In response to a recent tweet by an importer alleging undue delay and inflated valuation in customs clearance, customs authorities have issued a detailed clarification, disputing the claims and outlining the actual sequence of events surrounding the import consignment.
The tweet, posted on June 26, 2025, claimed that the Bill of Entry No. 2869153 dated June 25, 2025, for a consignment of Programmable Logic Controllers (14 electronic items) was valued at ₹221 lakh. However, customs records show that the assessable value declared by the importer was only ₹22.11 lakh — a significant deviation from what was stated publicly.
Authorities further clarified that the shipment in question was presented for examination on the afternoon of June 26. Given that it involved electronic equipment, the Customs House Agent (CHA) was asked to furnish an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certificate, a standard requirement mandated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
To comply, the CHA uploaded the importer’s MSME registration certificate on E-Sanchit at 3:36 PM to claim exemption from the EPR requirement. The examination report was finalized at 4:55 PM, and the consignment received Out of Charge (OOC) clearance by 5:01 PM the same day.
Customs also pointed to past infractions by the same importer under a different company name — Wintrack Inc. — for a consignment of body massagers filed under Bill of Entry No. 2004395 on May 12, 2025. During examination on May 20, officials found a mis-declaration in the quantity of goods and noted the absence of an EPR certificate for battery waste. A query was raised on May 23, and the importer acknowledged the discrepancy on May 24, submitting the MSME registration to seek EPR exemption.
The bill was accordingly amended and assessed on May 26. Penalties and fines were imposed for the mis-declaration, and clearance was granted upon payment of the differential duty and penalties.
Customs officials also recalled a similar incident in January 2025 when the same importer raised objections on social media. That matter was investigated, and after admitting to documentation errors and paying the required duties, the importer had their consignment released. The related social media post was reportedly deleted soon after.
Authorities have reiterated the importance of furnishing complete and accurate documentation at the time of filing to ensure timely clearance. “Timely submission of all relevant documents significantly expedites the customs process. Misleading public statements only serve to create confusion and distract from the procedural lapses that delay clearance,” the statement concluded.
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