Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2018.
[Notification No. 41/2018-Customs (N.T.) dated 14th May, 2018 amended by Notification No. 08/2019-Customs (N.T.) dated 06.02.2019]
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 146 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), and in supersession of the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2013, published vide number G.S.R. 395 (E), dated the 21st June, 2013, except as respect things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs hereby makes the following regulations, namely:-
1. Short title, commencement and application. โ
(1) These regulations may be called the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2018.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
(3) These regulations shall apply to, a Customs Broker who has been licensed and such other
persons who have been employed or engaged by a licensed Customs Broker under these
regulations or the Customs House Agents Licensing Regulations, 1984 or the Customs House
Agents Licensing Regulations, 2004 or the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2013.
(4) Every license granted or renewed under these regulations shall be deemed to have been
granted or renewed in favour of the licensee, and no license shall be sold or otherwise
transferred.
2. Definitions.โ(1)In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,
(a) โAadhaar numberโ means an identification number issued to an individual under subsection (3) of section 3 of The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other
Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (18 of 2016);
(b) “Act” means the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962);
(c) “company” means a company as defined in the Companies Act, 2013(18 of 2013);
(d) “Customs Broker ” means a person licensed under these regulations to act as an agent on
behalf of the importer or an exporter for purposes of transaction of any business relating to
the entry or departure of conveyances or the import or export of goods at any Customs
Station including audit;
(e) “firm”, “firm name”, “partner” and “partnership” shall have the same meanings respectively
assigned to them in the Indian Partnership Act, 1932 (9 of 1932), but the expression
“partner” shall also include any person who, being a minor, has been admitted to the
benefits of partnership;
(f) “Form” means the form appended to these regulations;
(g) โF card holderโ means a person who has passed the examination referred to in regulation 6
and has been issued a photo identity card in Form F;
(h) โG card holderโ means a person who has passed the examination referred to in regulation 13
and has been issued a photo identity card in Form G;
(i) โH card holderโ means a person who has not passed the examination referred to in
regulation 13 and has been issued a photo identity card in Form H;
(j) โPANโ is the Permanent Account Number issued under section 139A of the Income Tax
Act, 1961(43 of 1961);
(k) โGSTINโ means a 15 digit state-wise PAN- based Goods and Services Tax Identification
Number assigned at the time of issue of Goods and Services Tax registration certificate.
(l) “section” means a section of the Act.
(2) The words and expressions used herein and not defined in these regulations but defined in the Act shall have the same meanings respectively assigned to them in the said Act.
3. Customs Brokers to be licensed.โNo person shall carry on business as a Customs Broker relating to the entry or departure of a conveyance or the import or export of goods including work relating to audit at any Customs Station unless such person holds a license granted under these regulations:
Provided that no license under these regulations shall be required by-
(a) an importer or exporter transacting any business at a Customs Station solely on his own
account;
(b) any employee of any person or a firm transacting business generally on behalf of such person
or firm, and holding an identity card or a temporary pass issued by the Deputy Commissioner
of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be; and
(c) an agent employed for one or more vessels or aircrafts in order solely to enter or clear such
vessels or aircrafts for work incidental to his employment as such agent.
4. Invitation of application.โ(1) The 1
[National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and
Narcotics (NACIN)] shall in the month of 2
[August] of every year invite applications for
conducting examination and subsequent grant of license to act as Customs Broker in Form A by
publication in two leading national daily newspapers in English and Hindi in addition to
disseminating the information on the web portal.
[Provided that in respect of the applications invited by the Directorate General of
Performance Management (DGPM) in April, 2018, the online written examination shall be
conducted by the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN) in the
first quarter of the calendar year 2019.]
(2) The application for a license to act as a Customs Broker in a Customs Station in Form A
along with a fee of five hundred rupees shall be made to the Principal Commissioner of Customs
or Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, having jurisdiction over the area where the
applicant intends to carry on his business.
