Aircraft Operator To Transfer The Passenger's Information To Designated Customs Systems By Push Method: CBIC

As per the Regulations, the National Customs Targeting Centre-Passenger was established by the Board to receive and process passenger name record information along with any other information relevant for risk analysis of passengers. It will be done for the purpose of the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of offences.

The CBIC in the regulation mandates every aircraft operator to get registered with the proper officer.

Every aircraft operator shall transfer the passenger name record information, which they have already collected in the normal course of business operations, to the designated customs systems by the push method using the PNRGOV EDIFACT message format.

The term "PNRGOV EDIFACT" means a message of any standard electronic message format endorsed jointly by the World Customs Organisation, the International Civil Aviation Organisation, and the International Air Transport Association that can be efficiently transmitted.

"Every aircraft operator or its authorised agent who becomes aware, before or at the time of departure, that any information provided by them under these regulations is incomplete or inaccurate, shall immediately provide such complete or accurate information," the Regulation states.

The regulation says that the passenger name record information received by the Customs designated system shall be subject to strict information privacy and protection in accordance with the provisions of any law for the time being in force. It is prohibited to process passenger name record information that reveals a person's race or ethnic origin, political opinions, religion or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, health, sexual life, or sexual orientation.The passenger name record information shall be received, stored, processed and disseminated in a secure system accessible only to the duly authorised officers by establishing a robust procedure to protect the privacy of passengers and crew members by the National Customs Targeting Centre-Passenger.

The passenger name record information received in Customs' designated system shall be retained for a maximum period of five years from the date of the receipt. After the expiry of five years, it shall be disposed of by depersonalisation or anonymisation through masking out the relevant information, which can serve to identify directly the passenger to whom the passenger name record information relates.

The Principal Additional Director General or Additional Director General of the National Customs Targeting Centre-Passenger may impose a penalty of Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000 for each act of non-compliance on an aircraft operator or his authorised agent who contravenes or fails to comply with any provisions of these regulations.

Notification No. 67/2022 Customs (N.T.)

Dated: 08.08.2022

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