On this page
- Key facts
- What does out of charge mean?
- Who is affected by out of charge?
- How does out of charge work in practice?
- Where does out of charge sit in the import clearance process?
- What is auto out of charge (Auto-OOC)?
- Who gets automatic out of charge, and on what conditions?
- Can Customs stop an automatic out of charge?
- Which product approvals are checked before out of charge?
- Can goods get out of charge before a test result comes in?
- What is manual out of charge?
- How does out of charge work for a high-seas sale?
- Worked example: what a late Bill of Entry costs before out of charge
- What must you do after out of charge?
- Numbers worth knowing about out of charge
- Which terms are related to out of charge?
- What rules are tied to the out-of-charge date?
- What delays out of charge?
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
Key facts at a glance
- After clearance (QCO relief)
- Documents to BIS within 7 days[1]
- Furniture relief papers
- PO, B/L, B/E on signed letterhead[2]
- BIS rule
- No import without Standard Mark for notified goods[3]
- Battery EPR
- Register with CPCB before importing[4]
- Auto-OOC for all importers
- Since Circular 06/2026 (1 Feb 2026), if duty paid and no alert[5]
- Auto-OOC for AEO T2/T3
- Rolled out 1 January 2025[6]
- Customs override
- Officer can put a HOLD on intelligence[7]
- Bill of Entry deadline
- By end of day before arrival; up to 30 days early[8]
- Late filing charge
- Rs 5,000/day for 3 days, then Rs 10,000/day[9]
- Keep records
- 5 years from Bill of Entry[10]
- Toys
- Cleared on condition: no sale until sample passes[11]
- High-seas sales
- HSS papers checked at assessment or before OOC[12]
Checked 1 November 2026 against the regulator's own documents.
What does out of charge mean?
When goods land in India they are under customs control. The importer files a Bill of Entry; Customs assesses it, duty is paid, and the goods may be examined. When Customs is satisfied, it gives 'out of charge'. That is the release: the goods can leave the port, airport or container freight station.
It is the moment importers wait for. Everything before it, including storage at the terminal, costs time and money. Everything after it is your own logistics.
OOC is also a useful date for your own records. It marks when goods entered the Indian market, which can matter when you later prove which stock was imported before or after a rule changed.
Legally, the release is an order permitting clearance under section 47 of the Customs Act. A Bill of Entry is deemed filed and self-assessed when the Customs EDI system generates its number; after assessment, and examination if required, the order permitting clearance is made[10]. In day-to-day trade that order is simply called OOC, and it shows as a status against the Bill of Entry on ICEGATE.
Who is affected by out of charge?
Every importer clearing goods for use in India. The customs broker usually tracks the status and tells the importer when OOC is given.
Compliance problems can delay OOC. Section 17 of the BIS Act bars importing notified goods without a Standard Mark under a valid licence[3]. CPCB has asked CBIC to have Customs verify battery EPR registration[13] and plastic EPR registration[14] at clearance. If these are missing, the goods may not be released.
The importer stays responsible even when a customs broker files the papers. In a 2026 order, Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House held the importer liable to penalty for invalid PESO licences submitted through its broker, because the broker acted with the importer's consent[15]. You also need an Importer Exporter Code: no goods may be imported without one unless specifically exempted[16].
How does out of charge work in practice?
In broad terms the sequence is: the Bill of Entry is filed, Customs assesses it, duty is paid, the goods are examined if selected, and OOC is given. The broker then arranges delivery.
To avoid hold-ups at the compliance stage, have these ready before the ship arrives:
- the factory's BIS licence and model list if the product is under BIS CRS, and goods physically marked; a screen-only mark is not enough at import[17];
- your CPCB battery EPR registration if you import batteries or goods containing them, since importers must register before importing[4];
- your plastic EPR registration if goods come in plastic packaging; see PIBO.
We do not give customs timelines or procedure details here. Ask your broker for the port's current practice.
Where does out of charge sit in the import clearance process?
Out of charge is the last Customs step; delivery from the terminal follows it. The sequence below is the general pattern for a sea or air import cleared for home consumption. Your broker and port may differ in detail.
- 1
- 2
- 3Goods registration on arrival
Under Circular 06/2026-Customs, registration happens automatically on arrival for AEO T2/T3 entities, approved Eligible Manufacturer Importers, importers with a longstanding supply chain and Direct Port Delivery users[7].
