders through RMS - CBEC's Customs Manual 2025 - Customs

13. Standard Examination Orders through RMS Vide Para 2.3 (ii) of Circular No. 45/2020-Customs dated 12th October 2020, had requested the National Assessment Centres (NACs) to review the examination orders given by different FAG officers in the same situation and streamline and standardize them, so as to avoid needless variations in practice and thereby obviate delays. Based on the inputs by NAC, National Customs Targeting Centre (NCTC) (former RMCC) has developed system generated centralized examination orders for Bills of Entry (BE), in coordination with DG Systems and National Assessment Centers (NACs), based on various parameters, to enhance the uniformity in examination, and lower the time taken in the process as well as reduce associated costs. i. To harmonise the examination orders across FAGs, the Board implemented system-generated centralized examination orders in a phased manner, in case of risk-based selection for examination after assessment. ii. To that end, NCTC, in consultation with DG Systems and the respective NACs, developed a system wherein standardized examination orders are centrally generated by RMS and populated on the corresponding Bill of Entry, based on a host of risk parameters concerning goods, entities, and countries, relating to that bill. iii. The standardized examination orders thus generated by RMS are visible to Assessing Officers during the assessment. While these RMS- generated standardised examination orders are the new norm, the Assessing officer have the option of adding any additional examination instruction/order to the pre-populated RMS-generated examination order, if necessary. iv. According to the new procedure, after processing BE data, RMS generates a consolidated examination order for each selected BE based on potential risks. An RMS-generated examination order includes the following main points: (i) % of containers to be examined, (ii) selected area/part (s) in a given container and % of goods in the selected area/part (s) to be examined, (iii) Item level instructions and (iv) additional examination instruction, if any. Standardized Examination Order Format: While the BE is selected for examination depending on risk associated with various items in a BE, the examination depends on the nature of the cargo and mode of packing. Hence, some standardization is adopted for different situations. FCL Cargo: For FCL cargo, selection for the examination is at two levels. First, the selection of the containers and then the area/part selected within those selected containers. For the sake of uniformity, the container has been divided into five areas/parts, for an easy identification and selection of areas for examination, as depicted below: Front of Container 1 2 3 4 5 Back of container Front of container One area/part 1 (i.e. front) and other area/part (s) (i.e., 2,3,4 5), as may be applicable in each case based on potential risks, is selected randomly by system. A specified % examination, based on potential risks, is required to be done from these two or more areas/parts of the container. Only in the case of 100 % examination order, the whole container is examined. To illustrate, a typical system-generated examination order that is displayed on BE is as below: Check Seal No. of all containers and cut the seal of selected containers in your