Circular No.  918/08/2010-CX

F.No.267/50/2007-CX8

Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
(Central Board of Excise & Customs)

New Delhi, dated the 4th March, 2010.

To,

All Director Generals,

All Chief Commissioners of Central Excise (including LTU),

All Chief Commissioners of Central Excise & Customs,

All Chief Commissioners of Customs.

Sir/ Madam,  

Subject: Implementation of the provisions of COTP Act, 2003 and The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules, 2008- Empowering the Customs & Central Excise Officers - regarding

  Please refer to the Boards Circular No. 896/16/2009-CX dated 01.09.2009, issued on the above referred subject matter. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has amended the Notification dated 30.07.2009 [S.O.1866 (E)] vide Notification dated 06.01.10 [S.O.23 (E)] (copy enclosed). The effect of the Notification is that the officers at the level of Superintendents and above of the Customs & Central Excise department are empowered for entry, search and seizure only at the premises registered under the Central Excise & Customs. Therefore, officers are not empowered to enter, search etc. for premises which are not registered with the department for carrying out any act under the COTP Act, 2003.

2. Trade & Industry as well as field formations may be suitably informed.

3. Receipt of this circular may kindly be acknowledged.

4. Hindi version will follow.

Yours faithfully,

(Amish Kumar Gupta)
 OSD (CX-8).