Customs modernization and electronic filing reforms

In mid‑July 2026, India's Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs issued an amendment that extended the standard two‑year period for certain customs matters and eliminated the need for manual paperwork on imported containers. The board shifted reporting of un‑re‑exported containers to the DG Systems and the ICEGATE portal, and mandated electronic gate‑in and gate‑out procedures to speed processing and reduce paperwork.

Two weeks later, the United Kingdom completed the final phase of its post‑Brexit Border Target Operating Model, making safety and security declarations compulsory for all EU imports and requiring entry‑summary filings before cargo arrival. Simultaneously, India fully implemented its Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations, obligating shipping lines, importers and customs brokers to submit detailed electronic cargo manifests before vessels depart or arrive. Kenya also announced a blockchain‑based Trade Logistics Information Pipeline to track cargo in real time, improve transparency and curb fraud at the Port of Mombasa.

These steps illustrate a broader move in several jurisdictions toward digitising customs procedures, replacing manual documentation with electronic filings and leveraging new technologies such as blockchain to enhance efficiency, security and revenue collection.