SEZ rules and process in India updated till 31st December, 2022
Board of Approvals explained under SEZ in India, Customs Manual 2023
Unit Approval Committee under Special Economic Zone in India
Establishment of SEZs in India
How to set up an SEZ unit in India, Customs guidelines
Monitoring of activities of SEZ units in India
Indian Customs explains Net Foreign Exchange Earnings under SEZs
Import and procurement process under SEZ in India
SEZ Exports in India explained under Indian Customs Manual 2023
Procedures for Sub-contracting under SEZ in India
Sub-contracting for DTA unit for export, Special Economic Zone process
SEZ process on DTA sale in India
Valuation of goods cleared into DTA under Special Economic Zones in India
Temporary removal of goods into the DTA under SEZ in India
SEZ, Duty remission on destruction of goods explained under Indian Customs Manual
Exit of units under Special Economic Zones in India
Drawback on supplies made to SEZs explained under Indian Customs Manual 2023
Other administrative guidelines
Social &Commercial Infrastructure In Non-Processing Area For Use By DTA entities under SEZ
Advantage of SEZ in India, Customs Manual 2023
E-Way Bill and SEZ explained under Indian Customs Manual 2023
The extract of Indian Customs Manual 2023 stated below about SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES (SEZs)
Chapter 24: Special Economic Zones
1. Introduction:
1.1 Special Economic Zone (SEZ) scheme was announced in April, 2000 with a view to provide an
internationally competitive environment for exports. The objectives of Special Economic Zones
include making available goods and services free of taxes and duties supported by integrated
infrastructure for export production, expeditious and single window approval mechanism and a
package of incentives to attract foreign and domestic investments for promoting export-led growth.
1.2 Earlier, the policy relating to the Special Economic Zones was contained in the Foreign Trade
Policy and incentives and other facilities offered to the Special Economic Zone developer/co
developer and units were implemented through various notifications and circulars issued by the
concerned Ministries/Department. However, in order to give a long term and stable policy
framework with minimum regulatory regime and to provide expeditious and single window
clearance mechanism, a Central Act for Special Economic Zones was found to be necessary.
Accordingly, the SEZ Act, 2005 was enacted, which was given effect to from 10-2-2006. Thus,
activities of SEZs and its units are governed by the provisions of the SEZ Act, 2005 and the rules
issued there under viz. SEZ Rules, 2006. SEZ Scheme is administered by the Department of
Commerce under Ministry of Commerce &Industry.
1.3 The Central Government, while notifying any area as a Special Economic Zone or an additional
area to be included in the Special Economic Zone and discharging its functions under this Act, is
to be guided by the following criteria, namely:
(a) Generation of additional economic activity;
(b) Promotion of exports of goods and services;
(c) Promotion of investment from domestic and foreign sources;
(d) Creation of employment opportunities;
(e) Development of infrastructure facilities.
(f) Maintenance of sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State and friendly
relations with foreign States.
1.4 SEZs may be set up for manufacturing of goods or rendering services or both and may be multi[1]product, sector specific, or Free Trade and Warehousing Zone. In terms of Section 53 of the SEZ
Act, SEZs are deemed to be a territory outside the Customs territory of India for the purpose of
undertaking the authorized operations and goods/ services entering it (from DTA) are treated as
exports.
1.5 19 SEZs were established / notified before the enactment of the SEZ Act, 2005. Of which, seven
Special Economic Zones Chapter 24 Custom Manual, 2018 175 SEZs were established by
Central Government and rest by State Governments and private sector, which are as follows:
(a) Central Government SEZs: Kandla SEZ (Gujarat), SEEPZ-SEZ (Maharashtra), Noida SEZ
(U.P.), Madras SEZ (Tamil Nadu), Cochin SEZ (Kerala), Falta SEZ (West Bengal),
Visakhapatnam (AP).
(b) State Government &Private Sector SEZs: Surat SEZ (Gujarat), Jaipur SEZ (Rajasthan),
Indore SEZ (Madhya Pradesh), Jodhpur SEZ(Rajasthan), Moradabad SEZ, Manikanchan
SEZ (West Bengal), Mahindra City (Chennai Tamil Nadu), Mahindra City (Chennai, Tamil
Nadu), Mahindra City (Chennai, Tamil Nadu), Salt Lake Electronic City (Kolkata), Surat
Apparel SEZ, Nokia SEZ (Chennai).
