Circular No. 12 dated 18^th February 2000

The provision of TBRE was abolished in 1994 and the Baggage Rules were liberalized to facilitate the clearance of baggage of visiting tourists. In terms of Rule 7 of the Baggage Rules, 1998 read with Appendix E, tourists are allowed to bring their personal effects and travel souvenirs subject to certain conditions. For the sake of uniformity in defining personal effects, the Board had issued a circular vide F.No. 520/136/92-Cus. VI dated 4.9.98 (copy enclosed).

2.      Reports have, however, been received that the passports are being endorsed by the Customs authorities, apparently on the request of passengers. It is stated that this practice is totally incorrect and there is no provision in the Baggage Rules to endorse Passports, which is a valuable legal document.

3.      It may kindly be ensured that all genuine tourists are allowed to bring in their personal effects without endorsement on the passports and without payment of duty, subject to the terms and conditions prescribed in the Baggage rules, 1998.

Kindly acknowledge the receipt.

Baggage Rules � Tourist Baggage Only Used Personal Effects Allowed, But No Need for Verification

Regarding Eighth Report of Estimates Committee (11th Lok Sabha) on disposal of passenger baggage detained at International Airports; action taken by the Govt. on the recommendations contained in the forty-ninth report of Estimates Committee (10th Lok Sabha) on the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) Customs clearance at International Airport

Circular No. 72 dated 24^th September 1998

In the Estimates Committee (1994-95) of the 10th Lok Sabha, the Government had undertaken to review the Baggage Rules permitting the travellers to bring in Note Book Computers and other essential items so that harassment to the general passengers could be eliminated. The Committee had desired an expeditious review of the matter. The matter has been examined, under Tourist Baggage Rules, 1978, Notification No. 45/ 92-Cus (NT) dated 19/ 6/ 92 was issued listing the personal effects which could be imported temporarily free of duty. This list included 14 items of day-to-day use of the tourist.

2.      The Tourist Baggage Rules was replaced by the Baggage Rules, 1994 which contained a chapter on concession for tourists. In Rule 11, the personal effects imported by the tourists temporarily have been allowed duty free entry and the explanation of Rule 11 defined the wording `personal effect' such as clothings and other articles, new or used, which a tourist may personally and reasonably required taking into account of circumstances for his visit but excluding all merchandise imported for commercial purposes. The list contained in Notifn. 45/92, though the Notifn. has expired, continue to be guiding the customs formations at the Airport to give this benefit.

3.      The Baggage Rules, 1998 issued vide Notifn. No. 30/ 98-Cus (NT) dated 2/ 6/ 98 has provided for import of duty free goods by tourists in Regulation 7 as contained in Appendix `E' of the said Rules. There is no definition for personal effects in the present Baggage Rules. However, for the sake of uniformity it is considered necessary to reiterate that the personal effects would include the following goods:

 (i)       Personal jewellery

(ii)       One camera with film rolls not exceeding twenty

(iii)       One video camera/ camcorder with accessories and with videocassettes not exceeding twelve

(iv)       One pair of binoculars

(v)        One portable colour television (not exceeding 15 cms in size)

(vi)       One music system including compact disc player

(vii)      One portable typewriter

(viii)     One perambulator

(ix)      One tent and other camping equipment

(x)       One computer (laptop/ notebook)

(xi)      One electronic diary

(xii)      One portable wireless receiving set (transistor radio)

(xiii)     Professional equipments, instruments and Apparatus of appliances including professional audio/ video equipments

(xiv)     Sports equipments such as one fishing outfit, one sporting fire arm with fifty cartridges, one non-powered bicycles, one canoe or ranges less than 15 metres long, one pair of skids, two tennis rackets, one golf set (14 pcs. with a dozen of golf balls).

(xv)      One cell phone.

4.      It may kindly be noted that while Notifn. No. 45/ 92 defined personal effects as articles both new or used and Rule 11 of Baggage Rules 1994 allowed personal effects of tourists for duty free import, the Baggage Rules 1998 allows only used personal effects of the tourists. It is not the intention of the Board to verify the newness of every product, which a traveller brings so long as it is not prima facie new goods in their original packaging, which can be disposed of off hand.