presence. Examine 10 % of the respective areas/parts indicated in respect of each selected container and follow CCRs, where necessary (other than ISO Liquid/Gas container and Dangerous cargo). Verify declared description, quantity and specification. Selected Container: KOCU4150113-Selected Area: 1 4 In this example, one container i.e. KOCU4150113 has been selected for examination; two areas/parts within this container (i.e. 1 and 4) have been selected for 10% examination by shed/examining officers in each of the two areas/parts. For LCL cargo bulk cargo, and shipments through air and land, where container number is not available, only the percentage of goods to be examined is communicated to shed/examining officers for physical examination, along with item specific examination order. Furthermore, a container selected for scanning through CSM (Container Scanning Module) and marked suspicious by the Container Scanning Division (CSD) has a separate related examination order as per the extant practice/order of the local customs station. CSM-related examination order will complement the RMS generated examination order for a consignment. Bill of Entry flow : The flow of a Bill of Entry, where examination is required, and the associated RMS- generated examination order in different scenarios are outlined below, in case of selection of a BE for second check examination : a. In case of a Assessment and Examination - an examination order is generated by RMS but the Bill of Entry is routed to the shed through an FAG. While the assessing officer has the flexibility to add any other relevant examination order/instruction, any such additional examination instructions are given only in exceptional cases when deemed necessary, with the approval of the respective DC/AC. b. In case of a Examination only - the Bill of Entry is directly sent to a shed/examining officer for necessary examination as per RMS-generated examination order. c. In case of a Assessment only - the assessing officer has the possibility to give an examination order only in exceptional cases, when deemed necessary, with the approval of the AC/DC. Manner of implementation by field officers: The officers in the field formations have been directed to follow the below instructions in respect of examination of goods: i. FAG officers will give any additional examination order/instruction, if necessary, to complement the RMS generated examination order, only in exceptional cases. As this model will be implemented in a phased manner, FAG officers will need to see whether there is already an RMS-generated examination order for a Bill of Entry and proceed accordingly. ii. Shed/examining officers will strictly follow the RMS-generated examination orders and physically examine the selected containers and the relevant selected areas/parts as specified in the examination order. Additionally, Shed/examining officers may also examine any other goods or area/part of the container, as may be necessary, as per other examination orders/instructions given by the FAG officer and/or CSD officer or for the verification of CCRs, in appropriate cases or based on the nature, package and size of cargo. iii. Any deviation from RMS-generated examination orders will require the prior approval of the Joint Commissioner/Additional Commissioner designated by the Commissioner concerned, except for the situations described