5. Conditions to be fulfilled by the applicants.โ(1) The applicant for a license to act as a Customs Broker in a Customs Station, shall before applying to the Principal Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner of Customs, meet the following conditions that: โ
(a) he is a citizen of India;
(b) he is a person of sound mind;
(c) he is not adjudicated as insolvent;
(d) he holds an Aadhaar number;
(e) he holds a valid PAN card;
(f) he has not been penalised for any offence under the Act, the Central Excise Act, 1944 (1 of
1944), the Finance Act, 1994(32 of 1994), the Central Goods and Services Act, 2017 (12 of
2017) and Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (13 of 2017);
(g) he has neither been convicted by a competent court for an offence nor any criminal
proceeding is pending against him in any court of law;
(h) an individual applicant or in case the applicant is a firm, its partner or in the case of a
company, its director or an authorised employee who may handle the Customs work shallโ
(i) be a graduate from a recognized University; and
(ii) possess a professional degree such as Masters or equivalent degree in Accounting,
Finance or Management, CA/CS/MBA/LLM/ACMA/FCMA or Diploma in Customs
Clearance work from any Institutes or University recognised by the Government or is
having at least two yearsโ experience in transacting Customs Broker work as G-Card
holder;
(i)the applicant has financial viability as evidenced by a certificate issued by a Scheduled Bank
or such other proof acceptable to the Principal Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner of
Customs, as the case may be, in terms of possession of assets of value of not less than five lakhs
rupees.
(2) A retired Group A officer from the Indian Revenue Service(Customs and Central Excise)having a
minimum of five yearsโ experience in Group ‘A’ post shall also be eligible to apply for a license to
act as a Customs Broker provided he satisfies the conditions specified at (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g)
and (i)of sub-regulation (1) above.
(3) The Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, may for the
purpose of this regulation, make such enquiries to verify the eligibility of the applicant as he may
deem fit before forwarding the application to 1
[National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and
Narcotics (NACIN)].
6. Examination of the applicant. โ(1) An applicant, who satisfies the requirements of
regulation 5, shall be required to appear for a written 4
[***] as well as oral examination conducted by
the 1
[National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN)]:
Provided that an applicant who has already passed the examination referred to in regulation of the Custom House Agents Licensing Regulation, 1984 or regulation 8 of the Custom House Agents Licensing Regulation, 2004 or regulation 6 of the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2013 shall not be required to appear for any further examination.
[(2) The online written examination shall be conducted by the National Academy of Customs,
Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN) in the first quarter of each calendar year for which intimation
shall be sent individually to applicants in advance before the date of examination and the result of the
said examination shall be declared preferably within one month of the date of examination.
(3) The applicant who is declared successful in the written examination shall be called for an oral
examination on specified dates in the second quarter of the same calendar year, the result of which
shall be declared in the month of July of the same calendar year.]
(4)The applicant shall be required to clear both the written examination as well as corresponding
oral examination.
(5) An attempt at the written exam shall be deemed to be an attempt and notwithstanding the
disqualification/ cancellation of application, the fact of appearance of the applicant at the
examination will count as an attempt.
(6) An applicant shall be allowed a maximum of six attempts to clear the examination.
