The Office of the Commissioner of Customs (Audit), Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House (JNCH), Nhava Sheva, has withdrawn Consultative Letter Nos. 1607 to 1738 that had been issued to 132 importers concerning the alleged misclassification of imported “Desi Chana” (Bengal Gram). The withdrawal follows a re-examination of the tariff classification issue after representations were received from trade associations and importers.
According to the communication dated June 13, 2026, the Customs Audit Commissionerate had initially issued consultative letters proposing that imported “Desi Chana/Bengal Gram” may have been incorrectly classified under the Customs Tariff. Subsequently, several stakeholders approached the department seeking a reconsideration of the proposed classification and requesting a uniform interpretation of the relevant tariff entries.
Upon re-examination, the department observed that sub-heading 0713 20 specifically covers “Chickpeas (Garbanzos)” and that tariff item 0713 20 20 expressly covers “Bengal Gram (Desi Chana).” Customs authorities concluded that imported goods described as “Desi Chana,” “Desi Chick Peas,” or “Bengal Gram” appropriately fall within tariff item 0713 20 20 and do not merit classification under tariff item 0713 20 90.
The decision is significant because the classification dispute had raised concerns among pulse importers regarding potential customs implications arising from the proposed reclassification. By accepting that “Desi Chana” falls squarely within the specific tariff entry for Bengal Gram, the department has adopted a homogeneous and consistent interpretation of the tariff structure applicable to chickpeas and related products.
As a consequence of the revised view, the Customs Audit Commissionerate has clarified that no further action is warranted in relation to the issues raised in Consultative Letter Nos. 1607 to 1738. The letters have therefore been withdrawn with immediate effect. The department also requested the concerned Import Group at JNCH to take note that no further proceedings are required in respect of the matters covered by the withdrawn consultative letters.
The withdrawal provides relief to a large number of importers engaged in the pulses trade, including importers of Bengal Gram and Desi Chana, who had been facing uncertainty over the proposed classification adopted in the consultative letters. The decision underscores the importance of stakeholder representations and tariff interpretation reviews in ensuring consistency and certainty in customs classification matters.
The communication was issued by Assistant Commissioner Adsul Shobha Rajratna with the approval of the Commissioner of Customs (Audit), JNCH, Nhava Sheva.
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