Bank guarantee concession extended to manufacturer exporters, reducing guarantee burdens and requiring verification to prevent bogus licences. Revises bond and bank guarantee norms under Advance License and EPCG schemes by defining importer categories and guarantee requirements: specified trading houses, status holders and qualifying manufacturer exporters are exempt from bank guarantees; other manufacturer exporters qualify for a 25% bank guarantee concession; remaining applicants must furnish full security. Bond wording is amended to allow backing by bank guarantee, cash security or surety, with solvency certification for sureties and no surety required for public sector undertakings. DGFT and Central Excise must coordinate verification of licensees and issue export performance certificates for units outside Central Excise control.