G/MA/W/ 171 
 
29 September 2021  
(21-7302) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Market Access  Original: English  
 
 
UNILATERAL MEASURES RELATING TO THE COVID -19 PANDEMIC:  
MEASURES TO FACILITATE TRADE  
COMMUNICATION FROM INDIA  
The following communication, dated 29 September 202 1, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of India. 
 
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1.  The Government of India has undertaken a series of substantial, proactive and impactful 
measures through the COVID -19 pandemic to facilitate trade. These measures are d ocumented in 
the table in Annex 1  below, along with the hyperlinks to the relevant official government 
notifications/documents.  
 
2.  As a relief measure for other countries battling with the pandemic, specific export shipments of 
critical drugs, pharmaceut icals, testing kits, personal protection equipment etc. are actively 
facilitated by customs at the borders. Some of these shipments are donation from the Government 
of India.  
 
3.  Based on email requisitions, computers and related accessories have been per mitted by Customs 
to be transferred from the bonded premises to residence of employees of Software Technology Park 
of India to facilitate work from home during the lockdown period.  
 
4.  Customs operations were declared as an essential service during the lock down period, to allow 
smooth operations at all the customs stations. Directives were issued permitting movement of 
customs brokers and transporters, and allowing functioning of warehouses during the lock down 
period.  
 
5.  All customs formations have been asked to show greater sensitivity in dealing with cargo from 
affected areas, condone the delay in filing import declarations and waive the late filing fees in 
genuine cases.  
 
6.  Special care has been taken in clearance of passengers c oming from affected countries. Separate 
channels were created at the airports, port terminals and land customs stations for such passengers. 
Customs officers strictly followed instructions to use masks, gloves and sanitizers.  
 
7.  Steps were taken to see t hat ample space is available for storing EXIM cargo in the customs area.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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   ANNEX 1  
 
No. Document  Subject  Measures Taken  Weblink  
1 Instruction no. 
02/2020 -
Customs; dt 20 -
02-2020 24*7 Customs 
clearance  24x7 custom clearance facility has 
been implemented at all custom 
formations to avoid any supply chain 
disruption  https://www.cbic.gov.in/htdoc
s-cbec/customs/cs -
instructions/cs -instructions -
2020/cs -ins-02-2020.pdf   
2 Online portal  Novel 
Coronavirus 
Help Desk for 
EXIM Trade  A dedicated single window COVID -
19 helpdesk for EXIM trade has been 
created to facilitate quick resolution 
of issue(s) faced by 
importer/exporter.  https://icegate.gov.in/coronav
irus-tradehelp/   
3 Nodal Officers 
from the CBIC 
Customs 
Zones/Formation
s for facilitating 
Customs 
clearances 
amidst the 
Covid -19 crisis  Nodal officers 
from Customs 
Zones for 
facilitating 
Customs 
clearances 
amidst the 
Covid -19 crisis  A nodal officer has been designated 
in each Customs Zone, who can be 
approached for any issue pertaining 
to clearance of cargo.  https://www.cbic.gov.in/htdoc
s-cbec/CBIC -Customs -Nodal -
Officer -Covid -19.pdf   
4 Circular 
No.15/2020 -
Customs; dt 28 -
02-2020 Implementation 
of automated 
clearance on 
All-India basis  To minimize hum an interface and 
maximize social distancing, the OOC 
(Out of Charge) work, so far 
performed by an officer, has been 
assigned to the Electronic Data 
Interface system, providing for 
machine -based automated release 
of import consignments throughout 
India, on 05.03.2020.  https://www.cbic.gov.in/htdoc
s-cbec/customs/cs -
circulars/cs -circulars -
2020/Circular -No-15-2020.pdf   
5 Circular 
No.17/2020 -
Customs; dt 03 -
04-2020 
 