2. Board of Approvals
2.1 As per Section 8 of the SEZ Act, the Board of Approval (BOA) is to be chaired by an officer not
below the rank of Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce and includes Member
(Customs), CBEC as its member. Presently, the BOA meetings are chaired by Commerce
Secretary. The BOA approves proposals for establishing SEZs and providing infrastructure
facilities. Its functions include approving authorized operations of Developer/ Co-developer.
3. Unit Approval Committee:
3.1 As per Section 13 of the SEZ Act, a Unit Approval Committee is to be notified for each SEZ, within
six months from the date of establishment of such Special Economic Zone. Development
Commissioner has administrative control over the SEZ and chairs the Unit Approval Committee.
3.2 The Unit Approval Committees are, inter-alia, expected to accord approval to the procurement of
goods and services by SEZ units indigenously or through imports. The Committees is also required
to monitor and supervise compliance of conditions subject to which the letter of Approval (LOA)
has been issued. Commissioner of Customs or his nominee not below the rank of a joint
Commissioner is designated as an ex-officio member of the UAC. However, meetings of the
Approval Committee must be attended by the Jurisdictional Commissioner of Customs or Central
Excise and never go unrepresented as decisions taken in such meeting have serious revenue
implications. It should also be ensured that the view point of revenue is conveyed effectively in
each such meeting and that such views are duly reflected in the minutes of these meetings.
3.3 The decisions of the Approval Committee are by a ‘general consensus’ implying thereby that in
the absence of a consensus amongst all the Members present in the meeting, the proposal cannot
be carried forward and shall stand referred to the Board of Approval.
4. Establishment of SEZs:
4.1 The SEZs can be set up either jointly or severally - by the Central Government, State Government,
or any person as per Section 3 of the SEZ Act. Such person or body or authority is termed as
developer/co-developer of the SEZ in terms of Section 2(g) of the SEZ Act. A Co-developer is a
person who is allowed to provide any infrastructure facility in the SEZ in Custom Manual, 2018
176 accordance with an agreement with the developer and as approved by the Board of Approval.
The State Government is required to forward the proposals received under section 3 of SEZ Act
for setting up of a SEZ to the Board of Approval along with its recommendations, within forty-five
days of receipt of such proposal and where the Board approves a proposal received directly under
Section 3(3) of the SEZ Act, the person is required to obtain concurrence of State Government
within 6 months from the date of approval.
4.2 The BOA may approve as such or modify and approve a proposal for establishment of a Special
Economic Zone, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(8) of the SEZ Act subject to the
requirements of minimum area of land and other terms and conditions indicated in Rule 5(2) of the
SEZ Rules.
4.3 All existing Special Economic Zone shall be deemed to be a multi-sector Special Economic Zone.
5. Setting up of SEZ unit:
5.1 As per Section 15 of the SEZ Act, any person, who intends to set up a Unit for manufacture of
goods or rendering services in a Special Economic Zone, may submit a proposal to the
Development Commissioner concerned. On receipt of the proposal, the Development
Commissioner is required to submit the same to the Approval Committee for its approval. The
Approval Committee may approve or approve with modification or reject a proposal placed before
it within fifteen days of its receipt as per conditions prescribes in Rule 18 of SEZ Rules.
5.2 As per Rule 19 of the SEZ Rules, the Letter of Approval shall be valid for one year within which
period the Unit shall commence production or service or trading or Free Trade and Warehousing
activity and the Unit shall intimate date of commencement of production or activity to Development
Commissioner. On receipt of a request from the entrepreneur, further extension can be granted
by the Development Commissioner for a further period not exceeding two years. The Development
Commissioner may grant further extension of one year subject to the condition that two-thirds of
activities including construction, relating to the setting up of the Unit is complete. If the unit has not
commenced production or service activity within the validity period or the extended validity period,
the Letter of Approval shall be deemed to have been lapsed with effect from the date on which its
validity expired. The Letter of Approval shall be valid for five years from the date of commencement
of production or service activity and it shall be construed as a license for all purposes related to
authorized operations, and, after the completion of five years from the date of commencement of
production, the Development Commissioner may, at the request of the Unit, extend validity of the
Letter of Approval for a further period of five years.
6. Monitoring of activities of SEZ units:
6.1 As per Rules 15 and 54 of the SEZ Rules, the performance of the Unit is to be monitored by the
Approval Committee. If Approval Committee comes to the conclusion that a Unit has not achieved
positive Net Foreign Exchange Earning or failed to abide by any of the terms and conditions of the
Letter of Approval or Bond-cum-Legal Undertaking, without prejudice to the action that may be
taken under any other law for the time being in force, the said Unit shall be liable for penal action
under the provisions of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.
