In a significant step towards strengthening India’s preparedness and response capabilities for marine pollution incidents, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has issued Instruction No. 11/2026-Customs dated 23 June 2026, providing for the establishment of a Green Channel for expedited Customs clearance of pollution response equipment, materials and associated resources required during Oil and Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) spill emergencies. The initiative has been undertaken in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard and other stakeholder agencies.
The Board noted that Coast Guard Headquarters had requested the creation of a dedicated facilitation mechanism to ensure rapid Customs clearance of critical pollution response equipment and materials that may need to be imported, exported, re-imported or re-exported during emergency response operations. Such equipment is often required urgently in the event of major oil or chemical spills at sea and delays in deployment could adversely impact environmental protection and disaster mitigation efforts.
India, through various international and regional platforms including the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), has committed itself to supporting coordinated responses to marine oil and chemical spill incidents. The new facilitation mechanism is intended to support these commitments by ensuring faster movement of essential response resources across borders.
Recognizing that large-scale oil and HNS spill incidents may sometimes exceed national response capacity, the instruction also acknowledges the potential need for assistance from foreign governments, international organizations and specialized service providers such as Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL). In such situations, timely Customs clearance of specialized response equipment and materials is critical for minimizing environmental damage, safeguarding marine ecosystems, protecting public health and ensuring continuity of port operations.
To operationalize the Green Channel mechanism, CBIC has identified key Coast Guard District Headquarters and corresponding Customs jurisdictions covering major airports and seaports, including Jamnagar-Vadinar (Gujarat), Mumbai, Kochi, Chennai, Paradip and Sri Vijay Puram (Andaman & Nicobar Islands). These locations will serve as nodal points for facilitating emergency clearances during pollution response operations.
The Instruction directs the concerned Customs Zones to designate a senior officer, not below the rank of Additional Commissioner or Joint Commissioner, as the Nodal Officer for coordinating all Customs-related matters concerning pollution response consignments. The Nodal Officer will maintain close liaison with the Indian Coast Guard, Port Authorities, Airport Authorities and other stakeholders, facilitate priority processing of consignments on a 24×7 basis, and act as the single point of contact for resolving Customs-related issues arising during emergency operations.
The designated officers will also participate, wherever required, in inter-agency coordination exercises conducted by the Indian Coast Guard to validate and strengthen the response mechanism. The Green Channel framework will function within the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 and other applicable laws, while ensuring maximum facilitation during emergencies.
Customs formations have been advised to sensitize officers under their jurisdiction regarding the importance of timely facilitation of pollution response consignments. Further, details of the designated Nodal Officers are required to be shared with the Board and Coast Guard Headquarters within fifteen days of issuance of the Instruction.
The establishment of this Green Channel marks an important step in enhancing inter-agency coordination and emergency logistics management, reinforcing India’s commitment to environmental protection, maritime safety and efficient disaster response.
The Instructions can be accessed at: https://taxinformation.cbic.gov.in/view-pdf/1000580/ENG/Instructions