- 4Assessment, examination and agency checks
The risk system decides whether the goods are examined or sampled. Product rules such as BIS registration, EPR registration or a toy lab test are checked here.
- 5Pay the duty
Auto OOC requires the applicable duty or cess to be paid[5].
- 6
- 7Delivery and record-keeping
Your broker collects the goods. Keep the assessed Bill of Entry and supporting documents for five years[10].
What is auto out of charge (Auto-OOC)?
Auto-OOC is out of charge given by the Customs system without an officer having to act. It started for trusted traders and has been open to every importer since February 2026.
- Phase 1 (2025): CBIC Circular 01/2025-Customs rolled out Auto-OOC for AEO Tier 2 and Tier 3 importers from 1 January 2025. Their Bills of Entry qualified if not selected for examination, scanning or any PGA-related NoC, assessment was complete, and OTP authentication for duty deferment was done[6].
- Phase 2 (2026): Circular 06/2026-Customs of 1 February 2026 extended OOC without manual intervention to all importers, if the duty or cess is paid and no outstanding compliance requirement or alert exists in the system[5].
The practical message: Auto-OOC rewards clean filings. Any open compliance flag, such as a missing BIS registration or an EPR query, takes the Bill of Entry out of the automatic lane.
Who gets automatic out of charge, and on what conditions?
The table compares the two automation phases. Both are risk-based, so neither is a guarantee.
| Item | Circular 01/2025-Customs | Circular 06/2026-Customs |
|---|---|---|
| Start | 1 January 2025[6] | Circular dated 1 February 2026[5] |
| Who | AEO Tier 2 and Tier 3 importers | All importers |
| Main conditions | Not picked for examination, scanning or PGA NoC; assessment complete; OTP authentication for duty deferment | Duty or cess paid; no outstanding compliance requirement or alert in the system |
| Officer override | HOLD option on intelligence[7] | HOLD option on intelligence[7] |
Can Customs stop an automatic out of charge?
Yes. Auto-OOC is granted on a risk-based evaluation, and an officer can invoke a "HOLD" in the Customs system to override it on the basis of intelligence[7]. A hold usually means examination, document checks or sampling before release.
If you see a hold, ask your broker what it is for before paying anyone to "speed it up". Most compliance holds clear only when the missing document or test result is produced. Our guide to why shipments get held at Indian ports lists the usual causes.
Which product approvals are checked before out of charge?
For consumer electronics and other regulated goods, the product rules matter as much as the duty. These are the checks most likely to stand between your Bill of Entry and OOC.
| Approval | Typical products | What happens at Customs |
|---|---|---|
| BIS CRS | Power banks, chargers, phones | CBIC Instruction 28/2023 reportedly has officers check BIS registration for every consignment, with out of charge only after a sampled item passes[20] |
| Battery EPR | Batteries and devices containing them | CPCB asked CBIC to have Customs verify EPR registration certificates[13] |
| Plastic EPR | Anything in plastic packaging | CPCB asked CBIC to verify plastic EPR registration at clearance[14] |
| Toys QCO | Toys | A sample from each consignment goes to an NABL lab; goods may be cleared on condition they are not sold until it passes[11] |
| WPC ETA | Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices | Customs may accept the importer's self-declaration as sufficient evidence for licence-exempt wireless products[21] |
| LMPC labels | All retail packs | Declarations may be completed in AEO Tier-2/Tier-3 bonded warehouses before goods leave[22] |
Can goods get out of charge before a test result comes in?
Sometimes, but only on conditions. For toys, Customs may clear goods on condition they are not sold until the sample passes; if it fails, the consignment is sent back or destroyed at the importer's cost[11]. At JNCH the importer gives a No Use Bond equal to the assessable value, a sample of each toy type is drawn at examination, and the test report is due within two months of assessment[23].
So OOC on a toy consignment is not the end of the story. The stock must sit unsold until the bond is cancelled. Plan warehouse space for that period.
What is manual out of charge?