7. Net Foreign Exchange Earnings:
7.1 SEZ units shall achieve positive Net Foreign Exchange Earnings (NFE), which is calculated
cumulatively for a period of 5 years from the commencement of production, subject to conditions
prescribed in terms of Rule 53 of the SEZ Rules.
Nothing contained in rule 53 shall apply[1]a) to a unit in an International Financial Service Centre set up as Alternate Investment Fund
or Mutual Fund to the extent of any inflow of investible funds from investors, any investment
made from such investible funds and returns on them inclusive of principal return and any
return paid to investors from such investments including the original investment.
b) to a unit in an International Financial Service Centre set up as an International Financial
Service Centre Insurance office to the extent of the portion of premium income over and
above the amount retained for management expenses within the maximum rate stipulated
for expenses of management by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority
under the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India{Registration and
operations of International Financial Service Centre Insurance Offices(IIO)} Guidelines,
2017, Investment made from the said portion of premium income and returns on them,
inclusive of principal return and any amount paid towards insurance or reinsurance claims
8. Import and procurement:
8.1 A SEZ unit or Developer/co-developer may import or- procure from the Domestic Tariff Area
without payment of duty, taxes or cess or procure from Domestic Tariff Area after availing export
entitlements or procure from other Units in the same or other Special Economic Zone or from
Export Oriented Unit or Software Technology Park unit or Electronic Hardware Technology Park
unit or Bio-technology Park unit, various types of goods, including capital goods (new or second
hand), raw materials, semi-finished goods, (including semi-finished Jewellery) component,
consumables, spares goods and materials for making capital goods required for authorized
operations except prohibited items under the Import Trade Control (Harmonized System) and
subject to condition prescribed under Rule 26 of the SEZ Rules.
8.2 As per Rule 30 the SEZ Rules, The Domestic Tariff Area supplier supplying goods or services to
a unit or Developer shall clear the goods or services, as in case of zero-rated supply as per
provisions of section 16 of IGST Act, 2017(13 of 2017) either under bond or undertaking or under
any other refund procedure permitted under Goods and Service Tax laws or Central Excise laws,
or as duty or tax paid goods under claim of rebate, on the cover of documents laid down under the
relevant Central Excise law for the purpose of export by an manufacturer or supplier.
(i) Goods(or services) procured by unit or developer, on which (GST) exemption has been
availed but without any availment of export entitlement, shall be allowed admission into SEZ
on the basis of documents referred to in above rule.
(ii) The goods procured by a unit or developer under claim of export entitlement shall be allowed
admission into SEZ on the basis of documents referred above and a bill of export filed by
the supplier or on his behalf by the unit or developer which is assessed by authorized officer
before arrival of the goods.
A copy of the documents referred to above rule or copy of Bill of Export as the case may be, with
an endorsement by authorized officer that goods have been admitted in full into SEZ shall be
treated as proof of export and a copy with such endorsement shall also be forwarded by unit or
developer to the GST or the Central Excise officer having jurisdiction over the DTA supplier within
forty-five days failing which the GST or Central Excise officer shall raise demand of tax or duty
against the DTA supplier.
9. Exports:
9.1 As per Rule 45 of the SEZ Rules, a unit may export goods or services as per the terms and
conditions of Letter of Approval including agro-products, partly processed goods, subassemblies
and components except prohibited items under the Import Trade Control (Harmonized System)
Classification of Export and Import Items and the Unit may also export by-products, rejects, waste
scrap arising out of the manufacturing process.
10. Sub-contracting:
10.1 As per rule 41 of the SEZ Rules, a unit may sub-contract a part of its production or any production
process, to a unit in the Domestic Tariff Area or in a Special Economic Zone or Export Oriented
Unit or a unit in Electronic Hardware Technology Park unit or Software Technology Park unit or
Bio-technology Park unit with prior permission of the Specified Officer to be given on an annual
basis. No permission is necessary if subcontracting is done through units in same SEZ but both
the supplying and receiving units should maintain proper account of goods involved in the sub[1]contracting. A Developer/co-developer on their behalf their contractor, may also temporarily
remove the goods, procured or imported duty free by them for their authorized operations, to a
place in the Domestic Tariff Area or a unit in the same or another Special Economic Zone or Export
Oriented Unit or a unit in Electronic Hardware Technology Park Unit or Software Technology Park
Unit or Bio-technology Park Unit, for sub-contracting a process, with prior permission of and
subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Approval Committee.
