Brief Background

For exporting items through Postal channel a new procedure have been mandated by Customs to be followed by exporters. The exporters can use the Postal channel of exports for sending the commercial exports out of the country. The procedures have been put in place by customs in all FPOs. Starting with 5 FPOs Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Kochi, the customs has notified additional locations through notifications Notification No. 31/2017 Customs (N.T) dated 31st March, 2017 and Notification No. 103 /2018- Customs (N.T.) dated 31st December,2018. Thus exports through Posts are possible through 28 locations across the country.

Procedure

Any exporter holding a valid Import-Export Code shall be permitted to export goods by filing a Postal Bill of Export (PBE) in the form prescribed under the “Export by Post Regulations 2018”. The procedures of filling and filing the PBE forms have been detailed by Customs through notifications. The two PBE forms, PBE-I and PBE-2 are for eCommerce exports and other than eCommerce exports respectively subject to other terms and conditions as notified from time to time by Customs and other concerned organizations.

The PBE along with goods shall be presented to the Customs at the Foreign Post Office. Upon completion of processing of the PBE by Customs, the goods shall be presented to the Postal department, who will acknowledge receipt of the shipment on the PBE and affix the tracking number of each shipment on the same. Upon affixation of the tracking number by postal authorities, the PBE consignment shall be presented to the Custom for grant of “Let Export Order”. The original PBE will be retained by Customs and the duplicate PBE will be handed over to the exporter or his customs broker. In the case of exports, not involving e-commerce, the PBE-II shall be filed. The Postal Authorities will furnish the proof of export of the goods i.e. copy of relevant CN / CP forms, as applicable to different categories of postal mails, to the Customs at the FPO.​

The recent surge in eCommerce goods being exported from India is being facilitated further by Department of Post. The export can be done by using bouquet of products like Registered packets (2 kg), Air Parcels for consignments weighing upto 20 kg, International Tracked Packet for select destination and EMS- Speed Post for consignment weighing upto 35 kg. In the case of natural persons (i.e. other than firms & companies) exporting parcels, there is no change in procedure being followed hitherto. It is clarified that they will not be required to file any PBE.​