Procedure for allowing “Back to Town” (BTT) of Export Cargo where EGM has not been filed in view of ongoing war conditions in the Middle East region

F. No.GEN/TECH/PN/9/2026-TECH       Date: 17-03-2026

Public Notice No. /2026

Subject: Procedure for allowing “Back to Town” (BTT) of Export Cargo

where EGM has not been filed in view of ongoing war conditions in the Middle East region – Reg.

Attention to all concerned is invited to the current geopolitical situation and ongoing war conditions in the Middle East region. This conflict has led to significant disruptions in maritime routes, suspension of bookings by major shipping lines, and the closure of key ports in the Gulf region. Consequently, a large volume of export shipments destined for these regions is currently stuck at Terminals/ Container Freight Stations (CFS)/ Inland Container Depot (ICD) falls under Customs Ahmedabad. 2. Trade Facilitation Measures: To mitigate the hardship faced by the trade and to prevent the congestion of port terminals/ CFS/ICD, the following relaxation in the procedure is prescribed for Back to Town (BTT) movement of such stranded export containers/shipping bills for which EGM has not been filed: On receipt of the containers in the Terminal/CFS/ICD, as the case may be, and where the exporter desires to take the goods back to town, the Exporter or their authorized Customs Broker (CB) shall approach the concerned Assistant/Deputy Commissioner (Export). On receipt of the request, the customs officers posted in concerned Terminal/CFS/ICD shall verify the seal on the containers and match the details mentioned in the Shipping Bill and the stuffing records. If the seal is intact, the requirement for physical examination is hereby waived for such Shipping Bills before granting BTT permission.

tails mentioned in the Shipping Bill and the stuffing records. If the seal is intact, the requirement for physical examination is hereby waived for such Shipping Bills before granting BTT permission. This waiver is intended to expedite the evacuation of cargo and reduce additional handling costs for the exporters. GEN/TECH/PN/9/2026-TECH-O/o PR COMMR-CUS-AHMEDABAD I/3970404/2026 06 DIN-20260364WY00008858B9

Further, in view of the prevailing circumstances, BTT-related fees/penalties leviable under the Customs Act, 1962 or the regulations thereunder, for these specific shipments shall also be waived.

3.     This Public Notice shall come into force with immediate effect and shall remain
   

valid until further orders or until the normalization of shipping operations in the affected region. 4. Difficulty, if any, faced in implementation of the said Public Notice, may be brought to the notice of the Principal Commissioner/Commissioner, Customs Ahmedabad. 5.  This issues with the approval of the Principal Commissioner of Customs Ahmedabad. SHREE RAM VISHNOI ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER ADC/JC-I-O/o Pr Commissioner-Customs-Ahmedabad Copy to:

1. The Chief Commissioner of Customs, Gujarat Zone, Ahmedabad.
2. All Additional/Joint Commissioner of Customs, Customs Ahmedabad.
3. All Deputy/Assistant Commissioner of Customs, Customs Ahmedabad.
4. The Assistant Commissioner, System Section, HQ, for uploading on official website.
5. Notice Board. GEN/TECH/PN/9/2026-TECH-O/o PR COMMR-CUS-AHMEDABAD I/3970404/2026