herein above, and such deviation will have to be recorded in the examination report fed by the examining officers in the System. The Commissioners have to regularly monitor such cases at their level, so as to ensure that such deviations are minimal and justified in their nature. The above procedure was implemented for Second Check Bill of Entry in a phased manner, starting with one group of commodities and thereafter extended to all other goods incrementally, by adopting a modular approach. Accordingly, the above procedure came into effect for goods covered under Assessment Group 4 in all the Customs Stations from the 5th of September, 2022. [Refer Circular No. 16/2022 Customs dated 29.08.2022] Extension of Standard Examination Orders through RMS To harmonize the examination orders across FAGs, the Board decided to implement system-generated centralized examination orders in a phased manner. The Phase 1 referred to case of risk-based selection for examination after assessment (second check examination). Initially, in Part 1 of this phase, the goods under Assessment Group 4 in all Customs Stations were covered. Based on the feedback received, from the National Customs Targeting Centre (NCTC), regarding the readiness for further rollout of the implementation of Standard Examination Orders through the Risk Management System, the Board decided that, the goods under Assessment Group 5 (Chapter 84) shall also be covered. Subsequently, the Board vide Circular No. 02/2023-Customs dated 11.01.2023 implemented the SEOs through the RMS across all other assessment groups. [Refer Circular No. 23/2022-Customs dated 03.11.2022 and Circular No. 02/2023-Customs dated 11.01.2023] List of circulars consolidated in this chapter Sr.No. Circular No. Date Subject 1 Circular No.28/2020- Customs 05.06.2020 1st phase of All India roll-out of Faceless Assessment 2 Instruction No. 09/2020- Customs 05.06.2020 1st phase of All India roll-out of Faceless Assessment 3 Circular No.34/2020- Customs 30.07.2020 2nd phase of All India roll-out of Faceless Assessment 4 Circular No.40/2020- Customs 04.09.2020 All India roll-out of Faceless Assessment 5 Circular No. 45/2020- Customs 12.10.2020 Faceless Assessment - Measures for timely assessment of Bills of Entry and clarification on defacement of physical documents 6 Circular No.55/2020- Customs 17.12.2020 Faceless Assessment- Clarifications on the Issues raised by Stakeholders 7 Circular No.14 /2021- Customs 07.07.2021 Improvements in Faceless Assessment - Measures for expediting Customs clearances 8 Circular No.16/2022- Customs 29.08.2022 Faceless Assessment Standard Examination Orders through RMS - Phase 1, Part 1 9 Circular No.23 / 2022- Customs 03.11.2022 Faceless Assessment - Anonymized Escalation Mechanism extension of Standard Examination Orders through RMS (Phase 1, Part 2) 10 Circular No. 02/2023- Customs 11.01.2023 Faceless Assessment Standard Examination Orders through RMS - Phased implementation of Standardized Examination Orders through RMS 11 Circular No.13/2023- Customs 31.05.2023 Faceless Assessment Re- organisation of National Assessment Centres and Faceless Assessment Groups Annexure to Circular No.13/2023-Customs (Revision of Annexure I of Circular No.14/2021-Customs dt.07.07.2021) National Assessment Centres (Revised) National Assessment Centre (Pr. CC/CC of the Zone) (Revised) Nodal Commissioners (1) Faceless Assessment Groups (Chapters covered by Customs Tariff Act, 1975) FAG from Zones (Revised) Port Code, Zone (2) Primary Products Convenor- Kolkata Nodal Commissioners - Zones 1. Ahmedabad 2. Bengaluru 3. Bhubaneshwar 4. Chennai 5. Delhi 6. Kolkata 7. Mumbai II 8. Thiruvananthapuram 9. Tiruchirappalli (Preventive) 10. Vishakhapatnam 1 (01-15) Primary Products 1 1. INIXY1, Ahmedabad 2. INKRI1, Vishakhapatnam 3. INCCU1, Kolkata 4. INNSA1, Mumbai II 5. INMAA1, Chennai 6. INNML1, Bengaluru 1B (16-26) Primary Products 2 1. INDAH1, Ahmedabad 2. INNSA1, Mumbai-II 3. INVTZ1, Vishakhapatnam 4. INPRT1, Bhubaneshwar 5. INMAA1, Chennai 6. INCCU1, Kolkata 7. INTKD6, Delhi 8. INTUT1, Tiruchirappalli (Preventive) 9. INCOK1, Thiruvananthapuram Mineral Products Convenor- Bengaluru Nodal Commissioners - Zones 1. Ahmedabad 2. Bengaluru 3. Bhubaneshwar 4. Chennai 5. Mumbai I 6. Thiruvananthapuram 7. Vishakhapatnam 1A (27) Mineral Products 1. INVAD1, Ahmedabad 2. INBOM1, Mumbai I 3. INNML1, Bengaluru 4. INVTZ1, Vishakhapatnam 5. INPRT1, Bhubaneshwar 6. INMAA1, Chennai 7. INCOK1,Thiruvanathapuram Chemicals Convenor-Mumbai II Nodal Commissioners - Zones 1. Ahmedabad 2. Bengaluru 3. Bhubaneshwar 4. Chennai 5. Delhi 6. Kolkata 7. Meerut 8. Mumbai I 9. Mumbai II 10. Mumbai III 11. Pune 12. Thiruvananthapuram 13. Tiruchirappalli (Preventive) 14. Vishakhapatnam 2 (28) Products of Chemical or Allied Industries - I 1. INIXY1, Ahmedabad 2. INNSA1, Mumbai II 3. INKAK1, Vishakhapatnam 4. INMAA4, Chennai 5. INPRT1, Bhubaneshwar 6. INDEL4, Delhi 7. INCCU1, Kolkata 8. INBOM4, Mumbai III 2A (29) Products of Chemical or Allied Industries - II 1. INIXY1, Ahmedabad 2. INNSA1, Mumbai II 3. INMAA1, Chennai 4. INBOM1, Mumbai I 5. INVTZ1, Vishakhapatnam 6. INCCU1, Kolkata 2B (30-31) Products of Chemical or Allied Industries - III 1. INMUN1, Ahmedabad 2. INKAK1, Vishakhapatnam 3. INBOM4, Mumbai III 4. INNSA1, Mumbai II 5. INPRT1, Bhubaneshwar 6. INJGD1, Pune 7. INTUT1, Tiruchirappalli (Preventive) 2C (32-34) - Products of Chemical or Allied Industries - IV 1. INNSA1, Mumbai II 2. INMAA1, Chennai 3. INTKD6, Delhi 4. INMUN1, Ahmedabad 5. INBOM4, Mumbai III 6. INCCU1, Kolkata 2D (35-36) Products of Chemical or Allied Industries - V 1. INNSA1, Mumbai II 2. INMAA1, Chennai 3. INDEL4, Delhi 4. INBOM4, Mumbai III 5. INMUN1, Ahmedabad 2E (37) Products of Chemical or Allied Industries - VI 1. INNSA1, Mumbai II 2. INMAA1, Chennai 3. INTKD6, Delhi 4. INCCU1, Kolkata 2F (38) Products of Chemical or Allied Industries - VII 1. INNSA1, Mumbai II 2. INIXY1, Ahmedabad 3. INCCU1, Kolkata 4. INMAA1, Chennai 5. INBOM4, Mumbai III 6. INDEL4, Delhi 2G (39) Plastic Products 1. INNSA1, Mumbai II 2. INMUN1, Ahmedabad 3. INMAA1, Chennai 4. INDEL4, Delhi 5. INCCU1, Kolkata 6. INAPL6, Meerut 7. INWFD6, Bengaluru 2H (40) Rubber Products 1. INMAA1, Chennai 2. INNSA1, Mumbai II 3. INMUN1, Ahmedabad 4. INTKD6, Delhi 5. INCOK1, Thiruvananthapuram 6. INCCU1, Kolkata 2I (41-43) Leather Products 1. INMAA1, Chennai 2. INNSA1, Mumbai II 3. INDEL4, Delhi 4. INCCU1, Kolkata 5. INWFD6, Bengaluru 2J (44-46) Wood 1. INIXY1, Ahmedabad 2. INTUT1, Tiruchirappalli (Preventive) 3. INNSA1, Mumbai II 4. INMAA1, Chennai 5. INCCU1, Kolkata 6. INTKD6, Delhi 2K (47-49) Products made of Wood 1. INDEL4, Delhi 2. INMUN1, Ahmedabad 3. INBOM4, Mumbai III 4. INNSA1, Mumbai II 5. INMAA1, Chennai 6. INCCU1, Kolkata 7. INMBD6, Meerut 