(7) The examination may include questions on the following:
(a) preparation of various kinds of bills of entry, bills of export, shipping bills, and other
clearance documents;
(b) arrival entry and clearance of vessels;
(c) tariff classification and rates of duty;
(d) determination of value of imported and export goods;
(e) conversion of currency;
(f) nature and description of documents to be filed with various kinds of bills of entry, shipping
bills and other clearance documents;
(g) procedure for assessment and payment of duty including refund of duty paid;
(h) examination of goods at Customs Stations;
(i) prohibitions on import and export;
(j) bonding procedure and clearance from bond;
(k) re-importation and conditions for free re-entry;
(l) drawback and export promotion schemes including the Special Economic Zone scheme;
(m) offences under the Act;
(n) provisions of the allied Acts including the Central Goods and Services Act, 2017 (12 of
2017) and section 5 of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (13 of 2017), the
Indian Explosives Act, 1884 (4 of 1884), the Destructive Insects and Pests Act 1914 (2 of
1914), the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930 (2 of 1930), the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (23 of
1940), the Central Excise Act, 1944 (1 of 1944), the Copy Right Act, 1957 (14 of 1957), the
Trade and Merchandise Marks Act 1958 (43 of 1958), the Arms Act 1959 (54 of 1959), the
Patents Act, 1970 (39 of 1970), the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985
(61 of 1985), the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), the Foreign Trade
(Development and Regulations) Act, 1992 (22 of 1992), the Foreign Exchange Management
Act, 1999 (42 of 1999), the Design Act, 2000 (16 of 2000) and the Food Safety and Standard
Act, 2006 (No. 34 of 2006) and other laws for the time being in force applicable to EXIM trade
and the rules and regulations made under these Acts in so far as they are relevant to clearance of goods through Customs;
(o) provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (49 of 1998);
(p) procedure for appeal and revision applications under the Act; and
(q) online filing of electronic bills of entry and shipping bills vide the Indian Customs and
Central Excise Electronic Commerce or Electronic data interchange gateway (ICEGATE) and Indian Customs Electronic data Interchange System (ICES).
(r) knowledge of regulations, rules, notifications, etc. under the Customs Act and other Allied Acts.
(8) The Principal Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner of Customs shall satisfy himself
that the individual applicant or in cases where applicant is a firm or company, its partner or
Director or authorised employees who may be engaged for handling the customs work shall
possess satisfactory knowledge of English and the local language of the Customs Station:
Provided that in case of a person deputed to work extensively in the docks, knowledge of
English shall not be compulsory and knowledge of Hindi shall be considered as desirable
qualification.
7. Grant of License.โ(1)The applicant who has passed the written as well as oral examination shall
make a payment of a fee of five thousand rupees within two months of the declaration of the
results of the oral examination and inform the payment particulars to the Principal Commissioner
or Commissioner of Customs referred to in sub-regulation (2) of regulation 4 and the said
Principal Commissioner or Commissioner shall, on verification of the payment particulars grant
license to the applicant within one month of the payment of the said fee:
Provided that where the successful applicant fails to make the payment of the said fee within
the stipulated period, the right to be granted a license to an applicant shall be forfeited.
(2) The applicant who has paid the fee referred to in sub-regulation (1) shall be granted a license
by the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs, as below:โ
(a) An individual shall be granted the license in FormB1 if that individual has passed the
examination referred to in regulation 6.
(b) A customs brokerโs license may be granted to any company, firm or association in
FormB2 if at least one director, partner, or an authorised employee, as the case may
be, has passed the examination referred to in regulation 6:
Provided that at any given time such director, partner or an authorised employee shall not
engage himself for transacting business under these regulations on behalf of more than one such
firm or company:
Provided further that where a company or a firm which has been granted a license under this
regulation undergoes any change in the directors, or managing director or partner, such change
shall forthwith be communicated by such licensee to the Principal Commissioner of Customs or
Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, within one month of such change:
Provided also that where a company or a firm which has been granted a license under this
regulation undergoes any change whereby there is a change in the PAN, the licensee shall apply
for a fresh license to the Principal Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner of Customs, as the
case may be, within sixty days of such change.
(3)The applicant who has been granted license under sub- regulation (2) shall be eligible to work
as Customs Broker in all Customs Stations subject to intimation in Form C to the Principal
Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs of the Customs Station where he intends to transact
business and a copy of this intimation shall also be sent to the Principal Commissioner or
Commissioner of Customs who has issued the license in Form B1 or FormB2, as the case may
be.
