Certification of nexus under EPCG Scheme: corrigendum correcting a previously misstated D.O. letter date to the prior year.
Corrigendum to the EPCG Scheme nexus certification guidance: Para 3(iv) of Policy Circular No.20(RE-2003)/2002-07 is amended to correct the referenced D.O. letter date from 17.7.2003 to 17.7.2002; issued with approval of the Additional Director General of Foreign Trade.

Licence validity extension for natural rubber imports allows affected licences to be revalidated and mandates ALC review for deleted inputs.
Licences permitting duty free import of natural rubber, issued on or after 20 February 1999 and earlier revalidated to 31 December 2003, are further extended to 31 March 2004. Applicants whose self declared licences had natural rubber deleted but given adhoc norms must apply to ALC HQ by 31 December 2003; ALC will decide within 15 days. Resulting licences permit import/procurement of natural rubber until 31 March 2004 for expired licences or until the original licence expiry for others.

Status certificate filing flexibility now allows registered, head or corporate offices to apply, with documentary disclaimers.
Paragraph 3.2.2 now allows a Company's Registered Office, Head Office, or Corporate Office to apply for a status certificate provided the applicant furnishes a self certified copy of a valid RCMC naming that office and a disclaimer from the other principal offices that no prior application was filed for the same entitlement period. A new provision permits inter unit transfer of imported raw material within the same company only with Excise Authority permission and expressly prohibits claiming MODVAT/CENVAT on transferred inputs; re exports require no transfer permission but remain subject to ITC(HS) Schedule II conditionalities.

Standard input-output norms revised - SION amendments redefine permitted import inputs and quantities for export entitlements.
Exercise of powers under Paragraph 2.4 of the Export and Import Policy 2002-2007 effects amendments to the Statement of Standard Input Output Norms in Handbook of Procedures, Vol.2 by substituting, deleting, correcting and adding SION entries. The notice replaces specified input allowances and import-item descriptions, adds new entries across Chemicals, Electronic and Engineering product groups with precise permitted import constituents and quantities or alternative input sets, and introduces conditional footnotes and operational notes governing admissibility and proportional adjustments among inputs.

Amendment of DEPB schedule updates product descriptions, deletes and inserts entries, and revises rates and applicability procedures.
Amendment to the DEPB schedule revises export benefit entries by changing product descriptions, deleting and inserting entries, and adjusting DEPB rates and value caps across Engineering, Chemical, Plastic and Textiles product groups; it includes a transitional provision making revised rates applicable to notified exports and to shipments passed by Customs on or after a specified provisional date, and assigns an ad hoc entry for a previously notified export product.

SMS status retrieval enables applicants to obtain application status via mobile message, reducing transaction time and cost.
Notification establishes an SMS status retrieval procedure via Hutchison Max Telecom (TM Orange) allowing applicants to obtain application status by sending a message with the DGFT prefix, first three characters of the applicant's name and the application key number to the designated short code; the office seeks to extend the service to other cellular providers and invites trade feedback to reduce transaction cost and time.

Rounding off of DEPB rates affirmed; nearest rounded figure must be used for export DEPB calculations.
Calculation of DEPB entitlement rates for exported pharmaceutical formulations permits rounding off of fractional rates under the Policy Circular methodology: fractions below 0.50 round down, fractions 0.50 round up. The practice is regarded as standard and revenue neutral. Verifying authorities must accept the resulting rounded rate and take the nearest rounded figure when determining DEPB credits for products under the formulations schedule.

Exemption of special additional duty on DEPBs allows extended filing for eligible exporters where Let Export preceded the policy change.
Exemption from Special Additional Duty (SAD) on DEPBs applies where the order of "Let Export" is prior to the policy change; it covers actual user DEPBs filed pending realization of export proceeds and transferable DEPBs filed subsequent to realization, and the Director General has extended the last date for filing applications while keeping other conditions of the earlier public notices unchanged.

Nexus certification under the EPCG scheme decentralised to regional licensing authorities for faster two month processing.
Nexus certification for capital goods under the EPCG scheme is decentralised to Regional Licensing Authorities for cases within the prescribed duty saved threshold, with RLAs tasked to fix nexus within two months and to follow amended Handbook procedures and policy circulars. RLAs must constitute internal Committees of Officers, may co opt technical advisers without delaying determinations, and may regularise cases administratively where nexus appears on maintained lists. Decisions must prioritise intended use within the production process, rely on Chartered Engineer certificates, and be recorded in a maintained Register; RLAs must submit industry wise lists of certified capital goods to headquarters and provide quarterly updates.

Complete import and export item details required in online licence applications to enable issuance and ratification.
Applications filed online under Para 4.7 for advance licences must include complete, specific details of all inputs and export products because RLAs cannot issue licences and the ALC at headquarters requires full particulars to ratify licences; vague entries like "As per list enclosed" are unacceptable and must be replaced by item-level descriptions.

