Reciprocal arrangement for exchange of information facilitating trade
Section 151B of the Customs Act, 1962 deals with reciprocal arrangement for exchange of information facilitating trade. The Central Government may enter into an agreement or any other arrangement with the Government of any country outside India or with such competent authorities of that country, as it deems fit, for facilitation of trade, enforcing the provisions of this Act and exchange of information for trade faci The Act came into force on 01 Feb 1963.
1[151B. Reciprocal arrangement for exchange of information facilitating trade.--(1) The Central Government may enter into an agreement or any other arrangement with the Government of any country outside India or with such competent authorities of that country, as it deems fit, for facilitation of trade, enforcing the provisions of this Act and exchange of information for trade facilitation, effective risk analysis, verification of compliance and prevention, combating and investigation of offences under the provisions of this Act or under the corresponding laws in force in that country.
(2) The Central Government may, by notification, direct that the provisions of this section shall apply to the contracting State with which reciprocal agreement or arrangements have been made, subject to such conditions, exceptions or qualifications as may be specified in that notification.
(3) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), the information received under sub-section (1) may also be used as evidence in investigations and proceedings under this Act.
(4) Where the Central Government has entered into a multilateral agreement for exchange of information or documents for the purpose of verification of compliance in identified cases, the Board shall specify the procedure for such exchange, the conditions subject to which such exchange shall be made and designation of the person through whom such information shall be exchanged.
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) or sub-section (3), anything done or any action taken or purported to have been done or taken, in pursuance to any agreement entered into or any other arrangement made by the Central Government prior to the date on which the Finance Bill, 2018 receives the assent of the President, shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the provisions of this section.
Explanation.--For the purposes of this section, the expressions,--
(i) "contracting State" means any country outside India in respect of which agreement or arrangements have been made by the Central Government with the Government or authority of such country through an agreement or otherwise;
(ii) "corresponding law" means any law in force in the contracting State corresponding to any of the provisions of this Act or dealing with offences in that country corresponding to any of the offences under this Act.]
Section 151B, The Customs Act, 1962 (Act 52 of 1962).
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… Being an agreement made between two sovereign States, this CMA agreement also certainly qualifies as part of treaties (if not a treaty by itself) for the purpose of mode of implementation of treaties. Therefore, in the light of section 151B(5) of Customs Act which has been alluded to supra, this Court has no hesitation in coming to the conclusion that CMA agreement dated 13.3.2015 will prevail over the procedure for verification of COO adumbrated in SAFTA Rules and ISFTA Rules as this CMA agreement also has been signed by two sovereign States. As …
Questions about Section 151B
What does Section 151B of the Customs Act deal with?
Section 151B of the Customs Act is headed "Reciprocal arrangement for exchange of information facilitating trade". [151B. Reciprocal arrangement for exchange of information facilitating trade.--(1) The Central Government may enter into an agreement or any other arrangement with the Government of any country outside India or with such competent authorities of that country, as it deems fit, for facilitation of tra
How do I find court cases under Section 151B of the Customs Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Customs Act 1962 151B, section 151B Customs Act 1962, section 151B of the Customs Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
When did Section 151B of the Customs Act come into force?
Section 151B of the Customs Act, cited as Customs Act 1962 151B, came into force on 01 Feb 1963, having been enacted on 13 Dec 1962. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 28. Recovery of duties not levied or not paid or short-levied or short-paid or erroneously refunded2145 words
- 2. Definitions1638 words
- 129A. Appeals to the Appellate Tribunal1170 words
- 27. Claim for refund of duty1060 words
- 127C. Procedure on receipt of an application under section 127B1056 words
- 138C. Admissibility of micro films, facsimile copies of documents and computer print outs as documents and as evidence872 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 18 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.