Business · India Bureau
CBIC ramps up outreach to boost adoption of customs duty payment scheme
India's customs authority is launching targeted assistance programmes for small and medium enterprises to increase uptake of the Eligible Manufacturer Importer scheme, which has attracted fewer than 1,000 participants since April. The CBIC has also streamlined documentation requirements to encourage wider participation.
LSN India ·
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) will intensify outreach efforts to promote the Eligible Manufacturer Importer (EMI) scheme among MSMEs, acknowledging that the initiative has underperformed since its launch on April 1. A senior CBIC official said the board recognises the scheme has not achieved the anticipated uptake and plans to conduct awareness programmes highlighting its benefits to potential users.
To address implementation barriers, the CBIC substantially reduced data and documentation requirements for EMI scheme enrolees, effective September 15. The move is intended to simplify the application process and reduce administrative burden for small and medium businesses seeking to participate.
The EMI scheme, introduced in the 2026-27 Union Budget as a facilitation measure for trusted manufacturers, allows eligible importers to clear imported goods without paying customs duty upfront. Instead, participating businesses benefit from deferred payment arrangements, improving working capital management and reducing compliance costs.
The revised scheme framework, featuring simplified documentation and targeted CBIC support, represents an effort to make the initiative more accessible to the broader MSME sector. Officials expressed confidence that streamlined procedures and direct assistance will drive greater acceptance of the deferred customs duty payment model among India's manufacturing community.