8. INTUT1, Tiruchirappalli (Preventive) Textile Products Convenor- Delhi Nodal Commissioners - Zones 1. Ahmedabad 2. Bengaluru 3. Chennai 4. Delhi 5. Kolkata 6. Mumbai II 7. Tiruchirappalli (Preventive) 3 (50-70) Textile Products 1. INNSA1, Mumbai II 2. INMAA1, Chennai 3. INDEL4, Delhi 4. INMUN1, Ahmedabad 5. INCCU1, Kolkata 6. INTUT1, Tiruchirappalli (Preventive) 7. INWFD6, Bengaluru 3A (71) Gems Jewellery 1. INDEL4, Delhi 2. INHIR6, Ahmedabad 3. INMAA4, Chennai Metal Products Convenor-Ahmedabad Nodal Commissioners - Zones 1. Ahmedabad 2. Bhubaneshwar 3. Chennai 4. Delhi 5. Delhi (Preventive) 6. Kolkata 7. Meerut 8. Mumbai I 9. Mumbai II 10. Mumbai III 4 (72-73)- Ferrous base metals 1. INMUN1, Ahmedabad 2. INMAA1, Chennai 3. INNSA1, Mumbai II 4. INBOM1, Mumbai I 5. INGHR6, Delhi 6. INPRT1, Bhubaneshwar 7. INCPR6, Delhi (Prev) 8. INBNG6, Mumbai III 9. INCCU1, Kolkata 4A (74-83) Non-ferrous Base Metals 1. INSAJ6, Ahmedabad 2. INNSA1, Mumbai II 3. INMAA1, Chennai 4. INGHR6, Delhi 5. INKKU6, Delhi (Preventive) 6. INDER6, Meerut 7. INCCU1, Kolkata Mechanical Machineries Convenor-Mumbai III Nodal Commissioners - Zones 1. Ahmedabad 2. Bengaluru 3. Chennai 4. Delhi 5. Kolkata 6. Mumbai I 7. Mumbai II 8. Mumbai III 5 (8401-8469) Machinery Mechanical Appliances - I 1. INNSA1, Mumbai II 2. INMAA1, Chennai 3. INDEL4, Delhi 4. INBOM4, Mumbai III 5. INMUN1, Ahmedabad 6. INCCU1, Kolkata 7. INBLR4, Bengaluru 8. INBOM1, Mumbai I 5E (8470-8473) Machinery Mechanical Appliances - II 1. INBOM4, Mumbai III 2. INMAA4, Chennai 3. INNSA1, Mumbai II 4. INBLR4, Bengaluru 5. INDEL4, Delhi 5N (8474-8487) Machinery Mechanical Appliances - III 1. INNSA1, Mumbai II 2. INMAA1, Chennai 3. INDEL4, Delhi 4. INMUN1, Ahmedabad 5. INBOM4, Mumbai III 6. INBLR4, Bengaluru 7. INCCU1, Kolkata Electric Machineries Convenor-Chennai Nodal Commissioners - Zones 1. Ahmedabad 2. Bengaluru 3. Chennai 4. Delhi 5. Mumbai II 6. Mumbai III 5A (8501-8516) Electrical machinery 1. INMAA1, Chennai 2. INNSA1, Mumbai II 3. INDEL4, Delhi 4. INBLR4, Bengaluru 5. INBOM4, Mumbai III 6. INMUN1, Ahmedabad 5C (8517-8531)-Communication and related equipment 1. INMAA4, Chennai 2. INDEL4, Delhi 3. INBLR4, Bengaluru 4. INBOM4, Mumbai III 5. INNSA1, Mumbai II 5M (8532-8548)- Micro-electronics 1. INDEL4, Delhi 2. INMAA4, Chennai 3. INBLR4, Bengaluru 4. INNSA1, Mumbai II 5. INBOM4, Mumbai III Automobile and Instruments Miscellaneous Products Convenor-Mumbai I Nodal Commissioners - Zones 1. Ahmedabad 2. Bengaluru 3. Chennai 4. Delhi 5. Hyderabad 6. Kolkata 7. Mumbai I 8. Mumbai II 9. Mumbai III 10. Pune 11. Thiruvananthapuram 12. Vishakhapatnam 5B (86-87)-Vehicles 1. INMAA1, Chennai 2. INNSA1, Mumbai II 3. INGHR6, Delhi 4. INBRC6, Ahmedabad 5. INBOM1, Mumbai I 6. INWFD6, Bengaluru 7. INTLG6, Pune 5F (88) Aircrafts 1. INCOK1, Thiruvananthapuram 2. INDEL4, Delhi 3. INBOM4, Mumbai III 4. INBLR4, Bengaluru 5. INMAA4, Chennai 6. INNSA1, Mumbai II 5S (89) Vessels 1. INKAK1, Vishakhapatnam 2. INBOM1, Mumbai I 3. INALA1, Ahmedabad 5I (90-92) Instruments Apparatus 1. INDEL4, Delhi 2. INBOM4, Mumbai III 3. INMAA4, Chennai 4. INBLR4, Bengaluru 5. INNSA1, Mumbai II 6. INHYD4, Hyderabad 6 (93-98) Miscellaneous Products/Project Imports 1. INCOK1, Thiruvananthapuram 2. INNSA1, Mumbai II 3. INCCU1, Kolkata 4. INBOM1, Mumbai I 5. INDEL4, Delhi 6. INMAA1, Chennai 7. INHYD4, Hyderabad 8. INBOM4, Mumbai III 9. INBLR4, Bengaluru