(a) “Act” means the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962);

(b) “Board” means the Board defined under clause (6) of section 2 of the Act;

(c) “Board of Approvals” means the combined Board of Approvals for export oriented unit and special economic zone units, as notified in the Official Gazette, from time to time, by the Government of India in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry;

(d) “custodian” means any person approved by the Commissioner of Customs under section 45 of the Act for the custody of imported goods unloaded in the customs area;

(e) “Development Commissioner” means the Development Commissioner of the concerned special economic zone;

(f) “ developer” means a person engaged in development, or operation, or maintenance of zone or in providing public utility services within the special economic zone, duly permitted by the Commissioner of Customs and includes any other person authorised by the developer for such purpose;

(g) “Export and Import Policy ” means the Export and Import Policy, notified from time to time, in the Official Gazette by the Government of India in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry under section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulations) Act, 1992 (22 of 1992);

(h) “export oriented undertaking” means an undertaking which has been approved as a hundred per cent. export oriented undertaking by the Board of Approvals;

(i) “Electronic Hardware Technology Park” means the “Electronic Hardware Technology Park Scheme notified by the Government of India in the Ministry of Commerce, and approved by the Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee appointed by notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Industry (Department of Industrial Development);

(j) “Manufacturer Exporter” shall have the same meaning as defined in the Export and Import Policy.

(k) “Nominated Agencies” means the Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation Limited, the Handicraft and Handloom Export Corporation, the State Trading Corporation, the Projects and Equipment of India Limited and any other agency authorized by the Reserve Bank of India;

(l) “self certification” means the certification regarding sealing of container or package of goods under export given by the zone unit and includes the certificate regarding contents and sealing of the container or package, given by the owner, the working partner, the Managing Director or Company Secretary of the said unit or any person, (holding a high position in such zone unit, authorised by such owner, working partner or the Board of Directors of such unit (m), as the case may be, on the copies of shipping bill, which indicates that such package or container in respect of goods under export have been sealed in his presence;

(m) “Software Technology Park Scheme” means Software Technology Park Scheme notified by the Government of India in the Ministry of Commerce, and approved by the Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee appointed by notification of Government of India in the Ministry of Industry (Department of Industrial Development);

(n) “status holder” shall have the same meaning as defined in the Export and Import Policy;

(o) “zone” means a special economic zone specified by the Central Government under section 76 A of the Act;

(p) “zone unit” means a special economic zone unit of business establishment set up in the processing area of the zone for carrying out authorised operations only;

(q) Words and expressions used herein and not defined, but defined in the Act or Rules made there under, shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Act or the rules.

(1) A zone unit may be set up for the purposes of carrying out authorised operations.

(2) The Letter of Permission for setting up of zone unit shall be issued by the Development Commissioner.

(3) Two or more zone units shall not operate from the same premises.

(1) The zone unit may import goods required for carrying its authorised operations or for the purposes of setting up the unit, through-

(a) ports or airports;

(b) land customs stations;

(c) inland container depots;

(d) foreign post offices;

(e) authorised courier;

(2) The goods may also be procured from public bonded warehouse or private bonded warehouse or international exhibition held in India.

(3) In case of software, imports shall also be allowed through data communication link, internet, e-mail or any other electronic mode.

(4) For clearance of imported goods at all ports, airports, land customs stations, inland container depots, the zone unit or developer, as the case may be, shall be required to follow the procedures, namely:-

(i) the zone unit or developer, as the case may be, shall file a bill of entry for home consumption in quintuplicate giving therein, complete description, model, make, specifications, purpose of import of goods such as trading, manufacturing, nature of goods such as capital goods, raw materials, spares, consumables, with specially stamped endorsement as “ special economic zone cargo” alongwith bill of lading or airway bill, a invoice, packing list and purchase order or contract for noting of the bill of Entry in the zone;

(ii) the bill of entry shall be assessed by the Custom officers in the zone;

(iii) the assessed bill of entry shall be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, (hereinafter referred to as proper officer ) at the place of import such as port, airport, land customs station, inland container depot, and the same shall be treated as permission for transfer of goods to the zone;

(iv) in case of sealed full container load ( FCL) container, the goods shall be transferred to the zone on the basis of assessed bill of entry after verification of the seal, without customs escorts;

(v) in case of other cargo, the goods shall be allowed to be transferred to the zone on the basis of assessed bill of entry either under customs escort or under transshipment procedure, depending on the option made by the zone unit; and for such transshipment, no separate documents shall be required to be filed and the transshipment permission shall be stamped on the fifth copy of the bill of entry;

(vi) on arrival of the goods in the zone, the goods shall be subjected to verification of seal in case of full container load container or verification of marks and numbers of packages in other case and after such verification, if in order, such goods received shall be allowed admission in the zone;

(vii) the zone unit shall submit fifth copy of bill of entry bearing endorsement of the Customs officers in the zone that the goods have been received in the zone, to the proper officer in charge of the airport, port, inland container deport, land customs station, post office, public or private bonded warehouse, as the case may be, within a period of forty-five days from the date of clearance of goods from such airport, port, inland container deport, land customs station, post office, public or private bonded warehouse, as the case may be, failing which the proper officer in charge of such airport, port, inland container deport, land customs station, post office, public or private bonded warehouse, as the case may be, shall write to the proper officer having jurisdiction over the zone for raising demand of duty from the zone unit;

(viii) the zone unit shall be required to obtain notional out of charge of goods from the proper officer of the zone on the same day if the goods are brought during the working hours or immediately on the next working day in case goods are brought beyond working hours;

(ix) where goods are imported by the zone unit or developer through courier, customs officer in the zone shall assess the goods as per the Courier Import and Export(Clearance) Regulations, 1998.