(4) A customs broker shall be eligible to transact business under these regulations at a customs
station which requires intimation under the said Form C, subject to the condition that such
customs broker shall be able to transact such business only after a period of two years from the
date of issue of license in FormB1 or FormB2:
Provided that the said period of two years shall be waived in respect of a license issued to a
customs broker under the respective provisions of the Customs House Agents Licensing
Regulations, 1984 or the Customs House Agents Licensing Regulations, 2004 or the Customs
Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2013:
Provided further that the period of two years referred to in sub-regulation (4) shall not be
applicable where the intimation under the said Form C is to the Principal Commissioner or the
Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, referred to in sub-regulation (2) of regulation 4.
8. Execution of bond and furnishing of security.โ(1) Before granting the license under regulation
7, the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs shall require the successful applicant to
enter into a bond in Form D and where specified a surety bond in Form E for due observance of these
regulations and furnish a bank guarantee, or a postal security or National Saving Certificate or a
fixed deposit receipt issued by a nationalised bank, in the name of the Principal Commissioner of
Customs or Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, for an amount of five lakhs rupees for
carrying out the business as a Customs Broker.
(2) In cases where a postal security or National Saving Certificate or a fixed deposit receipt is
furnished, the benefit of interest on the instrument shall accrue to the Customs Broker concerned.
9. Period of validity of a license.โ(1) A license granted under regulation 7 shall be valid for a
period of ten years from the date of issue and shall be renewed from time to time in accordance with
the procedure specified in sub-regulation (2):
Provided that the renewal procedure and fees for licenses issued under the Customs House
Agents Licensing Regulations, 1984 or the Customs House Agents Licensing Regulations, 2004 or
the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2013 shall be in accordance with the procedure
specified in sub-regulation (2) and fees specified in sub-regulation (3) respectively:
Provided further that a license granted to a Customs Broker, authorised under the Authorised
Economic Operator Programme referred to in Board’s Circular No. 28/2012-Customs dated
16.11.2012 or 33/2016-Customs dated 22.7.16, shall not require renewal till such time the said
authorisation is valid.
(2) Subject to the provisions of regulation 7, the Principal Commissioner of Commissioner of
Customs may, on an application made by the licensee before the expiry of the validity of the license
under sub-regulation (1), renew the license for a further period of ten years from the date of
expiration, if the performance of the licensee is found to be satisfactory with reference, inter alia, to
the obligations specified in this regulation including the absence of instances of any complaints of
misconduct within one month of the date of receipt of application.
Provided that where the Customs Broker fails to submit the application for renewal before the
expiry of the validity of the license, the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs may
after satisfying himself to the genuineness of the reasons of delay, renew the license upon payment
of two thousand rupees as late fee by the Customs broker in addition to the fee for renewal within
one month of the date of receipt of application.
(3) The fee for renewal of the license shall be fifteen thousand rupees.
10. Obligations of Customs Broker.โA Customs Broker shall โ
(a) obtain an authorisation from each of the companies, firms or individuals by whom he is for the
time being employed as a Customs Broker and produce such authorisation whenever required by the
Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be;
(b) transact business in the Customs Station either personally or through an authorized employee
duly approved by the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as
the case may be;
(c) not represent a client in any matter to which the Customs Broker, as a former employee of the
Central Board of Indirect taxes and Customs gave personal consideration, or as to the facts of which
he gained knowledge, while in Government service;
(d) advise his client to comply with the provisions of the Act, other allied Acts and the rules and
regulations thereof, and in case of non-compliance, shall bring the matter to the notice of the Deputy
Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be;
(e) exercise due diligence to ascertain the correctness of any information which he imparts to a client
with reference to any work related to clearance of cargo or baggage;
(f) not withhold information contained in any order, instruction or public notice relating to clearance
of cargo or baggage issued by the Customs authorities, as the case may be, from a client who is
entitled to such information;
(g) promptly pay over to the Government, when due, sums received for payment of any duty, tax or
other debt or obligations owing to the Government and promptly account to his client for funds
received for him from the Government or received from him in excess of Governmental or other
charges payable in respect of cargo or baggage on behalf of the client;
