MANU/CUST/0065/2021

Ministry : Ministry of Finance

Department/Board : Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs

Instruction No. : 17/2021-Customs

Date : 11.08.2021

To

All Principal Chief Commissioner/Chief Commissioner of Customs/Customs (Preventive).
All Principal Chief Commissioner/Chief Commissioner of Central Excise & Customs.
All Principal Chief Commissioner of Customs/Customs (Preventive).
All Principal Commissioner/Commissioner of Central Tax & Customs.
All Principal Director Generals/Director Generals of CBIC

Strict implementation of the import policy i.r.t. transmission apparatus incorporating reception apparatus (ITC HS Code-8525 60 00), by the Customs Authorities

Madam/Sir,

Reference is invited to F. No. P-11014/04/2013-PP(Vol-1) dated 12th July, 2021 issued by DWA (Regulation), Wireless Coordination and Planning Wing, Department of Telecommunications, New Delhi on the above-mentioned subject (copy enclosed).

2. It has been brought to notice in the above communication that unauthorized mobile signal repeaters/boosters are easily available in the grey market and on e-commerce platforms. Unauthorized operation of mobile signal repeater/booster has been a serious cause of concern for the licensed Cellular Telecom Service Providers (TSP) to maintain the desired quality of service (QoS) in light of the interference caused by such repeaters. Certain models of walkie-talkie sets are also available for sale on the e-commerce platforms without any compliance to the regulatory requirement of the Department.

3. As per the existing Import Policy provisions of DGFT viz. ITC HS Code of 2017 & its amendments, the mobile signal repeater/booster and walkie-talkie sets fall under the category of Transmission apparatus incorporating reception apparatus (ITC HS Code-8525 60 00), classified under 'free' category under the Import Policy with the remarks under 'policy conditions ' that 'Not permitted to be imported except against a license to be issued by the WPC wing of Ministry of Communication and Information Technology'.

4. In this regard, it is requested that necessary action may be taken to ensure that the provisions mentioned in para 3 above maybe strictly adhered to, in order to restrict the inflow of such unauthorized wireless equipment including mobile signal booster/repea........