(5) The goods imported by the zone unit or developer shall not be subject to detailed examination except in case of prior intelligence or information or to maintain an element of surprise.

(6) Where the goods have been imported by post, the zone unit or the developer, following the procedure specified in sub-regulation (4), shall file the bill of entry with the Customs officers in the zone marking clearly “Postal Imports” subject to following conditions, namely:-

(i) for the purpose of bill of entry, the post-office registration number as indicated in the intimation letter issued by the post office shall be taken as the import general manifest and item number, of the bill of entry;

(ii) copy of intimation letter received from the post office shall also be pasted on the reverse of the original bill of entry;

(iii) where the zone is away from the foreign post office, the goods shall be moved to the zone under customs escort from such post office or under control of the postal authorities.

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in regulation 4, the zone unit engaged in manufacture and export of gems and jewellery, shall be allowed to import precious goods, namely gold, silver, platinum, gem and jewellery through personal baggage subject to the following procedure, namely:-

(i) the passenger bringing the precious goods shall declare the goods with the customs authorities at the airport in the arrival hall in the declaration form as specified by Commissioner of Customs in charge of concerned airport alongwith a duly acknowledged copy of intimation submitted to the Customs officers in the zone ;

(ii) the passenger shall hand over the goods duly packed indicating name and address of the consignee zone unit and accompanied by invoice and packing list to the customs authorities for detention in the warehouse under the detention receipt;

(iii) the Customs officers shall detain the goods and issue detention receipt indicating full details such as weight, purity and number of bars, name of unit, passport number of the passenger and name of the supplier, etc.;

(iv) the zone unit shall file the bill of entry in quintuplicate alongwith a copy of invoice, packing list, declaration with the Customs officers in the zone and in such cases, the detention receipt number issued by the Customs at Airport at the time of arrival of the passenger shall be treated as Import General Manifest and item number;

(v) after assessments of bill of entry, original copy of the bill of entry shall be retained by the Custom officers in the zone and the remaining copies shall be handed over to the representative of the zone unit for presenting at the airport detention counter where goods shall be allowed clearance after receiving the original detention receipt, authorization from the zone unit and making entries in the warehouse register, detention receipt register and obtaining signatures from the authorised representative of the zone unit;

(vi) after release of the goods, the goods shall be moved to the zone under customs escort and shall be allowed admission into the zone unit after verification of marks and numbers of packages and notional “out of charge” by the Customs officers in the zone;

(vii) the goods so detained at the airport may also be allowed to be transported by an authority or agency approved by the Commissioner of Customs having jurisdiction over the zone.

(1). Where the zone unit import computer software through data communication or telecommunication links, the zone unit shall file bill of entry within a period of twenty four hours of such import alongwith invoice and other relevant documents and shall obtain notional ‘out of charge’ from the Customs officers in the zone, subject to the following conditions, namely:-

(i) the documents such as invoice, etc. in respect of such import of computer software shall be routed through banks;

(ii) the value of such software shall be verified by the Development Commissioner of the zone;

(iii) instruction issued by the Reserve Bank of India, from time to time, if any, in this behalf shall be followed.

(1) Where goods are procured from the warehouse appointed or licensed under section 57 or section 58 of the Act, the zone unit shall file bill of entry giving therein complete description of the goods such as model, make, serial number, specification, with the Customs officers in the zone.

(2) The zone unit shall submit the duly assessed bill of entry assessed by the Customs officers in the zone to the proper officer in charge of the warehouse from where the zone unit intends to procure the goods. (3) The proper officer in charge of the warehouse shall allow clearance of the goods from the warehouse for supply to the zone unit without payment of duty on the cover of ex-bond shipping bill and on the basis of bill of entry duly assessed by the customs officers in the zone. (4) Where the re-warehousing certificate by way of endorsement by the Customs officers in the zone on the copy of ex-bond shipping bill is not received by the proper officer incharge of warehouse within the period of forty-five days from the date of clearance of the goods from the warehouse, the proper officer incharge of the warehouse shall proceed to demand of duty from the owner of such goods so supplied to the zone unit. (5). The zone unit shall obtain notional “out of charge” of goods from the proper officer of the zone on the same day if the goods are brought during the working hours, or immediately on the next working day in case goods are brought beyond working hours.

(1) The zone unit shall be allowed to re-import the goods exported and found to be defective or damaged by the overseas buyer or in the case of failure of the buyer to take delivery of the goods, subject to the procedure as mentioned in regulation 4 and subject to the following conditions, namely:-

(i) identity of goods is established at the time of re-import ; and

(ii) goods are re-imported within a period of one year from the date of export.

(2). Where the goods imported by the zone unit are found to be defective or damaged or found to be otherwise unfit for use and suppliers agree to replace such defective or damaged or unfit for use goods, then such goods received as free replacement shall be allowed admission in the zone by way of import or replacement through the authorized dealer of the overseas supplier in India, subject to the following conditions, namely:-

(i) the goods so found to be defective or damaged or otherwise unfit for use may be re-exported later on; or

(ii) where the overseas supplier of such goods does not insist for re-export of such goods, the re-export of the same shall not be insisted provided such goods are either destroyed with the permission of proper officer, or shall be cleared into domestic tariff area on payment of duty as if cleared for home consumption.

