Importer Exporter Code modifications now require online application and payment of a prescribed application fee for changes.
Amendments revise Part V of the Detailed Guidelines for issuance and modification of Importer Exporter Code Number (IEC), adding entity-specific documentary requirements (photograph, PAN, identity proof of signatory, premises evidence, bank certificate/cancelled cheque; incorporation or registration documents where applicable). Applicants requesting IEC modifications (name/address, partners/directors, nature or type of concern, activity change, addition of branches/factories) must submit an online application and pay the prescribed application fee.

Online IEC applications mandatory; require digital signatures or signed printouts, two-day processing and specified document verification.
From 1 January 2015 all IEC applications must be filed online and IECs issued digitally; applicants with digital signatures submit online, otherwise they must print, sign and submit the application. RAs must process applications within two working days and either issue a digitally signed e-IEC or a rejection with reasons; there is no provision for deficiency letters. RAs shall verify PAN and identity details via the Income Tax portal, cross-check LLPIN/CIN on the MCA website, verify address against sale deed/rental agreement/utility bill, and confirm bank details from a cancelled cheque or bank certificate.

Deferment of export procedure for certified organic products suspends implementation pending further notification under foreign trade policy.
The Directorate, invoking powers under the Foreign Trade Policy, has amended prior public notices to defer the implementation of the procedure for export of certified organic products. The implementation of the notified procedure is suspended and will remain deferred until a subsequent notification or further orders are issued, effecting an administrative suspension of the earlier-notified export process.

Import policy abeyance for maize maintained pending judicial review, preserving the pre-notification import status until further court direction.
Effect of the notification revising the import policy for Maize (Corn) under EXIM Code 1005 - removing it from the State Trading Enterprises list and classifying it as free - is kept in abeyance in compliance with interim judicial orders maintaining the pre-notification status quo until the expiration of the court-ordered interim period.

Dispatch by speed post: trade documents and authorisations sent on request within one working day of receipt.
When an applicant lacks an I-Card and requests postal delivery, the office will dispatch the requested documents/authorisations by speed post, to be effected within one working day from receipt of the request.

Service of Demand Notice: additional counter copy for hand collection; Audit Memo copies also provided to allow response time.
In addition to postal dispatch, an additional copy of the Demand Notice will be sent to the counter for hand collection; likewise, the CAV Section will send an extra copy of the Audit Memo to the counter so parties may collect these memos in person and be given sufficient time to respond.

Deferment of export procedure for certified organic products: implementation deferred to 18 December 2014 to allow transition.
The Director General of Foreign Trade has deferred the effective date of the procedure for export of certified organic products notified in Public Notice No. 73 (RE-2013)/2009-2014, so that the procedure will come into effect from 18/12/2014 to provide a transition period for implementation.

Importer-Exporter Code online filing mandatory; regional authorities to decide applications promptly and communicate outcomes within a short working period.
The amendment replaces ANF 2A with a new form and mandates online filing of new IEC applications with all requisite documents; Regional Authorities must decide and communicate grant or refusal within two working days, and online filing will also be available via the e-biz portal after integration with DGFT systems.

Import item description change: select SION entries amended for nomenclature while permitted inputs and quantities remain unchanged.
The Public Notice amends specified SION entries by altering the import item descriptions: SION A-1475's import item is re-described as PTA purification catalyst (0.50% palladium on carbon), and SIONs A-1839, A-1841 and A-1842 update the heat transfer fluid nomenclature. The modification is confined to product description; inputs, their descriptions and permitted quantities are unchanged.

Export control compliance: imports of US Crime Control and Regional Security items require documentary proof, undertakings, and DGFT authorization.
India permits import from the USA of items on the U.S. Crime Control and Regional Security lists only where the importer produces a Bill of Lading showing a U.S. port, gives a legal undertaking not to export or alienate the goods, and accepts an Actual User condition; subsequent exports require DGFT authorization and movement is restricted to EDI enabled ports; Import/Export Certificates with specified fields are required and do not replace any ITC(HS) licences.

Certified organic export requirements require a NAB accredited transaction certificate and compliance with NPOP production, processing and packing standards.
Export as an Organic Product is allowed only when accompanied by a Transaction Certificate from a Certification Body accredited by the National Accreditation Body for Organic Products under the National Programme for Organic Production, and only if the product is produced, processed and packed in accordance with NPOP standards as amended; this Public Notice supersedes the earlier public notice on the procedure.