Manual OOC is a release recorded by an officer outside the normal system flow, used when the system cannot show a step that has actually happened. One documented case: after electronic cash ledger payments began on 1 April 2023, some duty payments did not show in ICES. Mumbai Customs let docks officers grant manual OOC for liquid bulk, perishable and life-saving goods against a bank certificate and an undertaking, to be regularised in the system later[24].
That was a temporary, port-specific measure. Do not plan around manual OOC for ordinary electronics.
How does out of charge work for a high-seas sale?
The buyer in a high-seas sale files the Bill of Entry and receives the OOC. At JNCH, prior registration of high-seas sale agreements was dropped from 10 May 2017; the Bill of Entry must give correct details of the buyer, seller and commission, and the papers are checked at assessment or before out of charge[12]. Where there is a chain of sales, the broker must give documents for every sale[12].
Worked example: what a late Bill of Entry costs before out of charge
Late filing does not stop OOC, but it adds charges before release. If a Bill of Entry is filed late without sufficient cause, the importer pays Rs 5,000 a day for the first three days and Rs 10,000 a day after that, although the officer may waive them for a good reason[9].
Take a sea shipment of power banks that needed filing by the end of the day before arrival[8], but was filed five days late:
| Days late | Rate | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 3 | Rs 5,000 a day | Rs 15,000 |
| Days 4 and 5 | Rs 10,000 a day | Rs 20,000 |
| Total | Rs 35,000 |
That is before any demurrage the terminal charges for the same days. Filing up to 30 days early is allowed, so there is rarely a reason to file late.
What must you do after out of charge?
Clearance is not the end of your obligations.
- Keep records. The importer or broker must keep the assessed Bill of Entry and all original supporting documents for five years from presentation; breaching the regulations can attract a penalty of up to Rs 50,000[10].
- QCO relief paperwork. Under S.O. 775(E), documents go to BIS within 7 days of clearance[1].
- Market rules. BIS can still direct recall of non-conforming marked goods[3], and labels must meet the LMPC label rules wherever the goods are sold.
- Test-conditional goods. Toys cleared under a No Use Bond stay unsold until the sample passes[23].
Numbers worth knowing about out of charge
| Number | What it means |
|---|---|
| 30 days | Earliest you can file a Bill of Entry before arrival[8] |
| Rs 5,000 / Rs 10,000 | Daily late filing charge: first three days, then after[9] |
| 1 January 2025 | Auto-OOC began for AEO T2 and T3 importers[6] |
| 1 February 2026 | Date of the circular opening Auto-OOC to all importers[5] |
| 7 days | Time to send papers to BIS after clearance under S.O. 775(E)[1] |
| 5 years | How long to keep the Bill of Entry and documents[10] |
| 2 months | Toy test report deadline after assessment at JNCH[23] |
What rules are tied to the out-of-charge date?
We have few official facts on OOC itself. One place it matters for compliance is QCO transition relief, which counts from clearance:
- Under DPIIT S.O. 775(E), for goods shipped before implementation of one of the 26 QCOs it covers, documents go to BIS within 7 days of clearance[1].
- Under the Furniture QCO purchase-order relief, the importer must give BIS the PO, B/L, B/E and supporting documents on signed letterhead within seven days of clearance[2].
After OOC the goods are in the market, and BIS rules still apply. BIS can direct a licence holder to stop supply and recall non-conforming marked goods[3]. Clearance is not approval.
What delays out of charge?
- No BIS mark or licence for notified goods[3].
- No EPR registration for batteries[13] or plastic packaging[14].
- Marks only on screen for display devices[17].
- Unclear classification in the Bill of Entry; see HS code.
Every day of delay can add demurrage. The first electronics import checklist lists the documents to line up.
Frequently asked questions
What does OOC mean on a customs status?
Out of charge: Customs has released the goods from its control, and they can be taken from the port or warehouse.
Does out of charge mean my product is BIS compliant?
No. BIS can still direct a licence holder to stop supply and recall non-conforming goods after they reach the market[3].
Is anything due after out of charge?
Can missing EPR registration stop clearance?
Can a phone with only an on-screen BIS mark get out of charge?
It risks a hold. Devices may show the Standard Mark electronically, but a physical label is still required on the packaging at import[17].
Who tells me when goods are out of charge?
Usually your customs broker, who tracks the Bill of Entry status and arranges delivery once Customs releases the goods.
What is auto out of charge?
