The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has extended the transitional provisions under the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transshipment Regulations (SCMTR), 2018 till June 30, 2026, giving stakeholders more time to fully align with the framework.
The decision follows a review of the implementation status, which found that while SCMTR filings for cargo movement between gateway and foreign ports have been successfully rolled out nationwide, gaps remain in achieving uniformity—particularly in the filing of Stuffing (SF) messages.
CBIC noted that certain message formats are still under development and require wider testing across inland container depots (ICDs), container freight stations (CFSs), special economic zones (SEZs), and gateway ports.
During the extended period, all stakeholders have been mandated to file complete and accurate electronic declarations in the prescribed format. Customs field formations have also been directed to undertake weekly outreach programmes, in coordination with the Directorate General of Systems, to ensure smoother adoption.
The Board has further instructed field formations to issue public and trade notices to enhance awareness, while urging stakeholders to report any implementation challenges for timely resolution.