(1) The zone unit or developer, as the case may be, may procure any goods from domestic tariff area for carrying out authorised operation subject to the following conditions, namely:-

(i) the domestic tariff unit supplying the goods to the zone unit or developer, or the zone unit or developer on behalf of the domestic tariff area unit, as the case may be, shall file a bill of export giving therein complete description, model, make, specifications, nature of goods such as capital goods, raw materials, spares, consumables, with specially stamped endorsement as “special economic zone cargo” alongwith invoice, packing list and purchase order for noting and assessment of the bill of export in the zone;

(ii) the bill of export shall be assessed by the customs officer in the zone;

(iii) the assessed bill of export shall be submitted to the proper officer having jurisdiction over the domestic tariff area unit and the same shall be treated as permission for transfer of goods to the zone;

(iv) the domestic tariff area unit supplying goods to the zone unit or the developer, as the case may be, shall be allowed to remove the goods on the cover of ARE-I and the assessed bill of export, giving therein complete description, model, make, serial number, specifications etc.;

(v) the goods so brought to the zone may be allowed admission into the zone on the basis of assessed of bill of export and ARE-I and a copy of bill of export and ARE-I, with an endorsement that goods have been admitted in full into the zone, shall be forwarded to the Central Excise Superintendent having jurisdiction over the domestic tariff area unit within forty-five days, failing which the Superintendent shall raise demand of duty against the domestic tariff area unit;

(vi) where domestic tariff area unit or zone unit, on behalf of such domestic tariff area unit, has filed a bill of export under claim of duty drawback or duty entitlement passbook scheme and the domestic tariff area unit does not intend to claim duty drawback or duty entitlement passbook scheme credit, a disclaimer to this effect may be given to the zone unit, and on the basis of such disclaimer given by the domestic tariff area unit, duty drawback or duty entitlement passbook scheme credit may be claimed by the zone unit;

(vii) the proper officers in the zone shall assess the bill of export in the same manner as it is assessed in the case of export of goods under claim of duty drawback or duty entitlement passbook scheme credit or no claim, as the case may be, and instruction issued under respective export promotion scheme shall apply mutatis mutandis in respect of these goods ; and valuation of such goods shall be done in terms of section 14 of the Act;

(viii) before allowing admission of such goods in to the zone, the goods shall be examined by the customs officer of the zone in respect of description, quantity, marks, model etc. given in the ARE-I and bill of export, invoice and packing list and also as per the examination norms laid down in respect of export goods and instruction issued by the Board in this behalf from time to time;

(ix) the duty drawback or duty entitlement passbook scheme credit against such supply of goods by domestic tariff area unit to the zone unit or to the developer shall be admissible only when the payment for such supply of goods to the zone unit is received in freely convertible foreign currency;

(x) a copy of the bill of export and ARE-I with endorsement of zone customs authorities on it to the effect that goods have been admitted in full in the zone shall be treated as proof of export;

(xi) where the goods are intended to be procured by the zone unit from a trader or merchant exporter, the procedure as stated hereinabove shall apply mutatis mutandis, including filing of bill of export except that the goods shall not be required to be brought to the zone under the cover of ARE-I and assessed copy of bill of export shall not be required to be submitted to the jurisdictional Central Excise authority for removal of goods, from the premises of the trader or merchant exporter.

(1) The zone unit or the developer may also procure capital goods or manufactured goods from export oriented undertaking or software technology park unit or electronic hardware technology park unit subject to following conditions, namely:-

(i) subject to the procedure specified in regulation 7, the export oriented undertaking or software technology park unit or electronic hardware technology park unit, as the case may be, may transfer capital goods imported or procured duty free to the zone unit or the developer, as the case may be;

(ii) subject to the procedure as specified in the regulation 10, the export oriented undertaking or software technology park unit or electronic hardware technology park unit, as the case may be, may also transfer manufactured goods to the zone unit or to the developer duty free;

(iii) the goods procured by the zone unit or developer under clauses (i) and (ii) shall be used by it for the purposes of carrying out authorised operations in the zone only;

(iv) the capital goods or manufactured goods in export oriented undertaking or software technology park unit or electronic hardware technology park unit so transferred under clauses (i) and (ii) to the zone unit shall be considered as imported goods for zone unit for all purposes.

A zone unit may procure goods namely, capital goods or manufactured goods from another zone unit located in the same zone or in another zone, subject to following conditions, namely:-

(i) the receiving zone unit shall file bill of entry for home consumption in quintuplicate giving therein, complete description, model, make, specifications, purpose of import of goods, nature of goods such as capital goods, raw materials, spares, consumables, alongwith a invoice, packing list with the customs authorities in the zone, having jurisdiction over such unit;

(ii) on the basis of such assessed bill of entry, the goods shall be allowed to be removed or transferred to the receiving zone unit under transshipment permit;

(iii) there shall be no requirement to file any additional documents for the purpose of transshipment of goods and the transshipment permission shall be stamped on the bill of entry itself;

(iv) the supplying zone unit shall submit the re-warehousing certificate to the proper officer having jurisdiction over the such supplying unit within a period of forty five days, failing which the jurisdictional proper officer of the supplying zone unit shall write to the jurisdictional proper officer of the receiving zone unit for demand of duty from the receiving zone unit;

(v) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (1), in case where supplying and receiving zone units are located in the same zone, the movement of goods including raw materials shall be allowed subject to maintenance of accounts by both receiving and supplying zone unit and no bill of entry shall be required to be filed with the customs authorities in the zone.

