FinMin Expands Customs Cooperation: New Zealand and Madagascar Added to CMAA Network [Read Order]

The Ministry of Finance issued Notification No. 32/2025-Customs (N.T.) dated April 28, 2025, announcing amendments to India’s international customs cooperation framework by adding New Zealand and Madagascar to the list of partner nations under the Customs Mutual Administrative Assistance (CMAA) agreements.

The notification, published in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), supplements the earlier Notification No. 58/2021-Customs (N.T.) dated July 1, 2021, which initially formalized CMAA arrangements with 32 countries and international organizations.

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Details of the New Additions

Under the amendment:

• A new entry “13A – New Zealand” has been inserted, signifying the establishment of a Cooperative Arrangement between the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), India, and the New Zealand Customs Service.
  
  
• Another entry, “17A – Republic of Madagascar,” has been added to reflect a formal Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters between India and Madagascar.

These additions are made under the authority of Section 151B(2) of the Customs Act, 1962, which empowers the Central Government to notify such agreements for enabling effective exchange of information and administrative cooperation in customs-related matters.

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The CMAA agreements are critical tools for:

• Exchanging intelligence on smuggling and customs fraud;
• Conducting joint investigations;
• Ensuring compliance with customs laws across borders;
• Facilitating smoother trade by reducing illegal trade activities.

The inclusion of New Zealand, a major partner in the Indo-Pacific, and Madagascar, a key Indian Ocean neighbor, enhances India’s geopolitical and trade enforcement outreach in two vital regions—Oceania and East Africa.

This notification follows the legal lineage of Notification No. 58/2021-Customs (N.T.), which had previously been amended by Notification No. 23/2024-Customs (N.T.) dated March 15, 2024. The newly issued Notification No. 32/2025 has been signed by Deputy Secretary Komila Punia, and is officially enforceable upon its publication in the Gazette.

To Read the full text of the Order CLICK HERE

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