CBIC Establishes Green Channel for Swift Customs Clearance of Pollution Response Equipment during Oil and HNS Spill Emergencies [Read Notification]

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has announced the creation of a dedicated Green Channel to expedite Customs clearance of pollution response equipment and materials during emergencies involving oil and hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) spills at sea.

This follows a request from the Indian Coast Guard, which stated that India’s commitments under international and regional frameworks such as BIMSTEC, SACEP, and IORA include providing timely support in combating marine pollution incidents. The Board noted that when national response capacity is exceeded, urgent assistance from foreign governments, international organizations, and specialized service providers such as Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) may be required.

Under the new mechanism, designated Customs zones will facilitate priority clearance of consignments at key airports and seaports linked to Coast Guard District Headquarters, including Jamnagar–Vadinar (Okha, Gujarat), Mumbai, Kochi, Chennai, Paradip, and Sri Vijay Puram in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

ICAI to Declare CA Foundation May 2026 Results on July 3

A senior officer, not below the rank of Additional Commissioner or Joint Commissioner, will serve as the Nodal Officer in each zone. Their responsibilities include:

• Coordinating with Coast Guard, port and airport authorities, and other stakeholders.
• Ensuring 24×7 facilitation of imports, exports, and re-imports of pollution response equipment.
• Acting as the single point of contact for Customs-related issues during spill response operations.
• Participating in inter-agency drills to validate and strengthen the response mechanism.

The CBIC clarified that the facilitation will operate strictly within the framework of the Customs Act, 1962, and other applicable laws, without dispensing with statutory requirements unless specifically exempted.

Customs formations have been directed to share details of their Nodal Officers with the Coast Guard Headquarters within fifteen days. The Board also urged field officers to be sensitized about the importance of timely clearance during pollution emergencies.

Support our journalism by subscribing to Taxscan premium. Follow us on Telegram for quick updates