‘Perishable goods’ allowed 3-month warehouse storage

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has released a revised list of goods treated as perishable, allowing them to stay in customs warehouses for up to three months, Business Recorder reported. The changes take effect on October 15, 2026, and are set out in SRO 1629(I)/2026, issued under the powers granted by Section 98 of the Customs Act, 1969. The new notification replaces a 1999 order that had governed the same classification.

The list includes items such as dates, eggs, fish, milk powder, meat, tea and sugar. Packaged or canned edible products carrying a manufacturer's expiry date are not treated as perishable, provided they are stored under the manufacturer's conditions in bonded warehouses. The licensee must certify that facilities meet those conditions, and the importer or clearing agent must upload that certificate when filing an In-Bond Goods Declaration.

Where stored goods become unfit for human consumption because of inadequate storage, the signatory is liable to action under the Customs Act, 1969 and its rules, without affecting other legal remedies. The FBR has asked the Chief Collector (South Appraisement) to coordinate system changes with the PSW/WeBOC team immediately.