Border Haat trade permits locally produced goods and limits vendors to nearby residents under committee oversight.
The DGFT implements the MOU arrangements to operationalise a Border Haat at Srinagar, Tripura, permitting trade in specified locally produced categories-vegetables, food items, fruits, spices; minor forest produce (excluding timber); cottage industry products; small agricultural household implements; and locally produced garments, melamine and processed foods. Locally produced is defined as produce of the concerned border district, with the Haat Management Committee authorised to classify specific commodities. Vendors must reside within a five kilometre radius; immediate-consumption snack foods and juices may be allowed by the Committee.

Filing of e-com and IEC online applications requires Java security set to Medium and adding two IPs to Compatibility View.
Applicants must use the website help pages for filing e-com applications and IEC online applications. For Internet Explorer, set Java security level to Medium and enable Java content, and add 164.100.128.143 and 164.100.128.145 to Compatibility View so those sites appear in the added sites list to address technical filing difficulties.

Served From India Scheme entitlement notified; ANF 3B1, net foreign exchange calculation and application requirements set.
Notification prescribes ANF 3B-1 as the application form for claiming SFIS benefit for 2013-14, requiring submission of ANF 3B-1 with Annexures A-E. The form sets out applicant and RCMC details, service category, and requires computation of net foreign exchange as gross foreign exchange receipts for prescribed service categories minus total foreign exchange expenses/remittances (including capital goods) attributable to the service sector, conversion to INR at the notified exchange rate, and computation of entitlement. A CA/ICWA/CS certificate and specified supporting documents are mandatory, with instructions on exchange rates and annexure completion.

Export benefit rates corrected for Glass envelopes, Safety matches, Dried egg albumin and Microphones; product description spelling fixed.
Corrigendum to Public Notice No.52 (25.02.2014): corrected FPS benefit rates in Appendix 37 D - ITC HS 701120 (Glass Envelops for Cathode Ray Tubes) from 2% to 5%; ITC HS 36050010 (Safety Matches) from 2% to 5%; ITC HS 35021100 (Dried Egg Albumin) from 2% to 5%; and chapter 85/8518 (microphones and related audio equipment) primary rate corrected to 5% (total benefit now 7% with bonus). Also corrected typographical error for ITC HS 29420016 to "D(-) PARA HYDROXY DANE'S SALT."

Standard Input Output Norms fixed for Namkeens/Mixtures/Savouries specifying permitted inputs, additives, oils, and packing rules.
Fixation of Standard Input Output Norms by adding SION entry E-132 for Namkeens/Mixtures/Savouries under Paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2009-14. The notice prescribes allowable input composition per unit export including legumes and cereal flakes, permitted edible vegetable oils (olive oil excluded), FSSAI-approved food additives (e.g., tocopherol, lecithin, BHA, TBHQ, methyl cellulose, carboxy methyl cellulose, gellan gum), specified natural flavours, and packing materials subject to packing policy.

SION review: submission of production and consumption data required or export entitlement under Advance Authorization and DFIA may cease.
DGFT has requested manufacturers and Export Promotion Councils to submit production and consumption data for export products covered by specified SIONs to review those SIONs; failure to provide the data by the deadline will result in stoppage of benefits under Advance Authorization and DFIA and administrative modification of the SIONs based on available data.

Bar-coding requirement on mono-carton secondary packaging deferred, postponing implementation while retaining existing notice provisions.
Deferment of the bar-coding requirement on mono-carton as secondary-level packaging for export consignments of pharmaceuticals amends Public Notice No. 62 to postpone the effective date for mandatory bar-coding, while leaving all other provisions of Public Notice No. 62 unchanged.

VKGUY benefit withdrawal on skimmed milk powder removes eligibility for incentive under amended Foreign Trade Policy.
Director General of Foreign Trade deletes skimmed milk powder from Appendix 37A Table 2 of the Handbook of Procedure (Vol. I), immediately withdrawing the VKGUY reward/incentive entitlement for that product under the Foreign Trade Policy.

SION reinstatement restores export eligibility while tightening permitted import material specifications to specified grades.
The Director General reinstates SIONs A1143, A1170, A3627 and K134, substituting the import items previously listed with amended descriptions that specify permitted material grades and exclusions (e.g., clarifying "Rutile" as "Rutile grade" and qualifying titanium dioxide entries as "other than Rutile grade"), thereby restoring export eligibility for the listed glass products subject to the revised import input specifications.