Import Surveillance Requirements for Filters and Filtration Equipment Communiqué No: 2026/10

Scope of the Regulation

The Communiqué applies to selected goods classified under HS 8421, including:

• Equipment for filtering or purifying water,
• Oil and fuel filters for internal combustion engines,
• Other specified filtration devices under related subheadings.

The surveillance obligation applies only where the declared unit value falls below the specified reference level. Declarations meeting or exceeding the threshold are outside the scope of the surveillance requirement.

Mandatory Surveillance Certificate

For imports below the reference value, a Surveillance Certificate issued by the Directorate General for Imports is mandatory. This certificate must be obtained before registration of the customs declaration and its details must be declared correctly in the customs system.

Customs declarations submitted without a valid certificate, where required, will not be accepted for registration.

Application and Review Process

Applications for the Surveillance Certificate are submitted electronically via the Single Window System, using the designated industrial surveillance document type and selecting Communiqué No: 2026/10 as the legal basis. Electronic signature is required, and applications may also be submitted through the national e-government platform.

Where electronic submission is not possible due to technical issues, physical applications may be accepted together with official company registration documents.

The administration may request original invoices, transport documents, technical specifications, or additional supporting information. Any inconsistency or missing information will delay issuance until resolved.

Customs Value Clarification and Practical Application

The Communiqué explicitly states, in a separate provision, that the surveillance reference value does not replace or override the customs value determined under general customs valuation rules.

In practice—for value-based surveillance measures only—it is possible to exceed the surveillance threshold by including legitimate overseas cost elements in the declared customs value, such as international freight, insurance, engineering costs, or other dutiable charges, provided these are properly documented and attributable to the imported goods.

Where the final customs value exceeds the reference level, clearance without a Surveillance Certificate is possible, and this approach is accepted by customs authorities in administrative practice, subject to proper substantiation.

Validity and Legal Effect

Surveillance Certificates issued under this Communiqué are valid for six months. Holding a certificate does not limit the customs administration’s authority to review, verify, or reassess the declared customs value under applicable valuation legislation.

Enforcement and Compliance Risk

Incorrect classification, undervaluation, or incomplete cost disclosure may result in certificate refusal, clearance delays, or increased scrutiny during post-clearance audits. Given the wide technical range of filtration equipment, accurate tariff classification and valuation structuring are critical for compliance.

Entry into Force

The Communiqué enters into force on the 30th day following its publication. Importers with ongoing supply contracts or shipments in transit should review pricing and valuation structures in advance of declaration.

Compliance Assessment

This regulation targets industrially significant filtration products that are frequently imported at varying price levels. Importers should conduct a pre-import valuation and classification assessment to determine whether a Surveillance Certificate is required or whether lawful inclusion of overseas cost elements can elevate the customs value above the surveillance threshold. Proactive planning will materially reduce clearance and compliance risk.

See relevant legislative document.