Customs update: CBIC consolidates 31 notifications into one; move to boost ease of doing business

In a move aimed at simplification, transparency, and improving the Ease of Doing Business, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has merged 31 separate Customs Duty notifications into a single, comprehensive document. As per news agency ANI, the consolidated Notification No. 45/2025, dated October 24, 2025, will come into effect on November 1, 2025.This new notification retains all the existing duty exemptions and benefits from previous notifications but presents them in a unified, structured format. The exercise marks a significant step towards rationalising customs procedures and reducing compliance burdens for importers, exporters, and customs officials.The CBIC described this as a “trade facilitation measure” in a post on X, stating, “CBIC rolls out another trade facilitation measure! 31 Customs Duty Notifications merged into one consolidated Notification.” The Board said this initiative is part of its continued efforts toward “simplification, transparency, and ease of doing business.”Until now, importers and customs officers had to navigate multiple notifications to determine applicable duty rates, exemptions, and conditions. From November 1 onward, all such references will be streamlined under Notification No. 45/2025-Customs, eliminating redundancy and ensuring consistency in customs administration.This consolidation aligns with the government’s broader goal under the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) to simplify, rationalise, digitise, and decriminalise government-to-business and citizen interfaces across ministries, states, and Union Territories, enhancing both Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living.