CBIC Notifies Campbell Bay and Car Nicobar as Customs Locations for Andaman & Nicobar Trade Cargo

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has expanded the map of official customs points in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. In a notification reported as No. 76/2026-Customs (N.T.), dated 23 September 2026, CBIC notified Campbell Bay and Car Nicobar as customs locations authorised to handle import and export cargo, under Section 7(1)(a) of the Customs Act, 1962. It is a procedural but useful step for anyone moving goods to or from these remote island locations.

What Happened

Under Section 7(1)(a) of the Customs Act, 1962, the government designates the ports and places that are approved for the unloading of imported goods and the loading of export goods. The reported Notification No. 76/2026-Customs (N.T.) adds Campbell Bay (Great Nicobar) and Car Nicobar to that list, giving these locations formal status as customs stations for trade cargo. Once notified, such locations can legally serve as points where import and export consignments are handled and cleared under customs supervision.

Why / Background

Formal customs notification is the legal prerequisite for any place to function as an entry or exit point for international cargo. Without it, goods cannot lawfully be imported or exported through a location. Extending customs infrastructure to Campbell Bay and Car Nicobar reflects the broader push to develop connectivity and trade capability in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, including the strategically significant Great Nicobar region. For traders and logistics operators, a notified location means a sanctioned, supervised channel for clearance rather than reliance solely on distant mainland or Port Blair facilities.

Who's Affected

The change is most relevant to importers, exporters, shipping lines and logistics operators serving the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and to Customs House Agents (CHAs) who would file entries at these points. Businesses involved in supplying or provisioning the islands, and any trade tied to Great Nicobar development activity, are the practical beneficiaries.

What Traders and CHAs Should Do Now

• If you move cargo to or from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, note Campbell Bay and Car Nicobar as newly available customs points for planning routing and clearance.
• Confirm the operational scope and any procedural specifics of these locations with the jurisdictional customs formation before routing shipments.
• Update internal location/port master data and clearance workflows to reflect the additions.
• Check the exact notification text for any conditions, cargo-type limits or effective-date details before relying on the new points.

The Bigger Picture

Notifying new customs stations is routine administrative machinery, but each addition incrementally widens where lawful trade can flow. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands sit on important sea lanes, and steadily building out customs-notified locations there supports both local supply needs and longer-term connectivity ambitions. For most mainland traders this is a minor housekeeping item; for those serving the islands, it is a genuine operational enabler.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "customs location" mean here? It is a place formally approved under Section 7 of the Customs Act, 1962 for handling import and export cargo under customs supervision. Only notified locations can lawfully serve as trade entry/exit points.

Which locations were added? Campbell Bay and Car Nicobar in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, per the reported Notification No. 76/2026-Customs (N.T.) dated 23 September 2026.

Does this affect mainland trade? Not directly. It is most relevant to traders and logistics operators serving the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Where can I confirm the details? Refer to the CBIC notification itself and the jurisdictional customs formation for operational scope and any conditions.

Conclusion

CBIC's notification of Campbell Bay and Car Nicobar as customs locations formalises new lawful clearance points for cargo in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. It is a procedural expansion, but a practical one for island-serving trade. Affected traders and CHAs should update their planning and confirm operational specifics with the local customs formation.

This summary is for general guidance only. Verify the exact scope, conditions and effective date against the CBIC notification and jurisdictional customs guidance before routing shipments.