(h) not procure or attempt to procure directly or indirectly, information from the Government records
or other Government sources of any kind to which access is not granted by the proper officer;
(i) not attempt to influence the conduct of any official of the Customs Station in any matter pending
before such official or his subordinates by the use of threat, false accusation, duress or the offer of
any special inducement or promise of advantage or by the bestowing of any gift or favour or other
thing of value;
(j) not refuse access to, conceal, remove or destroy the whole or any part of any book, paper or other
record, relating to his transactions as a Customs Broker which is sought or may be sought by the
Principal Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be;
(k) maintain up to date records such as bill of entry, shipping bill, transhipment application, etc., all
correspondence, other papers relating to his business as Customs Broker and accounts including
financial transactions in an orderly and itemised manner as may be specified by the Principal
Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner of Customs or the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or
Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be;
(l) immediately report the loss of license granted to him to the Principal Commissioner of Customs
or Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be;
(m) discharge his duties as a Customs Broker with utmost speed and efficiency and without any
delay;
(n) verify correctness of Importer Exporter Code (IEC) number, Goods and Services Tax
Identification Number (GSTIN),identity of his client and functioning of his client at the declared
address by using reliable, independent, authentic documents, data or information;
(o) inform any change of postal address, telephone number, e-mail etc. to the Deputy Commissioner
of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, of all Customs Stations
including the concerned Deputy Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner of the Commissionerate
who has granted the license immediately within two days;
(p) maintain all records and accounts that are required to be maintained under these regulations and
preserve for at least five years and all such records and accounts shall be made available at any time
for the inspection of officers authorised for this purpose; and
(q) co-operate with the Customs authorities and shall join investigations promptly in the event of an
inquiry against them or their employees.
11. Change in constitution of any firm or a company.โ(1)In the case of any firm or a company,
granted a license under these regulations, any change in the constitution which makes the holding of
such license invalid in view of the conditions specified in clause (b) of sub-regulation (2) of
regulation 7 notwithstanding the continued engagement or employment of the person who has passed
the examination referred to in regulation 6, then such change shall be reported by such firm or
company, as the case may be, to the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs forthwith,
and any such firm or a company undergoing such change shall make a fresh application to the said
Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs within a period of sixty days from the date of
such change for the grant of license under regulation 7, and the Principal Commissioner or
Commissioner of Customs may, if there is nothing adverse against such firm or company, as the case
may be, grant a fresh license.
(2) The firm or company making an application as referred to in sub-regulation (1) above shall
be similarly subject to condition referred to in clause (b) of sub-regulation (2) of regulation 7:
Provided that if the licensee firm or company moves an application for such changes, then
such firm or company may be allowed to carry on business of Customs Broker with the approval of
the Principal Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, till such
time a decision is taken on the fresh application of such firm or company.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-regulation (1), in case of any firm or a company
where a license has ceased to be in force because of the death or retirement of any partner or director
or an authorised employee, who has passed the examination referred to in regulation 6, the firm or
the company may apply for replacement of the name of the demised person by the name of another
partner, director or authorised employee who has passed the examination referred to in regulation 6:
Provided that if there is no such person in the firm or company, then such firm or company,
as the case may be, may authorise any other partner, director or authorised employee who is a G card
holder, referred to in sub-regulation (5) of regulation 13, to pass the examination referred to in
regulation 6 within a period of two years from the date of the demise or retirement of such person,
and the firm or company may be permitted to carry on the business of a Customs Broker with the
approval of the Principal Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner of Customs, as the case may
be till such time such partner, director or authorized employee passes the said examination.
Provided that where the G-card holder of the firm or company or association has appeared in
the written examination referred to in regulation 6 within the said two years, then notwithstanding
the expiry of the said two years, the time period to clear the examination shall be deemed to be
extended till the declaration of the result of the examination.