(1) Any goods manufactured, produced, reconditioned, re-engineered, imported or procured by the zone unit, as the case may be, as per the terms and condition of Letter of permission, may be exported out of India through airport or port or inland container depot, or land customs station or by post or courier or personal carriage, as the case may be, subject to the following conditions, namely:-

(i) the zone unit shall file shipping bill in quadruplicate with customs officers in the zone, giving therein complete description of goods such as model, make, serial number, specification, alongwith relevant documents, namely, invoice, packing list, GR Form (in duplicate) for noting;

(ii) the shipping bill shall be assessed by the customs officers in the zone in the manner and procedure as is followed in case of normal exports;

(iii) the goods shall not be examined in routine and Let Export Order may be given on the basis of self certification by the zone unit ;

(iv) notwithstanding anything contained in clause (iii), during the transit of goods from the zone to the gateway port or at the gateway port, airport, or land customs station itself, the goods may be examined by the customs officers as per the norms prescribed by the Board from time to time ;

(2) The zone unit may export goods by post subject to the normal procedure applicable to export through Foreign Post Office.

(1) The zone unit engaged in software sector may be permitted to export software or processed data or data analysed including call centre services via data link, internet, e-mail or through other electronic mode and Softex Form duly certified by the Development Commissioner of the zone as per Foreign Exchange Management (Export of Goods and Services) Regulation, 2000, is submitted to the customs authorities in the zone within a period of one month from the date of such exports.

(2) The zone unit engaged in export of services including software may be permitted to provide consultancy services “on site” abroad subject to submission of details regarding the contract or purchase order, foreign exchange remitted and the persons deputed abroad, to the customs officers in the zone.

(3) The consultancy fee received by the zone unit for providing on site consultancy services in convertible foreign exchange shall be deemed to be export for the purposes of Net Foreign Exchange Earning.

(1) Where the zone unit is engaged in manufacture and export of gems and jewellery, the zone unit may be allowed to export goods to be carried by the foreign bound passenger in their personal baggage, subject to the following conditions, namely:-

(i) the zone unit shall submit the shipping bill alongwith advance remittance certificate duly certified by the bank, invoice, GR-I with the customs officers in the zone;

(ii) the shipping bill shall be assessed by the customs officers in the zone in the same manner as is done in the case of normal exports;

(iii) the goods shall be transferred from the zone to the airport under the cover of assessed shipping bill by the authorized agency approved by the Commissioner of Customs having jurisdiction over the zone under customs escort of the zone;

(iv) at the airport, the consignment shall be deposited with the warehouse in the airport against a “Detention Receipt” issued by the Customs officers at the airport;

(v) the consignment shall be handed over to the authorised passenger at the time of departure on submission of original Detention Receipt;

(vi) the zone unit shall submit the proof of export issued by the Customs officer at the airport of export within a period of seven days from the date of removal of goods from the zone to the customs in the zone.

(1) The zone unit shall be allowed to export goods including gem and jewellery for display or participating in exhibitions abroad in terms of the Export and Import Policy subject to following conditions, namely:-

(i) the zone unit shall obtain the permission of Development Commissioner of the zone allowing the zone unit to participate in the exhibition abroad;
(ii) shipping bill alongwith relevant documents shall be filed with the customs in the zone in the same manner and following the same procedure as applicable to normal exports;

(iii) exports shall be allowed by the customs officers in the zone on provisional basis after examination of the goods;

(iv) the goods unsold in the exhibition shall be imported within such period as it is stipulated in the Export and Import Policy;

(v) the zone unit shall file bill of entry for unsold goods as required in case of normal imports and it shall be assessed in the same manner and subject to same procedure as applicable to normal imported goods;

(vi) the re-imported goods shall be allowed admission free of duty in the unit subject to establishment of identity of the goods with reference to the attested export documents and finalize the provisional assessment accordingly;

(vii) the zone unit shall submit proof of inward remittance in respect of goods sold during exhibition abroad.

(i) the goods shall be exported directly from the zone;

(ii) export document shall contain the name of the merchant exporter and zone unit;

(iii) merchant exporter at the time of assessment of shipping bill in the zone shall submit a disclaimer that no export benefit is being or shall be availed by him.

(1) The proper officer may permit a zone unit to transfer capital goods or goods produced or manufactured by the zone unit to an export oriented undertaking or software technology park unit or electronic hardware technology park unit, as the case may be, without payment of duty for the purpose of manufacture and export, or for export or for use within the unit subject to the following conditions, namely:-

(i) the zone unit shall make such transfer against the procurement certificate issued by the proper officer in charge of receiving export oriented undertaking or software technology park unit or electronic hardware technology park unit, as the case may be;

(ii) a warehousing bill of entry shall be filed by the export oriented unit or software technology park unit or electronic hardware park unit or by the supplying special economic zone unit on behalf of the receiving export oriented unit or software technology park unit or electronic hardware park unit, as the case may be, with the customs officers in the zone;

(iii) export oriented undertaking or software technology park unit or electronic hardware technology park unit shall submit re-warehousing certificate duly signed by the proper officer, having jurisdiction over the receiving export oriented undertaking or software technology park or electronic hardware technology park unit within a period of forty five days from the date of clearance, to the Customs officers in the zone;

(iv) where export oriented undertaking or software technology park unit or electronic hardware technology park unit fails to submit the re-warehousing certificate within a period of forty-five days from the day of clearance of goods, customs officers in the zone shall take up the matter with the jurisdictional proper officer of the receiving unit, to initiate recovery proceeding against such export oriented undertaking, software technology park unit or electronic hardware technology park unit, as the case may be.

