Testing of outside samples by Revenue Laboratories - Customs - PUBLIC NOTICE No. 73/2020

OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AIR CARGO COMPLEX (IMPORT) NEW CUSTOMS HOUSE NEAR IGI AIRPORT NEW DELHI-110037 C. No. VII(12)Import/Tech./PN/06/2020/Pt.1/3699-713 Dated: 26.10.2020 PUBLIC NOTICE No. 73/2020 Subject: Testing of outside samples by Revenue Laboratories-reg. Attention is invited to Board s Circular No. 46/2020-Customs dated 15.10.2020 on captioned subject. Central Revenues Control Laboratories (CRCL) assists the field formations in chemical analysis of samples of various trade commodities to enable appropriate assessment of duties. These laboratories also assist in enforcement of Customs Act, NDPS Act and other relevant allied Acts including for the purpose of environment protection, food safety, etc. 2. Eight (08) of the CRCL laboratories have obtained NABL Accreditation, as per ISO/IEC 17025:2017, for defined scope from March, 2019 onwards. The CRCL, New Delhi; Custom House Laboratory, Mumbai; JNCH Laboratory, Nhava Sheva; Custom House Laboratory, Chennai; Custom House Laboratory, Cochin; Custom House Laboratory, Visakhapatnam; Custom House Laboratory, Kandla and C.Ex Customs Laboratory, Vadodara are having NABL accreditation. 2.1. CRCL laboratories are now equipped to test samples which are hitherto forwarded to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Central Drug Standard and Control Organization (CDSCO) and Textile Committee in order to improve proficiency, ensure optimum utilization of equipment and other resources. Testing of samples drawn at this port by these agencies using CRCL s upgraded facilities, especially the state-of-the art instruments will not only help in optimal use but also reduce the dwell time. 3. Following guidelines are prescribed for testing of saniples drawn at this port: (i) As Revenue Laboratories can deal with the samples related to Drug Controller, FSSAI Textile Committee, all the customs samples, are preferably be tested in the CRCL,New Delhi only; (ii) In case facility to test particular commodity or parameter is not available in the nearest Revenue Laboratory, such cases shall be referred to the nearest government laboratory where such facility is available. Details of such Referral Labs for each category of goods/agencies (as mentioned in column (2) of Table in Annexure has been provided in Column (4) of Table in the said Annexure A ; (iii) CRCL, New Delhi shall also function as Referral Laboratory along with other referral laboratories in Pharma, Textile and Food ; (iv) Whenever CRCL laboratories are not in a position to carry out a test, they shall make use of nearest CDSCO / FSSAI approved Laboratories / Textile Committee 3. Keeping in view the above position, the relevant Custom House Laboratories are mapped with this port. Facilities available at CRCL, New Delhi as Referral Laboratory in Food testing are listed at Annexure-B to this Public Notice. 4. Further, Revenue Laboratories are not equipped to test samples related to Animal Quarantine (AQCS), Plant Quarantine (PQCS) and Wild Life Crime Control Bureau (WCCB). Hence, the existing arrangements will continue in this regard. 5. All Trade Associations / Members of Customs Brokers Association are requested to take note and publicize the contents of this Public Notice among their Members / Constituents. 6. For the departmental officers, this may be treated as Standing Order. 7. Difficulties, if any, may be brought to the notice of Additional Commissioner of Customs (Technical), ACC Import, New Customs House, New Delhi through e-mail on e-mail ID: [email protected]. This issues with the approval of the Principal Commissioner of Customs, ACC (Import). (Nagendra Yadav) Additional Commissioner of Customs (Technical) ACC (Import)