Use Departmental Testing Labs only, Orders JNPT

[Jawaharlal Nehru Customs House Standing Order No. 38/2018 dated 17^th October 2018]

Subject: Forwarding of Samples of testing to the Outside Laboratories.

Attention of all officers of Customs posted at Mumbai Customs, Zone – II is invited to the Circular Nos. 28/2018-Customs dated 30.08.2018 issued by Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs regarding forwarding of samples of testing to the outside laboratories.

2. In Board’s Circular No 11/2018-Customs dated 17.05.2018 and Circular No. 43/2017-Customs dated 16.11.2017, it was very categorically indicated that upgradation of the Revenue Laboratories is an on-going process. Therefore laboratories earlier not equipped with testing facility for a specific item have since acquired the testing facilities consequent to up-gradation.

3. The field formations under the jurisdiction of JNCH may therefore first ensure with their respective laboratories that the testing facilities for any particular items listed in the said Circulars are not available with them before forwarding such samples to outside Laboratory(s) listed therein.

4. In case the laboratories under the jurisdiction of JNCH does not have testing facility for a given sample, the field formations may send such samples to one of the other revenue laboratories which have the facility to test the given sample, instead of availing services of an outside Government laboratory. CRCL should also continuously update the list of testing facilities available on its webpage or on the web link of each laboratory so that there are no delays in testing merely on account of ascertaining as to which of the labs has the relevant testing facility.

5. Difficulty, if any may be brought to the notice of Deputy Commissioner in-charge of Appraising Main (Import) through e-mail/phones (e-mail address: appraisingmain.jnch@gov.in, Phone No: 022-27244979).

F. No. S/22-Gen-402/2017-18 AM (I) Pt. I