12. Change in the constitution of a concern.โ(1) Where a license granted or renewed under these
regulations in favour of a person, not being a firm or a company, changes constitution of his concern
to a firm or a company, such new firm or new company may, pending the grant of a license in
accordance with these regulations, be permitted to act as Customs Broker through an employee duly
qualified as per regulation 6, with the approval of the Principal Commissioner of Customs or
Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-regulation (1), where a license granted or renewed
under these regulations in favour of a person which has ceased to be in force because of the death of
that person, his legal heir, who is a major and a G card holder, referred to in sub-regulation (5) of
regulation 13, may be permitted to work as a Customs Broker with the approval of the Principal
Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, and such legal heir
shall be required to pass the examination referred to in regulation 6 within a period of two years from
the date of demise of the original licensee:
Provided that where the G-card holder of the firm or company or association has appeared in
the written examination referred to in regulation 6 within the said two years, then notwithstanding
the expiry of the said two years, the time period to clear the examination shall be deemed to be
extended till the declaration of the result of the examination:
Provided further that where such G card holder does not meet the requisite educational
qualification as specified in regulation 5, then relaxation shall be allowed only if he has been holding
the G card for a minimum of five years prior to the date of demise of the original licensee.
13. Engagement or employment of persons.โ(1)A person who has qualified the examination
referred to in regulation 6 may engage himself in the work relating to the clearance of goods through
customs on behalf of a firm or a company licensed under these regulations.
(2) A Customs broker who has been issued a license under sub-regulation (2) of regulation 7
shall be issued a photo-identity card in Form F by the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant
Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be:
Provided that in the case of the license issued under clause (b) of sub-regulation (2)of
regulation 7, the photo-identity card in Form F shall be issued to the person or persons who has
actually passed the examination referred to in regulation 6.
(3) A Customs Broker may, having regard to the volume of business transacted by him, employ
any number of persons other than an F card holder to assist him after verifying their antecedents and
identity at the declared address by using reliable, independent, authentic documents, data or
information:
Provided that such an employed person shall possess the Aadhaar number issued to him and
that the minimum educational qualification of such persons so employed shall be 10+2, or
equivalent.
(4) Employment of a person referred to in sub-regulation (3) shall be made only after obtaining
the approval of the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the
case may be, who shall in granting approval, take into consideration the antecedents and any other
information pertaining to the character of such person.
(5) The person referred to in sub-regulation (3) shall, within four attempts from the date of his
appointment, pass a written examination conducted by the said Deputy Commissioner of Customs or
Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, and the examination shall be such as to
ascertain the adequacy of knowledge of such person regarding the provisions of the Act subject to
which goods and baggage are cleared through Customs and the person shall, on passing the
examination, be issued a photo-identity card in Form G by the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or
Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be.
(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-regulation (5), a G card holder who is employed
under a Customs Broker may, on his employment under any other Customs Broker, with the
approval or no objection of the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of
Customs, be exempted from passing of such examination.
(7) A Customs Broker shall authorise only such employee who has been issued a photo identity
card in Form F or Form G as the case may be to sign the declaration on the bills of entry, shipping
bills, annexure thereof or any other document generated in connection with the proceedings under
the Act or the rules or regulations made thereunder.
(8) Where the Customs Broker has authorised any person employed by him in accordance with
sub-regulation (7) to sign documents relating to his business on his behalf, he shall file with the
Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs of each Customs Station,
as the case may be, a written authority in this behalf and give prompt notice in writing if such
authorisation is modified or withdrawn.
(9) The Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case
may be, shall issue a photo-identity card to every person employed by a Customs Broker in Form H
in case he has not passed the examination referred to in sub-regulation (4) for a period of five years:
Provided that the minimum educational qualification of such a person shall be 10+2.
(10) Any person who has been issued a photo identity card under this regulation shall, at all times
when he transacts the work at the Customs Station, carry photo identity card with him and produce it
for inspection on demand by any officer of the Customs Station.
(11) Any change in the persons issued a F card or G card or H card and actually engaged in the
work in the Customs Station on behalf of a licensee firm or company shall be communicated
forthwith by the firm or the company, as the case may be, to the Deputy Commissioner of Customs
or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, and no new person other than ‘F’, ‘G’ or ‘H’ card holders,
shall be allowed to work in the Customs Station as a duly authorised employee on behalf of that firm
or company.