11. Sub-contracting for DTA unit for export:
11.1 A Unit may on the basis of annual permission from the Specified Officer undertake subcontracting
for export on behalf of a Domestic Tariff Area exporter subject to conditions prescribed in Rule 43
of the SEZ Rules.
11.2 As per Rule 47(2) of the SEZ Rules, scrap or dust or sweepings of gold or silver or platinum may
be sent to Government of India Mint or Private Mint from a Unit and returned in standard bars in
accordance with the procedure specified by Customs authorities or may be sold in the Domestic
Tariff Area on payment of duty on the gold or silver or platinum content in the said scrap.
12. DTA sale:
12.1 A Unit may sell goods and services including rejects, wastes, scraps, remnants, broken diamonds,
by-products arising during the manufacturing process or 111 connections therewith, in the
Domestic Tariff Area on payment of applicable Customs Duties under Section 30 of the SEZ Act
and subject to fulfillment of condition laid down in the SEZ Rules.
13. Valuation of goods cleared into DTA:
13.1 As per Rule 48 of the SEZ Rules, valuation of the goods and/or services cleared into Domestic
Tariff Area shall be determined in accordance with provisions of Customs Act and rules made
Thereunder as applicable to goods when imported into India. If goods procured from Domestic
Tariff Area by a Unit are supplied back to the Domestic Tariff Area, as it is or without substantial
processing, such goods shall be treated as re-imported goods and shall be subject to such
procedure and conditions as applicable in the case of normal re-import of goods from outside
India.
14. Temporary removal of goods into the DTA:
14.1 As per Rule 50 of the SEZ Rules, the SEZ units can remove the goods from the Zone into the DT
A temporarily without payment of duty for the purpose of inter-alia display, export promotion,
exhibition job work, test, repair, refining, calibration or subject to conditions as prescribed. If a unit
fails to bring back the goods into SEZ within the prescribed period, the unit is liable to pay
applicable duty on such goods.
15. Duty remission on destruction of goods:
15.1 As per Rule 39 of the SEZ Rules, after advance intimation to the Specified Officer, a Unit may
destroy, without payment of duty, goods including capital goods, procured from Domestic Tariff
Area or goods imported or goods manufactured/produced by the Unit including rejects, waste,
scrap subject to prior environmental clearance if any required for such destruction. Where it is not
possible to destroy goods within the Special Economic Zone, destruction of goods shall be carried
out, outside the Special Economic Zone with the permission of Specified Officer and in the
presence of the Authorized Officer. However, destruction of precious metals, diamond, precious
stones and semi-precious stones IS not allowed. The officers supervising destruction are required
to ensure that goods are destroyed fully rendering them unfit for further use and give certificate to
that effect. The Unit shall be required to pay back the drawback and Duty Exemption Pass Book
credit availed in of case goods procured from Domestic Tariff Area are destroyed due to natural
calamities.
16. Exit of units:
16.1 As per Rule 74 of the SEZ rules, the Unit may opt out of Special Economic Zone with the approval
of the Development Commissioner and such exit shall be subject to payment of applicable duties
and taxes on the imported or indigenous capital goods, raw materials, components, consumables,
spares and finished goods in stock and if the unit has not achieved positive Net Foreign Exchange,
the exit shall be subject to penalty that may be imposed under the Foreign Trade (De
velopment
and Regulation) Act, 1992. The unit opting out of SEZ shall execute a legal undertaking in Form L.
16.2 In the event of a gems and jewellery unit ceasing its operation, gold and other precious metals,
alloys, gem and other materials available for manufacture of jewellery is required to be handed
over to an agency nominated by the Central Government at a price to be determined by that
agency.
16.3 Development Commissioner can permit a Unit, as one time option to exit from Special Economic
Zone on payment of duty on capital goods under the prevailing Export Promotion Capital Goods
Scheme under the Foreign Trade Policy subject to the Unit satisfying the eligibility criteria under
that Scheme.