(1) The zone unit shall be allowed to sell goods manufactured or produced in the zone unit including reject waste, scrap remnants and by-products arising out of such production, in the domestic tariff area on payment of customs duty in terms of clause (b) of section 76F of the Act.

(2) The zone unit engaged in trading activities shall be allowed to sell imported or indigenously procured goods in domestic tariff area on payment of duty under clause (b) of section 76F of the Act subject to the condition that the zone unit has achieved positive Net Foreign Exchange Earning cumulatively at the time of making sale in domestic tariff area and such sale of goods shall be allowed to the extent that Net Foreign Exchange Earning of the unit remain positive.

(3) Domestic tariff area unit intending to buy goods from the zone unit shall be required to file bill of entry for home-consumption giving therein complete description of the goods such as make, model number, serial number, specification, alongwith invoice and packing list with the customs officers in the zone.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (4), the bill of entry for home consumption may also be filed by the zone unit on the basis of authorization by buyer located in domestic tariff area.

(5) The valuation of the goods cleared into domestic tariff area shall be determined in accordance with section 14 of the Act and rules made thereunder.

(6) Where the goods so procured from domestic tariff area by the zone unit are supplied back to the domestic tariff area as it is or without substantial processing, such goods shall be treated as re-imported goods and shall be subject to such procedure and conditions as applicable in the case of normal re-import of goods from outside India.

(7) Where the zone unit has surplus power generated in its captive power plant or diesel generating set, such surplus power may be allowed to be transferred to domestic tariff area on payment of duty on consumables and raw materials used for generation of power so sold on the basis of norms worked out for raw materials and consumables used, as may be approved by the Board of Approvals subject to the following conditions, namely:-

(i) the proposal for sale of surplus power received in the office of the Development Commissioner shall be examined in consultation with the concerned State Government including State Electricity Boards of that State;

(ii) the norms for production of unit of power that may be finalized shall be submitted to the Board of Approval for consideration;

(iii) in case of sale of surplus plus to other unit in the same zone or other zone or to other export oriented undertaking or to electronic hardware technology park unit or to other software technology park unit, as the case may be, the same shall be allowed without payment of duty:

Provided that the quantity of consumables and raw materials used for generation of power so transferred to another special economic zone unit or export oriented undertaking, electronic hardware technology park unit or software technology park unit, as the case may be, as quantified and approved by the Board of Approvals is accounted for by the supplying as well as receiving units for the calculation of Net Foreign Exchange Earning.

(1) The zone unit engaged in the manufacture and export of gem and jewellery shall be allowed to send gold or silver or platinum scrap, dust or sweepings generated in such unit to the Government Mint or Private Mint for conversion into standard gold bars and return thereof to the zone following the procedure laid down by the Customs officers in this regard.

(2) The gold or silver or platinum dust, scrap or sweepings may also be allowed to be cleared into domestic tariff area on payment of duty on the gold or silver or platinum content in the said scrap, dust or sweepings, in accordance with the provision of clause (b) of section 76F of the Act:

Provided that the samples of such gold or silver or platinum sweepings, scarp or dust shall be taken at the time of clearance and sent to Government Mint or Private Mint for assaying and assessment shall be finalised on the basis of reports received from the Government Mint or Private Mint, as the case may be.

(1) Subject to the grant of permission and fulfillment of such condition as may be imposed by the proper officer, the zone unit shall be allowed to remove goods manufactured or produced including imported or procured capital goods to domestic tariff area temporarily without payment of duty for the purpose of test or repairs or calibration or re-engineering or re-conditioning in the domestic tariff area:

Provided that the identification marks such as make, model, seal number, specification of the goods received back after such test, repair, calibration or re-engineering or re-conditioning matches with those mentioned in the repair challan prepared and countersigned by the customs officers in the zone at the time of taking capital goods into domestic tariff area:

Provided further that goods shall be brought back to the zone within a period of forty-five days from the date of taking the goods out of the zone:

Provided also that the proper officer of the zone may, if he thinks proper, extend the said period of forty-five days upto further period of two months.

(2) In case of failure of the zone unit to bring back the goods in the zone within the period specified in sub-regulation (1), the zone unit shall pay the duty applicable on such goods in term of provision of clause (b) of section 76F of the Act.

(3) Subject to the provisions in sub-regulations (1) and (2), the zone unit shall be allowed to take goods including capital goods to another unit in the same zone or in another zone, or export oriented undertaking unit or electronic hardware technology park unit or software technology park unit, as the case may be, for the purpose of test or repairs or calibration or re-engineering or re-conditioning.

(4) The zone unit, engaged in development of software or otherwise, shall be allowed by the proper officer to take lap top computers and video projection system out of the zone temporarily for use by the authorised employees of such unit subject to the following procedure, namely:-

(i) the zone unit shall account for the laptop computers or video projection system in their inventory after import or local procurement;

(ii) the zone unit shall issue a certificate authorising the employee by name and giving the full specification, such as serial number, model number, make etc., of the laptop computers and video projection system intended to be taken outside the bonded area temporarily and a copy of the certificate shall be endorsed to the proper officer and acknowledgement received by the unit;

(iii) the zone unit shall be required to maintain a record of such certificate of authorization issued under clause (ii) for temporarily taking out or bringing in such unit the laptop computer or video projection system and the same shall be made available at the time of inspection by the customs officers having jurisdiction over the zone.