(12) The Customs Broker shall exercise such supervision as may be necessary to ensure proper
conduct of his employees in the transaction of business and he shall be held responsible for all acts or
omissions of his employees during their employment.
14. Revocation of licence or imposition of penaltyโThe Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs may, subject to the provisions of regulation 17, revoke the license of a Customs Broker
and order for forfeiture of part or whole of security, on any of the following grounds, namely:โ
(a) failure to comply with any of the conditions of the bond executed by him under regulation 8;
(b) failure to comply with any of the provisions of these regulations, within his jurisdiction or anywhere else;
(c) commits any misconduct, whether within his jurisdiction or anywhere else which in the opinion of the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs renders him unfit to transact any business in the Customs Station;
(d) adjudicated as an insolvent;
(e) of unsound mind; and
(f) convicted by a competent court for an offence involving moral turpitude or otherwise.
15. Prohibition.โNotwithstanding anything contained in these regulations, the Principal
Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs other than those referred to in regulation 7 may prohibit
any Customs Broker from working in one or more sections of the Customs Station, if he is satisfied
that such Customs Broker has not fulfilled his obligations as laid down under regulation 10 in
relation to work in that section or sections:
Provided that the period for which any Customs Broker may be prohibited from transacting
business in one or more of the Customs Stations shall not exceed one month from the date of such
prohibition:
Provided further that where the license of the Customs broker is suspended as a consequence
to prohibition, the time period specified in regulation 16, shall be reckoned from the date of such
suspension.
16. Suspension of license.โ(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in regulation 14, the Principal
Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs may, in appropriate cases where immediate action is
necessary, suspend the license of a Customs Broker where an enquiry against such Customs Broker
is pending or contemplated:
Provided that where the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs may deem fit
for reasons to be recorded in writing, he may suspend the license for a specified number of Customs
Stations.
(2) Where a license is suspended under sub-regulation (1), the Principal Commissioner of Customs
or Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, shall, within fifteen days from the date of such
suspension, give an opportunity of hearing to the Customs Broker whose license is suspended and
may pass such order as he deems fit either revoking the suspension or continuing it, as the case may
be, within fifteen days from the date of hearing granted to the Customs Broker:
Provided that in case the Principal Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner of Customs,
as the case may be, passes an order for continuing the suspension, further procedure thereafter shall
be as provided in regulation 17.
17. Procedure for revoking license or imposing penalty.โ (1)The Principal Commissioner or
Commissioner of Customs shall issue a notice in writing to the Customs Broker within a period of
ninety days from the date of receipt of an offence report, stating the grounds on which it is proposed
to revoke the license or impose penalty requiring the said Customs Broker to submit within thirty
days to the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs nominated by
him, a written statement of defense and also to specify in the said statement whether the Customs
Broker desires to be heard in person by the said Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant
Commissioner of Customs.
(2) The Commissioner of Customs may, on receipt of the written statement from the Customs
Broker, or where no such statement has been received within the time-limit specified in the notice
referred to in sub-regulation (1), direct the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant
Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, to inquire into the grounds which are not admitted by
the Customs Broker.
(3) The Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case
may be, shall, in the course of inquiry, consider such documentary evidence and take such oral
evidence as may be relevant or material to the inquiry in regard to the grounds forming the basis of
the proceedings, and he may also put any question to any person tendering evidence for or against
the Customs Broker, for the purpose of ascertaining the correct position.
(4) The Customs Broker shall be entitled to cross-examine the persons examined in support of
the grounds forming the basis of the proceedings, and where the Deputy Commissioner of Customs
or Assistant Commissioner of Customs declines permission to examine any person on the grounds
that his evidence is not relevant or material, he shall record his reasons in writing for so doing.
(5) At the conclusion of the inquiry, the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant
Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, shall prepare a report of the inquiry and after
recording his findings thereon submit the report within a period of ninety days from the date of issue
of a notice under sub-regulation (1).
