CBIC vide Circular No. 13/2018-Customs- dated- May 30, 2018 allows factory stuffing and sealing of reefer containers with perishable / temperature sensitive export goods in presence of Customs officials, in view of the fact that all Ports / ICDs do not have sterile, temperature controlled examination facilities which may lead to contamination or spoilage.
Further CBIC Lays down detailed procedure to be implemented in this regard, which involves application by exporter to jurisdictional Customs Commissioner atleast 24 hours prior to stuffing along with list of export goods.
Once permission is granted by the Commissioner, it cannot be withdrawn unless any non-compliance to law, rules or regulations is noticed; Upon supervision by deputed officers, containers would be sealed with RFID e-seals and RMCC may take necessary steps to ensure that such reefer containers are not subjected to examination at port.
In respect of other types of sensitive cargo which may deteriorate or get contaminated upon opening of containers, Commissioner at port may exercise suitable discretion for valid reasons to override RMS instructions, states CBIC while explaining that notwithstanding said relaxation, reefer container(s) may be selected for scanning / examination on specific information / intelligence or occasional random basis or where it has come to notice that RFID seal has been tampered with after Customs officer’s supervision.
Read More at: http://www.cbic.gov.in/resources//htdocs-cbec/customs/cs-circulars/cs-circulars-2018/circ13-2018cs.pdf