The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has introduced a standardised compliance checklist for the import clearance of cosmetics, drugs and medical devices. The move is aimed at making customs verification more consistent while supporting faster clearance of regulated healthcare products.
Under Circular No. 40/2026-Customs, issued on September 3, Customs officers are required to verify specified licences, permissions, registration certificates and other regulatory documents before granting out-of-charge for eligible PGA-facilitated Bills of Entry.
The framework includes seven category-specific checklists covering cosmetics, drugs and APIs, finished formulations, certain personal-use drug imports, drugs imported for testing or analysis, medical devices including in-vitro diagnostic devices, and raw materials or components used in medical-device manufacturing.
Importers have been advised to upload the required documents through the e-SANCHIT portal to facilitate verification and expedite cargo clearance. The measure follows steps by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to strengthen compliance while improving ease of doing business.
CBIC said the documentation requirements are particularly important as integration of these regulatory documents into SWIFT 2.0 is still under process. Customs formations have therefore been instructed to exercise due diligence during clearance and ensure that applicable requirements are met.
The standardised process is expected to bring greater transparency, predictability and uniformity to the clearance of healthcare imports, potentially helping importers reduce delays at Indian ports.