It is OOC given by the Customs system without manual intervention. Since Circular 06/2026-Customs it is available to all importers once duty is paid and no compliance requirement or alert is pending[5].
Can Customs cancel an automatic OOC?
An officer can invoke a HOLD in the system to override Auto-OOC on the basis of intelligence[7]. The goods then wait for the checks the officer wants.
Is out of charge the same as the Bill of Entry being assessed?
No. Assessment comes first; the order permitting clearance follows assessment and any examination[10]. A Bill of Entry can be assessed and still not be out of charge if duty is unpaid or a check is pending.
Can toys be sold as soon as they get out of charge?
Not if they were cleared on condition. Customs may clear toys on condition they are not sold until the lab sample passes[11].
How long should I keep the out-of-charge copy?
Keep the assessed Bill of Entry and all supporting documents for five years from the date the Bill of Entry was presented[10].
Sources 24 documents, 23 official
Each number in the text links to the document below. Labels show the type of source; see our editorial policy.
- Gazette Order for Goods & Articles Exemption against Import - S.O. 775(E) · 12 February 2026
- Gazette Furniture (Quality Control) Second Amendment Order, 2026 - S.O. 1125(E) · 2 March 2026
- Gazette The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (Act No. 11 of 2016) · 21 March 2016
- Official portal CPCB FAQs (General) under Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022
- Official circular Mangaluru Customs Public Notice No. 07/2026: Implementation of Auto Goods Registration, Auto Out of Charge (OOC) and Auto LEO · 27 February 2026
- Official circular Mangaluru Customs Public Notice No. 01/2025: Roll out of Automated Out of Charge for AEO T2 and T3 Clients · 3 January 2025
- Official circular Mangaluru Customs Public Notice No. 07/2026 · 27 February 2026
- Official circular JNCH Public Notice No. 29/2021 (29.03.2021): Clarifications on the legislative changes in Section 46 of Customs Act, 1962, citing CBIC Circular 08/2021-Customs · 29 March 2021
- Official circular JNCH Public Notice No. 85/2018 (23.05.2018) on the Bill of Entry (Electronic Integrated Declaration and Paperless Processing) Regulations, 2018 (Notification 36/2018-Customs (N.T.)) · 23 May 2018
- Official circular JNCH Public Notice No. 85/2018 (23.05.2018) · 23 May 2018
- Official circular JNCH Nhava Sheva Public Notice No. 113/2019 (13 December 2019) - procedure for clearance of toys · 13 December 2019
- Official circular JNCH Public Notice No. 58/2017: Discontinuation of High Seas Sale registration procedure · 2 May 2017
- Official circular CPCB letter dated 23 Dec 2022 to CBIC on clearing battery import consignments · 23 December 2022
- Court order CPCB compliance report to NGT in O.A. 993/2024 with O.A. 926/2024 (dated 06.07.2026) · 6 July 2026
- Official circular JNCH Order-in-Original, M/s Stallion India Fluorochemicals Ltd (gas cylinders without valid PESO licence)
- Official portal Foreign Trade Policy 2023, Chapter 2: General Provisions Regarding Imports and Exports (revised, v1.2.2)
- Official circular BIS CMD-III e-labelling guidelines 13.09.2017 · 13 September 2017
- Official circular JNCH Public Notice No. 29/2021 (29.03.2021) · 29 March 2021
- Official portal ICEGATE Registration FAQs (ICEGATE 2.0), DGSDM, CBIC, August 2023 · 1 August 2023
- Reported CBIC Instruction F.No. 401/67/2023-Cus-III dated 12.12.2023 (signed copy hosted by LiveLaw); number 28/2023 per TaxGuru · 12 December 2023Not yet confirmed officially
- Official portal Equipment Type Approval (ETA) - DoT eServices Portal (last updated 28-05-2025) · 28 May 2025
- Gazette G.S.R. 418(E), 29 May 2026 - Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Third Amendment Rules, 2026 (Gazette of India, Extraordinary) · 29 May 2026
- Official circular JNCH Nhava Sheva Public Notice No. 113/2019 · 13 December 2019
- Official circular Mumbai Customs Zone-I (Import-I) Public Notice No. 02/2023: Clearance of liquid bulk cargo, perishable goods and life saving goods