Counter operating hours rescheduled for licence application submission and delivery, with new daily receipt and delivery windows.
Rescheduling of counter operating hours prescribes separate receipt and delivery windows for Fresh Applications and Post License Applications, with morning receipt and afternoon delivery periods for each category. The revised counter timings govern submission of applications and physical delivery of licences at the counters and take effect from the stated commencement date as an administrative instruction issued by the Zonal Joint Director General of Foreign Trade.

DEPB rate amendments update entitlement criteria, product descriptions, and add ad-hoc rates with self-declaration requirement.
Amendments to the Schedule of DEPB rates correct and add product descriptions and value caps, insert a miscellaneous entry for shellac with a DEPB rate and value cap, and add an explanatory note permitting exporter self-declaration for DEPB eligibility subject to Customs physical verification where doubts arise. Additionally, time limited ad-hoc DEPB rates with specified value caps and restricted firm applicability are fixed under Handbook of Procedures provisions and relevant policy guidelines.

Second hand goods import restriction: second hand photocopiers, air conditioners and diesel generators excluded from EPCG eligibility.
Second hand Photocopier Machines, Air Conditioners, Diesel Generating Sets and similar equipment are classified as Second Hand Goods under Para 2.17 of the EXIM Policy and are therefore ineligible for import under the EPCG Scheme per Para 5.1, including when under ten years old and for service providers; new equipment may be allowed under the EPCG Scheme if required for manufacturing or rendering services.

Input-output norms modification: revised import inputs and conditional allowances for specified export items under the handbook.
Administrative amendment to the Handbook of Procedures, Vol.2, revises Standard Input-Output Norms by substituting, correcting, deleting and adding detailed input lists and quantities for chemical, engineering, plastics, textile and miscellaneous export items; specifies conditional allowances (including AU conditions), net-to-net and per kilogram content bases, alternative input options, corrected import descriptions, and annexural insertions to be applied in processing advance licences and import authorisations.

Sole agency designation for import control: State trading agency now exclusively handles vegetable fat imports under treaty trade.
The Director General of Foreign Trade, exercising Export and Import Policy powers, amends prior public notices under the India-Nepal Treaty of Trade by deleting a specified paragraph and designating a sole agency to import vegetable fats (vanaspati) up to an annual quota, while keeping other conditions of the original public notice unchanged.

Decentralisation of Brand Rate fixation shifts filing and approval to zonal JDGs and SEZ Development Commissioners for deemed exports.
Decentralisation of the Brand Rate fixation for deemed-export supplies reallocates responsibility to zonal JDGs and Development Commissioners of SEZs/EPZs; applicants must file with the JDG or Development Commissioner having jurisdiction over the recipient unit and continue to file a copy with the regional licensing authority for payment. Only complete applications will be accepted, acknowledged with a file number and contact details, processed on a FIFO basis, examined against Export-Import Policy and Customs and Central Excise rules, and approved by the Joint DGFT/Joint DC with communicated Brand Rate letters.

Duty exemption accountability for imported garlic now tied to moisture-based recovery rates, with licensing committee fallback.
DGFT modifies accountability for imported raw garlic under the Duty Exemption Scheme by prescribing moisture-based recovery rates for specified products (dehydrated/dry garlic and garlic flakes/powder) and providing that the Administrative Licensing Committee will decide accountability for other garlic products or where exporters face difficulties; the prior import condition continues to apply.

Deletion of a regulatory note removes a specified General Note from the Handbook of Procedures, altering export-import guidance.
The Director General of Foreign Trade, invoking Paragraph 2.4 of the Export and Import Policy 2002-2007, deletes Note 11 under the General Notes for All Export Product Groups as contained in the Handbook of Procedures, Vol. II, 2002-2007, as amended; this amendment is communicated by public notice as issued in the public interest.

Duty free import of Natural Rubber: fresh and pending licences may be issued or revalidated with conditions and anti fraud exclusion.
Duty free import of natural rubber may be permitted by issuing fresh Advance Licences or DFRCs under normal policy; RLAs may allow direct import or revalidate licences (including those issued before or after 20.2.1999) where imports could not be effected, waiving fee and Appx.10G formalities and cancelling ARO where necessary. Applications excluding or omitting rubber may be reviewed to include it or to issue fresh licences after a declaration that no drawback was claimed; revalidation without fee applies even if No Bond or EODC was issued. Measures do not apply in cases of fraud or misrepresentation.

Exemption from registration procedure for drug imports under Advance Licensing Scheme permits licences with declaratory endorsements and compliance conditions.
Trade Notice No.05/2003 sets out procedures to implement Policy Circulars allowing an exemption from registration procedure for import of drugs under the Advance Licensing Scheme. Applicants seeking the exemption must submit Annexure A and receive licences with an endorsement referencing the policy circulars; applicants importing from registered sources must submit Annexure B and receive licences limited to registered sources. Revalidation, extension of Export Obligation or enhancement of quantities must be accompanied by Annexure C and will be endorsed to require adherence to the registration procedure under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, except where only an E.O. extension is sought and no further imports remain.