17. Drawback on supplies made to SEZs:
17.1 Section 26(d) of the SEZ Act provides that every Developer and entrepreneur is entitled to
Drawback of duties on goods brought from the DT A into an SEZ. The triplicate copy of the
assessed Bill of Export is to be treated as the Drawback claim and processed in the Customs
section (Specified Officer) of the Special Economic Zone. Dy./Asstt. Commissioner of Customs
posted on deputation at the SEZ being the Dy./ Asstt. Commissioner of Customs at the Customs
Station of export could sanction such Drawback claims. Thus, Drawback claim in respect of such
supplies are not to be processed or sanctioned by the Customs and Central Excise formations.
17.2 Drawback can also be claimed by the DTA supplier on the basis of the disclaimer issued by the
SEZ Unit Developer. In such cases, the Commissionerate of Customs and Central Excise/ Central
GST having jurisdiction over the DT A unit would sanction the Drawback. The jurisdictional
Commissioner of Customs in consultation with the Pay and Accounts Officer shall make
arrangements for issue of authorization and drawback cheque books.
17.3 The office of Principal CCA has issued instructions regarding banking arrangements for payment
of refund / Drawback cheques and accounting procedure to be followed in that regard. Accordingly,
the PAOs are issuing cheque books to each Customs & Central Excise/Central GST formations
for payment of refund / Drawback claims and the same cheque book can be used for making
refunds and payment of Drawback. The cheque issuing officer is required to submit separate list
of payment for Central Excise (0038) and Customs (0037) to their jurisdictional PAO.
18. Other administrative guidelines:
18.1 The Customs/Central Excise/Central GST Officers nominated to the Approval Committee of SEZs
should ensure that the decisions taken at the Committee are within the provisions of law and
should be made keeping in mind the revenue implications of such decisions.
18.2 The Customs/Central Excise/Central GST Officers are advised to conduct verification of
credentials of the entrepreneurs proposing to set-up SEZ units and provide inputs on past history
to the Committee for taking appropriate decision.
(i) While granting assent to the approval, the representatives of DOR should ensure whether
the particular process to be carried out by the unit constitutes manufacture or not in terms
of Section 2 (r) of the SEZ Act.
(ii) The Committee approves the import or procurement of goods from the DTA in the SEZ for
carrying on the authorized operations by a developer. It should be ensured that the
authorized operations are covered under the provisions of SEZ Act and Rules. Activities like
Housing, etc, should only be allowed in phases of 20 of approval at a time and
Commensurate with the needs of SEZs. In case of activities like setting up of hospitals,
hotels and other such social infrastructure, no duty free material is permitted for Operation
and maintenance of such facilities.
(iii) Any activity outside the SEZ cannot be allowed as Authorized Operation.
(iv) No tax benefits would be available for measures taken to establish contiguity.
(v) Field formations (Range/Divisions) should follow the specified procedure laid down for
movement of goods from SEZ to DT A and from DT A to SEZ.
(vi) No unit should be allowed to start functioning till the walls and specified entry/exit points and
the offices of the Development Commissioner (including the Customs officers posted under
him) are in place. Only one entry/exit gate should be permitted in view of security and
revenue loss concerns.
19. Social &Commercial Infrastructure In Non-Processing Area For Use By DTA entities
19.1 Social and commercial infrastructure located in the Non-Processing Area of an SEZ can be used
by SEZ entities as well as DTA entities provided that all duty benefits availed in setting up of such
infrastructure has been refunded back by the developer in full as certified by the jurisdictional
Development Commissioner.
20. Advantage
20.1 Being in a SEZ can be advantageous to a certain extent when it comes to taxes. Any supply of
goods or services or both to a Special Economic Zone developer/unit will be considered to be a
zero-rated supply. That means these supplies will attract Zero tax rate under GST. In other words,
supplies into SEZ are exempt from GST and are considered as exports.
Therefore, the suppliers supplying goods to SEZs can:
(a) Supply under bond or LUT without payment of IGST and claim credit of ITC; or
(b) Supply on payment of IGST and claim refund of taxes paid.
Any supply of goods or services or both to or by an SEZ developer/unit to DTA are chargeable to
duties of customs under the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 as leviable on such goods when import into
the country( refer Section 30 of the SEZ Act, 2005).
21. E-Way Bill and SEZ
21.1 Under GST, transporters should carry an E-Way Bill when moving goods from one place to another
if the value of these goods are more than Rs. 50,000. SEZ supplies are treated how the other
inter-state supplies are treated. The SEZ units or developers will have to follow the same EWB
procedures as the others in the same industry follow.
21.2 In case of supplies from SEZ to a DTA or any other place, the registered person who facilitates
the movement of goods shall be responsible for the generation of e-Way bill.