(6) The Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs shall furnish to the Customs
Broker a copy of the report of the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of
Customs, as the case may be, and shall require the Customs Broker to submit, within the specified
period not being less than thirty days, any representation that he may wish to make against the said
report.
(7) The Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs shall, after considering the report
of the inquiry and the representation thereon, if any, made by the Customs Broker, pass such orders
as he deems fit either revoking the suspension of the license or revoking the license of the Customs
Broker within ninety days from the date of submission of the report by the Deputy Commissioner of
Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, under sub-regulation (5) :
Provided that no order for revoking the license shall be passed unless an opportunity is given
to the Customs Broker to be heard in person by the Principal Commissioner of Customs or
Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be.
(8) Where in the proceedings under these regulations, the Principal Commissioner of Customs or
Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, comes to a conclusion that the F card holder is guilty
of grounds specified in regulation 14 or incapacitated in the meaning of the said regulation, then the
Principal Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner of Customs may pass an order imposing
penalty as provided in regulation 18:
Provided that where an order is passed against an F card holder, he shall surrender the photo
identity card issued in Form F forthwith to the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant
Commissioner of Customs.
(9) Where in an offence report, charges have been framed against an F card holder in addition to
the Customs Broker who has been issued a license under regulation 7, then procedure prescribed in
regulations 16 and 17 shall be followed mutatis mutandis in so far as the prescribed procedure is
relevant to the F card holder:
Provided that where any action is contemplated against a G card holder alone under these
regulations, then instead of authority referred to in sub-regulation (8), a Deputy Commissioner or
Assistant Commissioner rank officer shall pass such order as mentioned in the said sub-regulation
along with debarring such G card holder from transacting the business under these regulations for a
period of six months from such order.
Provided further that where an order is passed against a G card holder, then he shall surrender
the photo identity card issued in Form G forthwith to the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or
Assistant Commissioner of Customs.
Explanation.โOffence report for the purposes of this regulation means a summary of investigation
and prima facie framing of charges into the allegation of acts of commission or omission of the
Customs Broker or a F card holder or a G card holder, as the case may be, under these regulations
thereunder which would render him unfit to transact business under these regulations.
18. Penalty.โ(1)The Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs may impose penalty
not exceeding fifty thousand rupees on a Customs Broker or F card holder who contravenes any
provisions of these regulations or who fails to comply with any provision of these regulations.
(2) The Deputy Commissioner or an Assistant Commissioner of Customs may impose penalty not
exceeding ten thousand rupees on a G card holder who contravenes any provisions of these
regulations in connection with the proceedings against the Customs Broker.
(3)The imposition of penalty or any action taken under these regulations shall be without prejudice
to the action that may be taken against the Customs Broker or F card holder or G card holder under
the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962) or any other law for the time being in force.
19. Appeal.โA Customs Broker or F card holder, who is aggrieved by any order passed by the Principal Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, under regulation 16 or regulation 17, may prefer an appeal under section 129A of the Act to the Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal established under sub-section (1) of section 129 of the Act:
Provided that a G card holder aggrieved by any order passed by the Deputy Commissioner or
Assistant Commissioner of Customs under these regulations may prefer an appeal under section 128
of the Act to the Commissioner of Customs(Appeals) against the orders of the Deputy Commissioner
or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, who shall proceed to decide the appeal
expeditiously within two months of the filing of the appeal.
20. Membership of associations. โ (1)Each Customs Broker shall enroll himself as a member
of the Customs Brokersโ Association, if there is one registered in the Customs Station under the
Parent Customs Zone and recognised by the Principal Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner
of Customs, as the case may be.
(2)No Customs Broker shall enroll himself in more than one Association at a given time.
(3)The Principal Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, at any
Customs Station, may recognise more than one Customs Broker association provided that the
minimum number of members of each such association shall not be less than thirty percent of the
total licenses issued in FormB1 or FormB2 or intimation received in the Form C.