(5) Subject to such condition as the proper officer may specify and subject to such procedure, as may be laid down by the Commissioner of Customs of the zone from time to time, the zone unit shall be allowed to take limited quantities of goods manufactured or produced into domestic tariff area without payment of duty for the purpose of display, market promotion, export promotion, exhibition and return thereof within the period of time as specified by such proper officer or as the case may be, the Commissioner of Customs:

Provided that in case of failure of the zone unit to bring back the goods in the zone within the period as specified in this behalf by the proper officer, the zone unit shall pay the duty applicable on such goods under the provisions of clause (b) of section 76F of the Act

(1) The zone unit shall be permitted to take goods including inputs, semi-finished or semi-processed goods to the job-worker’s premises into domestic tariff area without payment of duty for further processing of the goods or to carry out a production, subject to the following conditions, namely:-

(i) the zone unit shall file an application containing the name and address of the job-worker, Central Excise registration number of the job-worker, if registered with the Central Excise Department, processing capacity of the job-worker, details of the processes to be carried out by the job-worker, justification for processing of goods outside the bonded premises and any other relevant information before the proper officer for further processing of the goods or to carry out production;

(ii) the proper officer may, after examining the application and after satisfying himself about the bonafide requirement of the zone unit, grant permission for job-work and such permission shall normally be valid for a period of one-year. However considering the sensitive nature of the commodities to be sent out for job-work and past record of the zone unit, such permission may be less than said period of one year;

Provided that in case of zone unit engaged in manufacture and export of gem and jewellery, no cut and polished diamonds, precious stones and semi-precious stones shall be allowed to be taken out of the zone;

(iii) while considering the application of the zone unit, the entire processing activity in relation to the manufacture of the export products by the said units may be studied, and the proper officer may ensure that there is no attempt to parcel out the substantial manufacturing operations outside the bonded premises;

(iv) in respect of activities permitted to be carried out on job-work basis outside the premises of the zone unit, identity of finished products received after job work shall be established with the raw materials or components or partially processed goods sent out to ensure that the finished products are manufactured out of raw materials imported or procured duty free by the units or admitted under claim of duty drawback or duty entitlement passbook scheme credit into the zone unit and there is no substitution or diversion of such goods in the domestic tariff area:

Provided that in case of zone unit engaged in manufacture and export of gem and jewellery, there shall be no requirement of taking out the samples or retaining the same if such goods have been appraised by jewellery appraiser at the time of both taking out of such goods from the zone or receiving back of goods in the zone after completion of job-work:

Provided further that where the precious metal in bullion form, having marking regarding fineness, purity, make, serial number, is being taking out of the zone for the purpose of job-work, appraisement by jewellery appraiser shall not be mandatory;

(v) the zone unit sending out goods for job work in domestic tariff area shall be required to give an intimation to the proper officer and a sample of the goods being sent out for job work shall be drawn and retained in the office of the proper officer in the zone;

(vi) on receipt of the goods in the zone unit after job work, the Customs officers of the zone shall establish the identity of the goods so returned with reference to the sample retained by him at the time of removal and a sample of the processed goods so returned to the zone shall be retained for the purpose of record for a period of six months and both the samples shall be returned to the zone unit after obtaining an acknowledgement from the zone unit;

(vii) the zone unit sending out imported or domestically procured raw materials, components, etc. as it is, i.e without any processing in the unit for job work in the domestic tariff area, shall furnish bank guarantee to cover the duty forgone on such duty free materials being taken out to the proper officer:

Provided that no such bank guarantee shall be required in case of status holder unit having an unblemished track record;

(viii) the zone unit removing semi processed goods for job work in domestic tariff area shall furnish bank guarantee equivalent to fifty per cent. of the duôy payable on the goods being taken out for job work:

Provided that no fresh or additional bank guarantee shall be insisted upon if the zone unit has furnished a bank guarantee as security along with bond in Form-I, and the same is sufficient to cover the duty payable on such goods being taken out:

Provided further that the no bank guarantee shall be furnished by the status holder zone units having unblemished track record;

(ix) in all cases of job work in domestic tariff area, the goods sent out for job work shall be required to be returned to the zone unit within a period of ninety days or such period as may be extended by the proper officer for reasons to be recorded in writing for granting such extension, from the date of removal and in case of failure to receipt of goods within the said period, action shall be taken by the proper officer to recover duty, such as, encashment of the bank guarantee given at the time of removal of goods into domestic tariff area for job work;

(x) the proper officer shall carry out the checks expeditiously to verify the premises of the job worker, processing capacity of the job worker, existence of facility for carrying out the declared process in the job worker’s premises within a period of one month from the date of granting permission for job work by either visiting the premises of the job worker by himself or the officer authorised by him in this behalf or by letters or fax or E-Mail to the concerned Range officer having jurisdiction over job worker’s premises and getting report in writing;

(2) The zone unit shall be allowed to sub-contract production in domestic tariff area subject to the following conditions, namely:-

(i) the proper officer shall satisfy himself regarding the bonafide necessity of such sub-contracting of production in domestic tariff area and shall not allow such permission in routine manner to the zone unit;

(ii) while giving permission for subcontracting of production in domestic tariff area or in other export oriented undertaking or software technology park unit or electronic hardware technology park unit or zone unit, the proper officer may verify the past antecedents of the zone unit as well as job-working units, and in case of any misuse of serious nature noticed by him in the past or due to any other reasons, where it is satisfied that there is no justification for such permission or there are high chances of abuse of such facility, such permission may be denied with the approval of Commissioner of Customs having jurisdiction over the zone;

(iii) the facility of sub-contracting of production shall only be limited to the extent of fifty per cent. of the free on board value of physical export made in the previous year subject to the condition that the product is also being manufactured in the zone;

(iv) in case of zone unit engaged in manufacture and export of gem and jewellery, no cut and polished diamonds, precious stones and semi-precious stones shall be allowed to be taken out of the zone;

(v) other conditions as stipulated in sub-regulation (1) except clause (viii), shall apply mutatis mutandis in case of sub-contracting of production in domestic tariff area.