Circular 
No.21/2020 -
Customs; dt 21 -
04-2020 Requirement of 
different types 
of customs 
bond has been 
dispensed with.  To address the difficulties faced due 
to non -availability of stamp papers 
during the lock -down period, the 
requirement of different types of 
customs bond has been dispensed 
with. Traders can submit 
undertaking on plain paper in lieu of 
undertaking on a bond paper.  https://www.cbic.gov.in/htdoc
s-cbec/customs/cs -
circulars/cs -circulars -
2020/Circular -No-17-2020.pdf   
 
https://www.cbic.gov.in/htdoc
s-cbec/customs/cs -
circulars/cs -circulars -
2020/Circular -No-21-2020.pdf   
6 Notification No. 
20/2020 – 
Customs; dt 09 -
04-2020 Exemption of 
customs duty 
on ventilators, 
personal 
protection 
equipment, 
Covid -19 
testing kits and 
inputs for these 
good.  Prioritized clearance of critical goods 
used for fighting Covid -19, such as 
medical equipment, drugs and 
pharma ceuticals, testing kits, PPEs, 
is ensured. Exemption from basic 
customs duty and health cess has 
been granted to such goods - 
ventilators, masks, personal 
protection equipment, testing kits 
and inputs used in manufacturing 
these items till September 30, 202 1. https://www.cbic.gov.in/htdoc
s-cbec/customs/cs -
act/notifications/notfns -
2020/cs -tarr2020/cs20 -
2020.pdf   
7 Circular no. 
18/2020 -
Custom s dt.11 -
04-2020 Clearance of 
goods under 
India’s Trade 
Agreements 
without original 
Certificate of 
Origin.  Provisional clearance of goods while 
extending preferential treatment, 
without the submission of original 
signed certificates of origin was put 
in pla ce in April 2020.  https://www.cbic.gov.in/htdoc
s-cbec/customs/cs -
circulars/cs -circulars -
2020/Circular -No-18-2020.pdf   
8 Circular no. 
19/2020 -
Customs dt.13 -
04-2020 Paperless 
Customs – 
Electronic 
Communication 
of PDF based 
Gate-pass and 
OOC Copy of 
Bill of Entry to 
Custom 
Brokers/Import
ers. Enabling electronic communication 
of electronic gate -pass (eGatepass} 
and electronic out of charge (eOoC) 
copy of bill of entry and to 
importers/customs brokers.  https://www.cbic.gov.in/htdoc
s-cbec/customs/cs -
circulars/cs -circulars -
2020/Circular -No-19-2020.pdf   
 
 
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  No. Document  Subject  Measures Taken  Weblink  
9 Instruction no. 
04/2020 -
Customs; dt 27 -
04-2020 Guidelines for 
conduct of 
personal 
hearings in 
virtual mode 
under Customs 
ACT, 1962  Personal hearing in respect of any 
proceeding under the Customs Act, 
1962 may be conducted through 
video conferencing with a view to 
ensure social distancing and reduce 
physical presence.  https://www.cbic.gov.in/htdoc
s-cbec/customs/cs -
instructions/cs -instructions -
2020/cs -ins-04-2020.pdf   
10 Instruction no. 
03/2020 -
Customs; dt 09 -
04-2020 Special refund 
and drawback 
disposal drive.  Drive to expeditiously process all 
pending customs refund and 
drawback claims in order to provide 
immediate relief to business 
entities, especially MSMEs.  https://www.cbic.gov.in/htdoc
s-cbec/customs/cs -
instructions/cs -instructions -
2020/cs -ins-03-2020.pdf   
11 Circular 
No.22/2020 -
Customs, dt. 21 -
04-2020 IGST refunds 
on exports -
extension in 
SB005 
alternate 
mechanism.  Extension of the facility of SB005 
error correction in the Customs EDI 
system for Shipping Bills with date 
upto 31.12.2019.  https://www.cbic.gov.in/htdoc
s-cbec/customs/cs -
circulars/cs -circulars -
2020/Circular -No-22-2020.pdf   
12 Letter dated 
23.04.2020  Waiver of 
Demur rage 
Charges levied 
by 
ICDs/CFSs/Port
s/Terminal 
Operators 
during 
lockdown.   Local custodians (Inland Container 
Depots and Container Freight 
Stations) to exempt container 
detention charges during the 
lockdown period.  https://www.cbic.gov.in/htdoc
s-cbec/customs/cs -
circulars/cs -circulars -
2020/Letter_dated_23.04.202
0.pdf  
13 Ordinance  An Ordinance 
to provide 
relaxation in 
the provisions 
of certain Acts 
and for matters 
connected 
therewith or 
incidental 
thereto  The time limit for filing of appeal, 
furnishing of return, or any other 
compliance under the Customs Act 
or Customs Tariff Act, which was 
expiring from 20th March 2020 to 
29th June 2020, was extended up to 
30th June 2020.  http://egazette.nic.in/WriteRe
adData/2020/218979.pdf   
 
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