The Directorate General of Systems & Data Management, under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), has issued an important update regarding the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations (SCMTR) and supplementary IGM/EGM filings.
Through its communication dated 7 August 2026, the Directorate has informed Customs authorities that supplementary filing for the remaining ports will be permanently disabled with effect from 12 August 2026. Following this change, amendments will be accepted only through the prescribed SCMTR amendment messages.
The update is relevant to stakeholders involved in sea cargo manifest filing and amendments and marks a further transition towards the use of the SCMTR amendment mechanism.
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What Is the Latest SCMTR Update?
The latest communication concerns the discontinuation of supplementary IGM/EGM filing under the SCMTR framework.
The Directorate had earlier issued a communication dated 9 June 2026 regarding the disabling of supplementary filing at 26 ports. According to the latest communication, where supplementary IGM/EGM processes had been disabled and amendments were permitted through SAA/SDA (SAM Amendment/SDM Amendment) messages, no major issues were observed.
Based on this experience, the competent authority has decided to permanently disable supplementary filing at the remaining ports.
Key Date: 12 August 2026
From this date, amendments will be accepted only through the standard SCMTR amendment messages.
What Is SCMTR?
SCMTR stands for Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations.
The latest CBIC communication relates specifically to the filing and amendment of sea cargo manifest information and the transition away from supplementary IGM/EGM filings at the remaining ports.
The communication focuses on moving amendments to the prescribed SCMTR amendment message mechanism.
What Happens to Supplementary IGM/EGM Filing?
The supplementary filing process for the remaining ports will be permanently disabled from 12 August 2026.
After the cutoff date, amendments will need to be made through the standard SCMTR amendment messages. The communication also states that legacy/manual supplementary format filings shall not be accepted after 12 August 2026.
This makes the transition to the SCMTR amendment process an important operational update for the relevant stakeholders.
Why Has the Change Been Introduced?
The communication explains that supplementary filing had already been disabled at 26 ports. At those ports, amendments were allowed through SAA/SDA amendment messages, and SCMTR amendment messages were working without major issues.
Based on the experience from this implementation, the competent authority decided to extend the discontinuation of supplementary filing to the remaining ports.
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What Actions Have Been Communicated to Customs Zones?
The CBIC communication requests Customs Zones to initiate certain actions before the cutoff date.
1. Issue Trade or Public Notices
Customs Zones have been requested to issue Trade Notices or Public Notices to sensitise stakeholders regarding the 12 August 2026 cutoff date.
2. Engage With Relevant Stakeholders
The communication asks Customs Zones to proactively engage with non-compliant shipping lines and agents and assist them with onboarding onto the SCMTR ecosystem before the deadline.
3. Discontinue Legacy or Manual Supplementary Filings
Field officers have been instructed that legacy/manual supplementary format filings will not be accepted after 12 August 2026.
What Should Relevant Stakeholders Note?
Based on the CBIC communication, the key points are:
- Supplementary filing at the remaining ports will be permanently disabled.
- The effective date is 12 August 2026.
- Amendments will be accepted through standard SCMTR amendment messages.
- Legacy/manual supplementary format filings will not be accepted after the cutoff.
- Customs Zones have been asked to sensitise stakeholders about the change.
- Relevant shipping lines and agents are being encouraged to complete onboarding to the SCMTR ecosystem before the deadline.
What About Operational or Technical Issues?
The communication also addresses the possibility of operational difficulties or technical bottlenecks during the final transition phase.
It states that such difficulties may be brought to the notice of the concerned office for technical support.
Therefore, stakeholders encountering technical difficulties during the transition should use the appropriate support mechanism rather than relying on the discontinued supplementary filing format.
SCMTR Filing: Key Takeaways
The latest communication can be summarised in four key points:
1. Supplementary filing is being discontinued
Supplementary filing for the remaining ports will be permanently disabled.
2. The effective date is 12 August 2026
The change takes effect from 12 August 2026.
3. SCMTR amendment messages will be used for amendments
Amendments will be accepted through the standard SCMTR amendment messages.
4. Legacy/manual supplementary filings will no longer be accepted
Such filings will not be accepted after the stated cutoff date.
Conclusion
The CBIC’s latest communication introduces an important change in the handling of supplementary IGM/EGM filings under the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations (SCMTR).
With supplementary filing for the remaining ports being permanently disabled from 12 August 2026, amendments will move to the standard SCMTR amendment message mechanism. The communication also calls for stakeholder sensitisation, onboarding support and attention to operational or technical issues during the transition.
Businesses and stakeholders affected by this change should review the applicable filing process and take note of the 12 August 2026 cutoff.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q 1. What is SCMTR?
SCMTR stands for Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations. The latest CBIC communication concerns the filing and amendment of sea cargo manifest information under this framework.
Q 2. What is changing from 12 August 2026?
Supplementary filing for the remaining ports will be permanently disabled from 12 August 2026. Amendments will thereafter be accepted through standard SCMTR amendment messages.
Q 3. Will supplementary IGM/EGM filing be accepted after 12 August 2026?
No. The communication states that supplementary filing for the remaining ports will be permanently disabled from 12 August 2026, and legacy/manual supplementary format filings will not be accepted after the cutoff.
Q 4. How will amendments be filed after 12 August 2026?
According to the communication, amendments will be accepted through the standard SCMTR amendment messages.
Q 5. What should shipping lines and agents do?
The communication calls for proactive stakeholder engagement and assistance with onboarding onto the SCMTR ecosystem before the deadline.
Q 6. What if there are technical difficulties with SCMTR filing?
The communication states that operational difficulties or technical bottlenecks during the final transition phase may be brought to the notice of the concerned office for technical support.