(3) Subject to permission of the proper officer, the zone unit shall be allowed to remove moulds, jigs, tool, fixtures, tackles, instruments, hangers, patterns and drawings to the job-workers premises in the domestic tariff area without payment of duty subject to the condition that such unit shall bring back such goods to the unit on completion of such sub-contracting within a period of six month from the date of such removal.

(4) The zone unit shall be allowed to sub-contract part of the production process abroad, that is outside India following the provisions of Export and Import Policy in this regard, and after such processing abroad, the goods shall either be returned to the zone unit for carrying out further processing or may be sold to buyers in that country or any third country:

Provided that the scrap or waste or remnants generated at the sub-contractors premises abroad may either be returned to the zone unit; or may be disposed of abroad itself:

Provided further that in case of sale of goods processed abroad or scarp, waste or remnants arising during the processing of goods abroad, directly from the job-workers premises abroad, the unit shall take permission from the Reserve Bank of India.

(5) The proper officer may permit the zone unit to export the finished goods directly from the job-worker’s premises subject to the following conditions, namely:-

(i) the job-worker, who is registered with the Central Excise Department;

(ii) export of finished goods from the job-worker’s premises shall not be allowed through third party;

(iii) sample of goods exported from the job-workers premises shall be sent to the proper officer in the zone for establishing the identity of the goods exported with the sample drawn at the time of taking out of the goods to the job-worker;

(iv) in case of such exports, the shipping bill for duty free goods shall be processed at the port of export as in the case of normal export and shipping bill shall be filed in the name of the zone unit;

(v) the goods for such export shall be removed from the job-worker’s premises under bond.

(6). The waste or scrap or remnants generated during such processes at the job-worker’s premises shall either be returned to the zone unit or shall be cleared on payment of duty as if the said waste or scrap or remnants have been cleared by the zone unit.

(7) The zone unit engaged in trading shall not be allowed the facility of sub-contracting of production or production process in domestic tariff area.

(i) the semi-finished goods or raw materials shall be supplied by domestic tariff area unit to the zone unit;

(ii) no export benefit shall be claimed by the domestic tariff area unit on such semi-finished goods or raw materials supplied to the zone unit for job-working;

(iii) the finished goods shall be exported directly from the zone unit on behalf of domestic tariff area unit;

(iv) the export document shall be in the name of domestic tariff area unit;

(v) the value of such goods shall not be counted towards achievement of Net Foreign Exchange Earning of the zone unit; and

(vi) the unit in domestic tariff area shall not be eligible for all industry rate of drawback or duty entitlement passbook scheme credit.

(1) Subject to the provisions of Export and Import Policy, the zone unit shall be allowed to take out the samples of the goods manufactured or produced by it into domestic tariff area for the purposes of display or market promotion on payment of duty as per the provision clause (b) of section 76F of the Act or for the purposes of export without payment of duty.

(2) Where samples of the goods manufactured or produced are to be taken into domestic tariff area on payment of duty, the procedure as laid down in regulation 21, shall apply except that the bill of entry shall be filed by the zone unit.

(1) Subject to the procedure specified in regulation 22, where any scrap, waste or remnants arises out of destruction of goods in terms of rule 12 of the Special Economic Zone Rules, 2003, the zone unit shall be permitted to take the same into domestic tariff area on payment of duty applicable to such scrap and remnants as per the provision of clause (b) of section 76F of the Act.

(2) Where any goods procured from domestic tariff area under claim of duty drawback or duty entitlement passbook scheme credit or under any export promotion scheme are destroyed due of natural calamities, the zone unit shall be required to pay duty drawback or duty entitlement passbook scheme credit claimed on such goods.

(1) On the basis of the Letter of Permission issued by the Development Commissioner of the zone, the zone unit shall execute a bond with the proper officer, in the Form I as annexed to the Special Economic Zone Rules, 2003 and such surety or security shall be given as per procedure specified hereinafter in this regulation.

(2) The bond, in respect of a limited company, shall be executed by the Managing Director of the company or the Director(s) who have been duly authorised for this purpose by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company and shall be affixed with the common seal of the company.

(3) Where the unit is a partnership firm, the Bond shall be executed by the all the partners of the unit.

(4) The bond amount shall be equal to the duty leviable on the goods but for the goods admitted duty free in the zone unit and the value of the goods shall be taken as per declared value on the bill of entry at the time of admission of goods in the zone.

(5) The zone unit shall furnish surety for the bond amount or furnish five per cent. of the bond amount as bank guarantee or any other security as approved by the Central Government and in case of surety, the solvency of sureties shall be certified by any Chartered Accountant or the Banker of the Surety, as the case may be.

(6) The Directors or Members of the limited company may stand as surety in their personal capacity for the company and other corporate bodies included limited companies may also stand as surety for the unit.

