MoF streamlines the process of custom clearance of imports vide Postal Imports Regulations, 2025

On 28-3-2025, the Ministry of Finance notified the Postal Imports Regulations, 2025 to streamline the customs clearance process for international parcels arriving through Foreign Post Offices.

Key Points:

1. Applicability:

   • Will apply to assessment and clearance of goods imported through Foreign Post Offices.

   • Exceptions:

     ✓ The following imported goods requiring of samples before their clearance:

   ■ animals and parts thereof;

   ■ plants and parts thereof;

   ■ perishables;

   ■ publications containing maps depicting incorrect boundaries of India;

   ■ precious and semi-precious stones, gold or silver in any form.

   ✓ Import of goods under any export promotion scheme referred to in the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-2014 or 2015-2020 or 2023.

2. These Regulations are governed under the Customs Act, 1962.

3. Entry to be made, list of goods to be presented and Postal Bill of Import to be filed:

   • Form CN 22, Form CN 23 and Form CP 72 should be affixed to the parcels and contain a description of goods, quantities and their value.

   • Postal Authority will have to present the list of parcels, containing imported goods, which have arrived at the Foreign Post Office, to the proper officer of Customs (‘proper officer’), electronically on the Customs Automated System, on the day of arrival of the parcels.

   • A Postal Bill on imports has to be filed by the importer, electronically on the Customs Automated System, for Non-Personal Imported goods.

4. Inspection, Assessment, Examination and Clearance of goods:

   • Proper officer will scan and inspect the goods once he receives the goods from Postal Authority.

   • Proper officer can select the goods for examination based on the result of scanning, inspection and the information provided in Forms.

   • Proper officer can also perform a risk-based assessment of goods, in respect of which the Electronic Advance Data has been made available by the Postal Authority to the Customs Automated System, before the arrival of the goods at the Foreign Post Office.

   • Proper officer can also ask the importer to produce any other information for the purpose of verification.

   • Once satisfied that the goods are not prohibited, proper officer can order permitting clearance after completion of customs procedure.

5. No parcel can be delivered by the Postal Authority without payment of applicable duties.

6. Postal Authority can request Customs for re-export/ return of unprohibited imported goods to the sender in case of undelivered parcels.

7. Postal Authority can either sell or dispose of any undelivered parcel/ any good which has not taken clearance even after 30 days of its arrival.

8. Obligations of Postal Authority:

   • Commissioner of customs will lay down the manner in which the goods are to be cleared;

   • Until permitted by the Proper officer, no person can open any Receptacle/ bag/ package;

   • Postal Authority will have to present all the postal imported parcels, along with the list of such parcels at the Foreign Post Office to the Proper officer;

   • Postal authorities can deliver goods only after clearance is permitted by the Proper officer.

9. In case any person contravenes with the provisions of these regulations, a penalty which may extend to Rs. 2 lakhs can be imposed on him.