S. No.

Compliance Requirement

Responsibility / Action

1

Prevent cross-contact: Different types of imported food articles shall be stored in a manner that prevents them from coming into contact with each other.

Importer / Warehouse Operator

2

Specified storage conditions: Imported food shall be stored in accordance with the prescribed storage conditions in the customs warehouse before clearance.

Importer / Custodian

3

Adequate storage infrastructure: Port authorities and freight-station custodians shall provide adequate and suitable infrastructure for safe storage of different types of imported food consignments until customs clearance.

Port Authorities / Custodian

4

Special storage conditions: Where food requires special conditions such as temperature-controlled storage, the Authorised Officer shall verify the storage requirements applicable to the consignment.

Authorised Officer

5

Availability of special facilities: The Authorised Officer shall confirm with the cargo operator/custodian whether the required special storage facilities are available in the customs-bonded area.

Authorised Officer / Custodian

6

Alternative storage facility: If the required storage facility is unavailable, the Authorised Officer shall obtain confirmation from Customs regarding treating the importer's warehouse as a customs-bonded area.

Authorised Officer / Customs

7

Form-12 undertaking: The importer shall furnish an undertaking in Form-12 and, based on this, the Authorised Officer may issue a provisional NOC permitting movement of the consignment to a suitably equipped storage facility.

Importer / Authorised Officer

8

Non-compliance: Failure to comply with the storage requirements may result in the importer becoming ineligible to avail such facilities in future, apart from other action under applicable law.

Importer

9

NOC for clearance: The Authorised Officer may issue the NOC where the analysis report confirms that the imported food conforms to the applicable standards.

Authorised Officer

10

Sale only after clearance: The importer/customs authorities shall ensure that the imported food is sold only after clearance based on the NOC.

Importer / Customs