(7) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-regulation (5), where the zone unit have a turnover of rupees one crore or above, such unit shall not be required to furnish surety or security.

(8) Where the value of the bond executed with the custom officers is initially worked out on the projected value of goods imported and the value of such bond falls short of duty forgone on goods admitted duty free in the unit, then the unit shall be required to submit a revised bond and furnish additional security or surety, as the case may be, and in case of sub-contracting of production process or production in domestic tariff area, if the security given with the bond is not sufficient to cover duty leviable on goods being taken into domestic tariff area, the unit shall be required to give additional security.

(9) The bond shall be a running bond and shall be debited whenever there is fresh admission of duty free goods in the unit. The value debited from the bond amount in respect of raw materials shall be credited again when the raw material is used in the manufacture of finished products and such manufactured goods are either exported or cleared into domestic tariff area on payment of duty as per the provisions of Act or rules and regulations, as the case may be, made thereunder.

(10) In respect of the capital goods or infrastructure materials, surety or security shall not stand discharged on arrival of the capital goods or infrastructure materials within the unit and the surety or security shall not be discharged as long as the capital goods are in the zone unit or the capital goods of the unit are not debonded.

(11) The duty for debiting the bond amount in respect of capital goods or infrastructure materials or raw materials shall be as per the duty foregone amount given in the bill of entry or shipping bill, as the case may be.

(12) After execution of the bond, the proper officer shall retain the original copy of the bond and provide a certified copy to the unit for its record.

(13) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in case the zone unit is engaged in manufacture and export of gem and jewellery, the effective rate of duty as specified in notification No 80/97-Customs of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance ( Department of Revenue), dated 21st October, 1997, shall be taken instead of tariff rate of duty, for the purpose of calculation of bond amount in case of import of gold or silver.

(1) The zone unit shall be allowed to dispose of obsolete or unusable capital goods, spares and other goods in the domestic tariff area on payment of customs duty as per provisions of clause (b) of section 76F of Act following the conditions mentioned in the Export and Import Policy and the provisions of ITC(HS) Classification of Export and Import Items Book as applicable in case of goods imported into India.

(2) In case of used capital goods, depreciation shall be allowed in terms of sub-rule (1) of rule 9 of the Special Economic Zone Rules, 2003.

(1) The developer shall be allowed to import or procure the goods from domestic tariff area without payment of duty for the purpose of development, operation and maintenance of the zone, subject to following conditions, namely :-

(i) the developer shall make an application to the concerned Development Commissioner for approval of the list of goods proposed to be imported or procured duty free;

(ii) the developer shall submit the application accompanied with the proof of ownership of land, encumbrances certificate, or in case the land is acquired on lease at least for a period of twenty years in his favour, the proof of such lease;

(iii) the developer shall submit a list of machinery, equipments and the construction material required for development, operation and maintenance of the zone, duly certified by a Chartered Engineer;

(iv) the goods shall be stored in the premises appointed or licensed as public warehouse or private warehouse under section 57 or section 58 of the Act;

(v) the developer shall maintain proper account of import or procurement, consumption and utilisation of the goods and submit quarterly return to the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, having jurisdiction over the zone in such form, as may be specified by him;

(vi) the developer shall execute a bond in Form II as annexed in the Special Economic Zone Rules, 2003 with the Commissioner of Customs having jurisdiction over the zone , binding himself to utilise the goods within a period of six months or such period, as may be extended by him, and if the developer fails to do so, then the developer shall pay on demand an amount equal to the duty as leviable on the said goods alongwith interest at the rate of fifteen per cent. per annum on the said duty from the date of import or procurement of said goods;

(vii) the developer shall not remove the goods from the zone except with the permission of the proper officer having jurisdiction over the said zone and on payment of duty applicable on such goods;

(viii) no goods, other than which are required for the purposes of construction, development, operation, maintenance of the zone or for providing utilities in the zone, shall be allowed admission in the zone without payment of duty.

(2) The application mentioned in clause of sub-regulation (1) shall be submitted by the developer to the concerned Development Commissioner of the zone and the Development Commissioner after processing of the application, shall forward such application alongwith relevant documents to the Committee of Approval, for consideration.

(3) The approval for duty free import or procurement shall be given to the developer only in respect of such goods which are required for construction, maintenance and operation of the zone.

(4) When an application is submitted for approval of additional items, the Committee of Approval shall determine such additional requirement taking into account quarterly statement submitted by the developer.

(5) The Committee of Approval shall fix the time schedule for commencement and completion of the construction of the zone and in case of delay in the completion of the project, the developer of the zone shall explain the reasons of such delay to the Committee of Approval.

(6) The Committee of Approval may direct the developer to get the account audited by a Cost Accountant as nominated by Committee of Approval in this behalf.

(7) The procedure for import or procurement of goods as applicable to the zone unit shall apply mutatis mutandis in case of developer of the zone except that in case of developer, the goods imported or procured from domestic tariff area shall be allowed to be moved or utilised for the purposes of authorised operations in the non-processing area of the zone.

Explanation.- For the purposes of this regulation, the Committee of Approval shall consist of following persons, namely:-

(i) Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be having jurisdiction over the zone- Chairman.

(ii) Development Commissioner of the Zone- Member.

(iii) Joint Director General of Foreign Trade-Member.

(iv) The Chief Engineer of Central Public Works Department- Member.

(v) Jurisdictional Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs having jurisdiction over the zone- Member.

( D. S. Garbyal)
Under Secretary of the Government of India